Blue Ridge Parkway-Graveyard Fields and the Yellowstone Falls

Traveling down the Blue Ridge Parkway between mile post 418 and 419 you will notice a parking lot full of cars even on a Tuesday afternoon. Aaron and I had been by here on previous occasions and had noticed how popular this spot was, and then we saw a glimpse of some waterfalls in a distant view, and it all became clear why. Most of the people are here to see the waterfalls not to hike the Graveyard Fields Trails. We came to do both.

This big sign near the steps and trailhead give you the full rundown of what you will find at Graveyard Fields. How it came about the unusual name is due to a natural disaster described as a "wind blow" knocked over the spruce forest, and the resulting uprooted root-balls left a permanent mark, eventually covered with soil to give the impression of burial mounds.

The first view of the Yellowstone Falls (I call it a view for lack of a better word because it's more than a view because you can stand right in it.) is what is known as the "Second Falls." The name to me doesn't make sense because it is some smaller falls above the Yellowstone Fall which to me would make it the first falls and the first that you come to.

A look upstream at the Second Falls at a small wading pool.

  

On top of the Yellowstone Falls

As you exit the stairs down to the fall this is your first view.

After carefully climbing over the boulders that you saw above; this is the magnificent scene.   

This rock is the closest Gypsy, and I was going to get. Aaron took a dip in the ice-cold water wearing blue jeans. Our revisited the next day he had swimming trunks and swam around at the bottom of the Yellowstone Falls.

We didn't come here just do a short walk to see the waterfalls but came to hike the Graveyard Fields Trail and that we did. Unfortunately, we were in search of the Upper Falls and had thought we might have taken a wrong turn along with another family scratching their heads wondering the same thing. We traveled as a group for a while until Aaron had to tie his shoes and they continued, and we decided to turn back, and we will save the view of the Upper Falls for another trip. We realized after consulting a map we were probably only had a quarter of a mile more to go, but hindsight is always 20/20.

The loop trail back to the parking area we cross over the Yellowstone Prong. The view from the bridge and height is impressive.

Our last view of the Yellowstone Prong from the bridge as we continued walking through grasslands, rhododendron thickets, and over boardwalks. The Graveyard Fields and Yellowstone Falls was an excellent start to a four-day stay in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Luckily for me, I hadn't slipped and fallen on a slippery rock and injured my right hip at this first visit here. I only had to limp along on one shorter hike on our last day.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uynq4Vjoh5U

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