WNC Parkway: Graveyard Fields

No idea who took this picture. Pretty though, right? 

Length: 3 miles
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Condition: A Ok


Man oh man, I love me some Graveyard Fields. This place is absolutely gorgeous, although it can get pretty touristy during the summer. There is a gigantic parking lot that is hard to miss from the road, right around mile marker 420, where you can park. There is a main loop that is about 3 miles long which takes you to a nice waterfall. Directions taken from localhikes.com:


Take the trail at the lower end of the parking area. This descends down a paved path for most of it's length but has some very rough spots near the river. Cross bridge, turn right along the trail until you come to the first trail intersection to the right, descend a long flight of steps to viewing platform for first waterfall. Return by same route, do not re-cross river but continue straight ahead, the upper falls is about 1 MI. ahead. On the return from the upper falls about 3/4 MI. turn right off the trail to cross the river on a wooden bridge. Continue on this trail to the exit at the upper end of the parking area.


There's a stream that runs by the trail where you can swim, although the water is freakishly cold and it isn't very deep in spots. Going to re-do this hike when I'm in WNC for the summer.