Pisgah 400: Graveyard Fields Ramble - 7/13/23 - 4 Miles
Yellowstone Prong at Graveyard Fields
Carol and I are feeling lucky on the last morning of our trip: three blue sky days in a row in the Shining Rock Wilderness area of Pisgah National Forest. How about let’s tiptoe over to Graveyard Fields before the masses arrive?
Graveyard Fields is part of Pisgah National Forest, adjacent to (but not part of) Shining Rock Wilderness. It is one of the most well-known, much-loved and over-used areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Southwest of Asheville, with direct accessibility from an overlook at Milepost 418.8 that includes a large parking area and restrooms, it’s just about impossible to drive past without stopping out of curiosity – what is everyone looking at?
Waterfalls are what the casual Blue Ridge Parkway visitor is eager to see. Yellowstone Prong flows through the valley of Graveyard Fields, creating multi-tiered cascades and waterfalls along the way. (A “prong” means a branch of a stream or river.) Add in changing leaf color in autumn and you’ve got good reason for the traffic jam at MP 418.8. And just a short hike will get you to the edge of the flow.
I avoid Graveyard Fields on weekends and most weekday afternoons, but an early weekday morning is just right for a ramble.
Note: Camping is not allowed at Graveyard Fields, so hike on over to Shining Rock to enjoy an overnight experience.
With limited time today before our drive back to Charlotte, Carol and I opted for a short hike on the Graveyard Fields Loop Trail counterclockwise and the spur trails to Second Falls and Upper Falls, about 4 miles total.
Enough preamble! Let’s go hiking.
From the parking lot, a five-minute walk on a paved path and wooden stairs takes you down
to Yellowstone Prong
to Yellowstone Prong
Dramatic double bridges crossing the river
On closer inspection, the bridges are a little crookedy
Looking downstream at Yellowstone Prong from the bridge
Descending more steps towards Second Falls
Carol’s view of Second Falls as I wobbled on the boulders to get a closer look
Backtracking up the stairs, where trails continue east towards Yellowstone Falls or west towards Upper Falls. We stayed counterclockwise on the Loop Trail heading west.
A long section of boardwalk - thank you, trail builders!
Trail erosion
A couple of easy rock hops
Leaving the Loop Trail for the side trail to Upper Falls
Upper Falls is a narrow, long slide that was underwhelming after seeing Second Falls, but not a surprise considering it was the middle of summer. Carol and I sat for a snack break and a peaceful moment before we heard folks approaching on the trail.
We backtracked to the Loop Trail and continued counterclockwise towards the parking lot, appreciating summer flowers up close.
Galax blooms
Yellow bush honeysuckle
Carol and a carpet of mountain laurel blossoms
Our Pisgah National Forest escape could not have been better, the synergy of beautiful mountains, flawless weather and great hiking buddies. What’s next?
Looking Glass Rock from the Blue Ridge Parkway
“Never know when you’re making a memory;
they will wish they was here together again someday.”
~ Rickie Lee Jones
