The Graveyard Fields Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway is the trailhead for a network of trails centered on the Yellowstone Prong of East Fork Pigeon River. Two waterfalls are accessible from the trails. The US Geological Survey has named the falls Upper Falls and Second Falls. The National Park Service and the US Forest Service use the name Lower Falls for Second Falls. Yellowstone Falls is even further downstream, but I don't know of a trail to the falls. The trail to Second Falls is 0.3 miles long and it descends about 175 feet. Most of the descent is by way of wooden stairs with handrails. The upper part of the trail is paved, but there is a short section after crossing the stream and before the final descent to the base of the falls that is just a dirt surface. The waterfall is about 55 feet high.
Graveyard Fields Overlook is located at mile 418.8 on the parkway. This is 7.0 miles west of the US 276 intersection at Wagon Road Gap and 4.5 miles east of the NC 215 intersection at Beech Gap. The forty paved parking spots fill up quickly, so arrive early if you plan to leave a vehicle at the trailhead. There are also two handicap accessible parking spots. There is no parking for buses, recreational vehicles, or vehicles towing trailers. Vault toilets are located at the east end of the parking area.
I hiked to Second Falls as part of a loop hike that also included a spur trail to Upper Falls in July 2017. If you can climb stairs, the hike to Second Falls and back is a relatively easy hike of 0.6 miles round trip to a pretty waterfall. Several benches are built into the stairs for those that need to pause on the return trip. If you have difficulty with stairs, this isn't the hike for you.
Topographic map with GPS route
Elevation profile
The trail starts with a set of stone stairs
Asphalt surface
Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)
Leaving the parkway and entering the forest
Paved path through a rhododendron thicket
Top of the wooden stairs
Down...
...down...
...down!
View downstream from the bridge
View upstream
Climbing up after crossing Yellowstone Prong
Signpost at trail junction
Bridge
Dirt trail surface
Mountains to Sea connecting trail
Top of the stairs
More stairs
Boardwalk ramp...
...with a switchback
Wayside safety exhibit
Platform at the bottom
Several paths to the water
Second Falls
A closer view
Entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest is free.
I returned to the Blue Ridge Parkway in July 2017 and drove south from mile 411.8 at Wagon Road Gap. US 276 crosses the parkway at the gap. Just a few hundred feet south at mile 411.9 is the View Cold Mountain overlook.
Cold Mountain (6030' at 4.6 miles)
East Fork Pigeon River valley
My next stop was the Pounding Mill Overlook at mile 413.2. Located on a long curve on the parkway, there is a 180° view centered on the southeast.
Looking Glass Rock due south (3969' 3.7 miles)
View northeast of Fryingpan Mountain with tower (5320' at 2.7 miles) and Big Bald (5280' at 3.3 miles)
Looking Glass Falls on Looking Glass Creek is located roadside on Pisgah Highway, US 276. The falls are 60 feet high and about 30 feet wide.
From the intersection of US 64, US 276 and NC 280 east of Brevard, drive 5.6 miles north on Pisgah Highway, US 276, to a parallel parking lot on the right side of the road. There are paved spots for about 30 vehicles. A sidewalk provides access to the roadside viewpoint. Although not signed for handicap parking, a curb ramp is located between the northernmost two parking spots to allow wheelchair access to the roadside viewpoint. Just south of the paved area is a gravel strip with space for another dozen or more parallel parked vehicles. This area is often congested and parking is at a premium. When leaving, continue driving north to a signed location for turning around as making a u-turn from the parking area is not advised.
Sixty-four concrete steps lead to a middle viewing area and another 31 concrete steps (95 total) lead to a lower viewpoint just above the creek bank. With a nice plunge basin below the falls and its roadside accessibility, Looking Glass Falls is one of the most popular locations in the forest. On summer afternoons, there are so many people in the creek that it seems as crowded as a municipal swimming pool. I stopped one afternoon on my July 2017 visit and decided to come back the next morning to avoid the crowds. Arriving about 8 AM, I found that I had the place almost to myself as I encountered only three other visitors during my stop.
Roadside view
View from the bottom level
View from the middle level
Another view from the middle level
Afternoon sunshine, a rainbow, and lots of people from the middle level
The Pisgah Ranger Station and Visitor Center is located at 1600 Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. This is on US 276 1½ miles north of the intersection of US 64, US 276, and NC 280 east of Brevard, North Carolina. Besides housing administrative offices for the district, the station has a large visitor center with numerous displays within and outside the facility. The visitor center houses an information desk, forest exhibits, brochure racks for regional attractions, a small theater, and a gift shop. Restrooms with running water are located under the same roof, but in another building.
This is a great place for a pit stop and to get your bearings before venturing into the forest.
