Trail Guide · ~50 min from Pisgah Base Camp
Graveyard Fields
A mile-high valley of waterfalls, open meadows, and wild blueberries off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Drive Time
~50 min
from the house
Lower Falls
0.6 mi
round trip
Full Loop (Upper Falls)
3.2 mi
loop
Difficulty
Easy
short walk · moderate on loop
What to Expect
A high valley you don't expect, off the Parkway
Graveyard Fields sits above 5,000 feet, where the air stays cool and the valley opens into grassy meadows ringed by 6,000-foot peaks. The hike starts with stairs and a paved path winding down through rhododendron tunnels to a bridge over the Yellowstone Prong. From there you can keep it short and walk to the lower waterfall, or take the full loop up to Upper Falls and back through the open fields.
The short walk is built out with steps, asphalt, and boardwalk, so it suits most ability levels. The loop and the Upper Falls spur get rougher, with rocky footing, stream crossings, and muddy stretches. In late summer the meadows fill with wild blueberries you can pick.
This is one of the most popular stops on the whole Parkway, so the feel of your day depends a lot on timing. Early morning is quiet, cool, and easy to park. By midday in summer and fall it gets busy, especially down at the lower falls. If you want the valley closer to yourself, start early or come later in the afternoon.
Plan on a relaxed half-day if you do the full loop with stops, or about an hour if you just want to see the lower falls and head back. Either way, bring water, a snack, and a layer, and give yourself time to sit by the creek. The meadow is a good place to slow down.
The Waterfalls
Three falls, one trail
Lower Falls
Easiest · 0.6 mi round tripAlso signed and known as Second Falls. A wide cascade dropping over rocky ledges into a clear pool, about a third of a mile from the lot. The most popular stop and a favorite summer swimming hole. The pool is cold and the rocks are slick, so wade carefully.
Upper Falls
Full Loop · ~3.2 miA longer cascade at the far upper end of the valley, reached by continuing past the meadows. The spur in is rockier and steeper near the falls. Quieter than Lower Falls and worth the extra effort if you have time.
Yellowstone Falls
No official trailA third waterfall on the same stream, below Second Falls. There is no maintained trail, only a rough scramble path, so most visitors skip it. Listed only so the names don't confuse you on mapping apps.
Why We Love It
One stop, several payoffs
Most hikes give you one thing. Graveyard Fields gives you several. Few places around here pack waterfalls, high mountain meadows, and blueberry picking into one easy outing, and fewer still at an elevation that stays cool when the valleys below are hot and crowded.
It is also one of the rare Parkway trailheads with restrooms and trash cans, which makes it an easy call with kids, a mixed-ability group, or a dog along for the day. Pack a lunch, find a flat rock by the creek, and let the day be simple.
Backstory
Where the name came from
The valley was once thick spruce and fir forest. A windstorm and heavy early-1900s logging left behind moss-covered stumps that looked like rows of gravestones, which is how the place got its name.
A major fire swept through in 1925, burning so hot it sterilized the soil. The forest has been slow to return, which is exactly why the valley is so open today, all meadow, shrub, and far-off ridgelines instead of dense woods.
Know Before You Go
Pack right, time it right
- Go early. The lot is small for how popular this is and fills by mid-morning on nice weekends spring through fall.
- Restrooms on site. Vault toilets and trash cans are at the overlook, rare for a Parkway trailhead.
- Dress in layers. At over 5,000 feet it runs cooler than Brevard and weather shifts fast. Bring a rain layer.
- Wear real shoes. The short walk is easy, but the loop and Upper Falls spur get rocky, rooty, and muddy.
- Dogs welcome. Leashed dogs are fine. Bring water for them and watch paws on the rocks near the falls.
- Blueberries ripen late July into August. Picking for personal snacking is allowed. Go early in the season before they're gone.
- Cell service is spotty. Download an offline map before you leave the house.
Safety First
Real risks at the falls
- Rocks near and above the falls are extremely slippery. Serious injuries and deaths have happened at waterfalls in this region. Never climb at the top of a falls.
- The pool below Lower Falls is cold and the current is stronger than it looks. Watch kids closely.
- Streams rise fast after rain. Do not cross water that looks high or pushy.
- Stay on the established trail. Social trails have made the area confusing and damage the recovering meadow.
- This is black bear country. Pack out all food and trash.
Directions
From Pisgah Base Camp to the trailhead
The Graveyard Fields Overlook sits at Milepost 418.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, on the right just before Milepost 419. Parking, the trailhead, and restrooms are all at the overlook.
- 1 From the house, head up the US-276 corridor toward the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- 2 Take US-276 north and climb to the Parkway access ramp.
- 3 Turn onto the Parkway heading south toward Graveyard Fields.
- 4 The overlook is on the right, just before Milepost 419. If the lot is full, come back later or pick another stop rather than parking illegally on the roadside.
The Blue Ridge Parkway closes in sections for winter weather and ongoing repairs. Check current Parkway status before you go.
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You Already Know the Trip You Want
An early start. A big day outside. Then a hot shower and a quiet night when you get back.
That's the trip. You just need the right place to do it from.
We'll help you sort out the plan before you get here. You bring the bikes, boots, rods, and the dog.