Graveyard Fields sessions: waterfalls and a low-key loop
Graveyard Fields is a waterfall walk with boardwalks and open meadow, reached from a Parkway overlook. It suits a patient, walking kind of session, and it comes with a few rules.
The access point is Graveyard Fields Overlook at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 418.8, but the land is managed by Pisgah National Forest. That matters, because the permit rules come from the Forest Service rather than the Park Service.
What I can do is explain how I would pace a session on this loop, and what the official pages actually say.
From a Stories by Esi session
Walking it for a session
The Forest Service lists the Graveyard Fields Loop as easy overall, 3.2 miles with about 400 feet of elevation change if you go to Upper Falls and back. The National Park Service lists the loop shorter, at 2.3 miles, so the two agencies disagree, and a storm has moved some trails. Treat the distance as a range and expect to slow down.
Second Falls is about 0.3 mile from the trailhead, over a bridge and boardwalks, and a 60 step wooden stairway leads to the base. Upper Falls is 1.6 miles from the trailhead on a spur that is steeper and rougher for about half a mile. For couples, I would aim for Second Falls, shoot around the bridge and boardwalk, and call the long loop optional.
Seasons and mood
The Forest Service says the trail is open year-round and that blueberries are abundant in the fall. Low light and a bit of mist on the water give me what I like best: soft skin tones, dark greens, and wet rock. Overcast days are a gift here, since sun on moving water can be harsh.
Parkway sections near here can close in bad weather, since the Park Service says sections may close from inclement weather or maintenance. Check road status the day before you drive up.
From a Stories by Esi session
Safety near the water
The Forest Service warns that rocks around the waterfalls are very slippery and says never to go to the top of any waterfall. I will not ask you to climb for a picture, and neither should any photographer. The trail is foot traffic only, can be muddy even with boardwalks, and there is no listed parking capacity, so I would arrive early rather than assume there is room.
Two Pisgah alerts are active for this area: camping prohibitions at Graveyard Fields and a bear canister requirement for the Pisgah Ranger District.
Permit picture
The Forest Service's permit page does not name Graveyard Fields on its list of places it asks people not to use for weddings and photography sessions. That list does include Max Patch and Black Balsam, and it says certain locations. So I would ask Pisgah permit staff before booking, and allow 60 days if a permit turns out to be needed.
From a Stories by Esi session
Good to know
Before we go
Land manager
Graveyard Fields Overlook is at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 418.8. The Forest Service lists the trail as part of Pisgah National Forest.Official info
Commercial still photography
As of October 2026 the Forest Service page says commercial filming and still photography have a permit process with 60 days advance notice. Photographers who lead or transport paid groups onto the forest need a permit no matter the group size. It does not say whether a photographer with only a couple counts, so ask first: sm.fs.pisgahpermit@usda.gov.Official info
Weddings
Weddings with fewer than 75 people on national forest land do not need a special use permit. The page asks the public not to hold weddings or photography sessions at certain locations, including Max Patch and Black Balsam.Official info
Trail
Graveyard Fields Loop: easy, 3.2 miles, about 400 feet of elevation change. Second Falls is 0.3 mile out with a 60 step stairway. Upper Falls is 1.6 miles. Foot traffic only. Open year-round.Official info
National Park Service trail listing
The Blue Ridge Parkway's trail table lists the Graveyard Fields Loop at milepost 418.8, 2.3 miles, moderate, and warns about hazards from Helene damage.Official info
Road status
On October 28, 2026 the Parkway sections on both sides of Graveyard Fields Overlook were listed as open.Official info
Questions
Asked and answered
How long is the Graveyard Fields walk?
The Forest Service says 3.2 miles with Upper Falls and back, and the National Park Service lists 2.3 miles. Second Falls is only about 0.3 mile from the trailhead.
Do we need a permit for a photo session here?
I could not find a rule that names Graveyard Fields. Commercial still photography on Forest Service land has a permit process that needs 60 days notice, so ask Pisgah permit staff before booking.
When is the best season?
The trail is open year-round, and the Forest Service notes plentiful blueberries in the fall. I like overcast or misty days for the waterfalls.
