Off the scenic Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway
lies many spectacular natural landscapes. One of the
most popular destinations is on the southern end
of the Parkway,
Graveyard Fields. This natural marvel
is situated in the Pisgah National Forest, and south of
Asheville, North Carolina.
The area contains a three mile loop
with beautiful cascading waterfalls. The three major
waterfalls are Yellowstone, Second, And Upper. This is a place to come
and see nature at it's best. To top it off, you can view so many different
natural landscapes and take in the fresh mountain air.
You are able to view the falls year around. The
area also provides some of the most eye catching
views of the natural habitat. In late spring and
during the summer months,
Graveyard Fields explodes with breathtaking Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurels.
Some other plant specimens available to you are
Pin Cherry, Cattawba, Serviceberry, Red Maple, Blueberry,
Yellow Birch, Mountain Ash, Honeysuckle Bush,
and Ground Cedar. There are also a variety of
of wild flowers throughout the forest.
This area has an elevation of 5,120 feet and rises
to 5,600 feet above sea level. Years ago,
powerful mountain winds caused many trunks of trees
and branches to fall to the ground. This gave
one an eerie feeling, and the entire area resembled
a graveyard. In 1925, a massive fire destroyed most
of the forest setting.
Throughout the years, the natural
trees, shrubs and flowers have resurfaced, making
this area one of the most striking landmarks along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Besides the beauty of waterfalls and plant specimens,
you can walk along the moderate trails and hear and
see the sounds of the Carolina Junco and Catbird. You
may get a glimpse of a white - tailed deer or possibly
encounter a black bear. There is also known to be
a few variety of snakes and even a rattlesnake here
or there along any given trail. This is all part of nature. I wanted to share some other photos of this area with
you. Throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains and
Smokey Mountains are fog and low lying clouds. This
area is noted for the constant haze engulfing
the mountains. These shots were taken in late
spring and summer.
The
Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most
scenic highways in the United States. Thousands
of visitors a year take in the spectacular natural
landscapes that surround the Parkway.
Graveyard
Fields is one destination that is enjoyed by many.
If you are planning a trip to the southeastern United
States, this entire stretch of highway runs 460 miles
through breathtaking views of the mountains
of Virginia and North Carolina. If this trip is not
available for you to take, I hope you have enjoyed
seeing a little bit of the nature that surrounds my
geographic location.