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Explore Lower Falls at Graveyard Fields

Canton, North Carolina

4.3/5
based on 4 reviews

Description

Added by Tiffany Trent

This waterfall is a short 0.3 miles from the parking lot! Enjoy the views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. If you come in the warmer months, jump in for a swim.

Graveyard Fields got it's name years ago from wind-thrown tree trunks that gave the appearance of a graveyard, until 1925 when an intense fire swept through the area, destroying the stumps. The forest has been recovering ever since.

The parking area for Graveyard Fields is located at milepost 418.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, approximately 1 hour South of Asheville, NC. From the parking area you are able to view the vastness of the valley, surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountains with 6,000-foot peaks. It truly is a wonder.

To begin the trail, you will find stairs that descend to a paved path that takes you through a thick patch of rhododendrun, leading you to a bridge that crosses the Yellowstone Prong. At this point if you look to your right, you will notice you are at the top of the Lower Falls. To your left, a picturesque view of the Yellowstone Prong. Cross the bridge and you are lead to a fork in the trail, to reach the Lower Falls the trail takes a slight right and makes its way down a wooden staircase to place you at an overlook of the falls. It's a popular swimming hole during the summer months, you can even slide down a part of the rock (at your own risk, be careful.) During the fall/winter months it's just as beautiful and makes for a great picnic/chill spot. High peak for fall colors is early October.

On your return trip back to the parking area there are other trails to explore, such as Graveyard Fields Loop and Upper Falls.

If you're hungry afterwards, Pisgah Inn is 10 miles away (milepost 408.6.) They have an on-site restaurant that gets my stamp of approval!

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Features

Chillin
Photography
Swimming
Bathrooms
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Scenic
Waterfall
Wildflowers
Wildlife
Swimming Hole

Reviews

This is a great place to hike and a cool place for photography. Some of the boards are worn out so watch your step.

Fortunately, this area is really close to a parking area off the BRP. Unfortunately, this area is really close to a parking area off the BRP. If you want to experience the falls without 84 of your closest friends, I recommend going early in the morning AND during the week. Be careful during blueberry season - the bears are fond of them and aren’t afraid to eat the ones right next to the paved path. Please, if you do go, bring a small baggy with you and help pick up the trash left by those 84 people. It’s a beautiful area and worth the effort to help keep it clean.

It doesn't take long at all to get here. It's a nice little spot. If you're going to this waterfall, I recommend exploring other areas of Graveyard Fields.

Went for the day with my wife and our seven-month-old. We had a baby carrier and made it fine, but should have brought a walking stick for steeper parts with the carrier. Not much respect for leave no trace by some here as there were old campsites with bottles, toilet paper flowers in the woods, and it smelled like poop in a few places. The overall experience was positive though and it was a great place to go with the baby.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Graveyard Fields-Black Balsam Knob Circuit

Skinny Dip Falls

Black Balsam Knob via Art Loeb Trail

Tennent Mountain

Sam Knob and Flat Laurel Creek Loop

Devil's Courthouse