Graveyard Fields-Black Balsam Knob Circuit

When the weather is in your favor, these treeless mountain tops will have your jaw on the floor with layers upon layers of Blue Ridge Mountains. This hike can be done in one day, but with panoramic views at multiple points, you'll want to take your time along this link of trails.

This ~10-mile loop, starting at one of Blue Ridge Parkway's most popular overlooks, Graveyard Fields Overlook, winds through mountain meadows and towering grassy balds. Layers upon layers of the Blue Ridge Mountains are present throughout but are especially sweeping upon arrival to Ivestor Gap and beyond.

Upon parking hop onto the Graveyard Fields Loop trail on the right, through a rare and beautiful mountain meadow with views up to all the mountains and ridges around you, then onto the Graveyard Ridge Connector. This trail can be confusing because they are not very well marked nor heavily used, but as long as you remember where you are coming from and where you are going, you'll be okay. Just keep your eyes out for splitting trails.

Once you turn left onto Graveyard Ridge Trail (orange blaze), you'll cruise along this mostly flat path that walks along the side of the ridge with beautiful views over Graveyard Fields and up to Black Balsam Knob. The trail will come to a 4-way junction. The trail on the left is the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) ascending Black Balsam Knob, the trail straight ahead is the Graveyard Ridge Trail heading to Ivestor Gap, and the trail on the right is the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and Graveyard Ridge Trail (Graveyard Ridge is a loop). You want to go straight to Ivestor Gap. When you arrive in Ivestor Gap, several trails come together and you will find a handful of scattered campsites. Some are on the bald which provide 360 degree views of the mountains, perfect for viewing both sunset and sunrise, but also offering windy nights for your tent. Others are off to the side in a more protected, wooded area. Camping is allowed anywhere in Pisgah National Forest as long as you're 500' of a road or in a designated closed area, so everything is up for grabs.

Whether you're camping in the gap or heading on, you will join the Art Loeb trail at Ivestor Gap. You'll ascend Tennent Mountain (6,040') as the trail curls along the east side of the mountain. The last bald you'll hit is Black Balsam Knob (6,214') where the views open up in all directions here with the Smokies and Pisgah all around. But with a parking lot close by, this is definitely the most populated part of the trail. Once past Black Balsam Knob, you keep heading north east on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. This is the most strenuous part of the hike, but the sights never get old. Before you know it, you will be back at the 4-way intersection you hit the day before to head back to the Graveyard Fields lot.

*Water supply is a challenge when hiking the balds so carry extra and look out for creeks along the way to fill up.