Graveyard Fields, a favorite place for viewing wildflowers in the summer and fantastic foliage in early fall in the North Carolina mountains, is getting some upgrades this summer. It is set to reopen in July 2014.
Graveyard Fields is, essentially, a mile-high valley, located off the Blue Ridge Parkway southwest of Asheville, North Carolina (Milepost 418). It gets its name from the tree stumps that used to dot the landscape that looked like grave stones. Those tree stumps no longer exist, but Graveyard Fields is instead now filled with wildflower meadows, blueberry and other shrubs and small groupings of trees, with the forested mountains rising around it, providing a unique experience along the Parkway. It is a popular early fall hiking spot, with rhododendron tunnels, boardwalks, waterfalls and brilliantly-colored foliage that changes early in the fall season due to the types of trees and shrubs and the high elevation.
Check out this awesome photo by our friends at RomanticAsheville.com to get an idea of what Graveyard Fields looks like in early- to mid-October:
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| [photo credit: RomanticAsheville.com] |
With the help of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, plus a National Scenic Byways Grant, the trail system at Graveyard Fields and the overlook/parking area are getting a much needed facelift. Upgrades include:
- Parking lot expansion to add more parking spaces and the addition of a guardrail
- Addition of a trail map and interpretative signage for the Graveyard Fields Loop Trail
- Installation of new boardwalks and improvement of drainage along the trail system
- Construction of new restroom facilities
We can’t wait to see the new and improved Graveyard Fields!