LIFE before becoming the
Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers

Karen and Lee Duquette's FLASHBACK
Flashback buttonclock running backwatds
to Graveyard Fields Waterfall
on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
September 6, 2004 and August 3, 2005

(plus links to the same area and different experiences in 2020 and 2021)

Graveyard Fields Directions: Do NOT rely on your GPS. Simply drive the Blue Ridge Parkway south from Asheville, NC to Milepost 418.8, about 37 miles southwest of downtown. It's about 10 miles past Mt. Pisgah. (Heads up: This section of the Parkway is often closed in the winter for ice and snow.)

The Yellowstone Prong is the water source for two waterfalls in a mile-high valley filled with wildflowers and surrounded by the 6,000-foot peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Graveyard Fields is a very popular hiking trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 418.8) south of Asheville, North Carolina. The Yellowstone Prong is the water source for two waterfalls in a mile-high valley filled with wildflowers and surrounded by the 6,000-ft. peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area got its name years ago from the tree stumps that looked like grave stones in a graveyard setting. The trees were toppled by a huge wind several hundred years ago. Then in 1925, an intense fire burned the recently logged area, and the forest has been slow in recovering since.

The two RV Gypsies started their 1/3 of a mile hike to the Lower Falls from the overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There was a map on the sign at the parking area. They took the trail at the lower end (right side looking away from Parkway) of the parking area and descended down a paved path through a thick patch of rhododendron, then down some steps and to a bridge. They crossed the bridge, turned right along the trail and hiked to the first trail intersection to the right. They they descended a long flight of steps to a viewing platform for Lower Falls to get a closer look from the boulders at the base of the falls.

Note: From Lower Falls, it is possible to continue on the 4-mile Graveyard Fields Loop. Karen and Lee Duquette did not do this on either trip.

It was a rainy, cloudy day in 2004, but much better weather when Karen and Lee Duquette returned here in 2005.

Graveyard Fields sign on Blue Ridge Parkway

Below: Time for Lee and Karen Duquette to hike down to the waterfall - a 1/3 mile hike to the Lower Falls.

Lee Duquette on the hiking trail to the waterfall Karen Duquette on the hiking trail to the waterfall

Below: Lee Duquette bent down to feel the temperature of the water. Yes, of course it was cold.

Lee Duquette bent down to feel the temperature of the water Lee Duquette bent down to feel the temperature of the water

Below: Karen Duquette at the Graveyard Fields Waterfall

Karen Duquette at the Graveyard Fields Waterfall Karen Duquette at the Graveyard Fields Waterfall
Karen Duquette at the Graveyard Fields Waterfall Karen and Lee Duquette at the waterfall
Graveyard Fields waterfall Lee Duquette climbing over the rocks
Lee Duquette at Graveyard Fields waterfall
Lee Duquette at Graveyard Fields waterfall Lee Duquette at Graveyard Fields waterfall
 Graveyard Fields waterfall Graveyard Fields waterfall
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Below: Karen and Lee Duquette returned to the the waterfall at Graveyard Fields in 2005. The weather was much nicer.

Lee Duquette at Graveyard Fields waterfall Lee Duquette at Graveyard Fields waterfall
Graveyard Fields waterfall Karen Duquette at Graveyard Fields waterfall in 2005
Lee Duquette at Graveyard Fields waterfall in 2005 Karen Duquette at Graveyard Fields waterfall in 2005
Graveyard Fields waterfall in 2005

Look BelowThere are two navigational choices below.

go to the next adventure of the two RV GypsiesIn 2020 and again in 2021, Karen and Lee Duquette (who became known as The Two RV Gypsies) went to the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoyed several overlooks, before arriving at GRAVEYARD FIELDS and a trail down to the falls. But It was too far of a walk, too steep of a trail, and too late in the day for them to attempt hiking the trail, either time, since they knew they had been there before, when they were a lot younger. But they enjoyed the overlooks and scenery on these two trips.

If you wish to see these two sections, which are very different from each other and more involved with more scenery, but without the waterfalls, you may do so now.

OR

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