Yellowstone Falls - Graveyard Fields (NC) Blue Ridge Parkway

Yellowstone Falls is the 3rd out of 4 waterfalls on the Yellowstone Prong moving from west to east. All four waterfalls, unique in comparison, are located in Graveyard Fields, one of the most beautiful areas of the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is no official trail to Yellowstone Falls for a very good reason - the terrain is an unforgivingly steep incline and the conditions around this 100 ft. waterfall is potentially fatal.
If you are an experienced waterfaller, bushwhacker, and/or off-trail navigator, the risk you may incur from this hike may be lower than the average hiker. However, I do not recommend that anyone attempt this hike. But, if you are determined to do so despite my warning, hopefully this video will give you an idea of what you're up against. Please note that trail conditions are always subject to change. Also, never ever attempt a hike like this alone. Seriously that is the only thing I demand of you. Do not under any circumstances do this hike by yourself.
There are technically two ways to reach Yellowstone Falls:
1) The safest way, but with a longer distance: Start at the parking lot for Graveyard Fields. Follow the trail to Second Falls (walk down a paved walkway, cross a wooden bridge, and keep right when the trail forks). Not long after that, you'll see a trail going upwards to your left. Take that trail. This is the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST).
You'll walk maybe half a mile or so until you reach a scramble path on your right that leads to the back of a campsite. Follow that trail until you reach the creek (Yellowstone Prong). Cross the creek carefully and look for a scramble path going upwards and to your left. This trail is hard to navigate but keep heading downstream until you reach a rocky area near the base of Yellowstone Falls. Along the way to the base, there are two or three places where you can explore the top tier of the waterfall. Please exercise extreme caution should you attempt this. One false move could send you down the 40 foot cascade *which caused a man to nearly die in 2017.
2) Creek walking from Skinny Dip Falls, the 4th waterfall on the Yellowstone Prong moving west to east. This is the shortest route, but by far the most risky. The distance is a half mile or so, but you will do between 1.5 to 2 miles of actual steps (boots on the ground). Don't let the term "creek walking" lead you to believe this is a casual walk up a creek. This is more like boulder hopping in wet conditions. There is at least one section of this route where you will have no other choice but to get in the creek.
For more info on this and many other waterfalls, check out www.ncwaterfalls.com.
Also, check out our short video on Graveyard Fields. It's a great place to visit!
• Graveyard Fields - Blu...
Dedicated to Noah and Tatyana, two new friends we met on the trails this day. We're glad we crossed paths with you.
Link to Trail Map:
Yellowstone Falls - AllTrails
www.alltrails....
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Creek’s Gear:
Backpack: Osprey Rook 65 - amzn.to/3Os6IwM
Backpacking Stove Kit: amzn.to/3UXaUGY
Boots: Under Armour Micro G Valsetz - amzn.to/3glq8qg
Headlamp: amzn.to/3AyyrpP
Water Filter: Sawyer Squeeze - amzn.to/3gmAiH9
Water Reservoir: Platypus - amzn.to/3i3i0uX
*Garmin inReach Mini (link coming soon) - this is perhaps
the most important device I carry with me while hiking.
Camera & Technical Gear:
GoPro Hero 9: amzn.to/3UWJnFB
GoPro Video Stabilizer: amzn.to/3tNk8d3
iPhone 12 Pro: amzn.to/3VevAtP
iPhone Video Stabilizer: DJI - amzn.to/3U0j7J7
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Referenced Above:
*As recently as 2017, there was one near fatality that resulted in four rescue teams being assembled to retrieve a man from the base of the falls. According to a statement in one article, he may never fully recover from the injuries he sustained that day.
I cannot urge you enough to not attempt this hike. However, if you choose to do so, do your research & do not under any circumstances do this by yourself - lest you be left alone in a remote gorge with a broken leg or worse. It is never my intention to scare or frighten anyone, but you have to take this seriously. On this same day, I helped rescue a lady who was trapped under a very popular waterfall. Things can go wrong so quickly.
#waterfallhike #waterfalling #pisgahnationalforest

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