Second Falls, also known as Lower Falls is visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway just outside of Asheville, NC. Ease of access and the short hike in make it a very popular tourist stop and swimming hole. The Graveyard Fields loop also features Upper Falls. We stopped by on our way to Asheville to pick up my niece Nicole and only had time to visit Lower Falls.
A footbridge crosses the Yellowstone Prong waterway just above Second Falls. High water has skewed the bridge into a jaunty angle, but the handrails are still attached and it’s fairly simple to traverse.
Bears are active all along the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP). This hike has so many visitors bears tend to avoid it.
The trail to Lower Falls is mostly paved and has lots of steep, wooden steps. It’s only 1/3 mile to the bottom of Second Falls, but the many steps will challenge even the strongest knees.
Second or Lower Falls is a beautiful cascade through massive boulders that beckons visitors to enjoy its cooling water. There are many waterfalls hikes along the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) but this one has restroom facilities and a short enough trail to the bottom that you are almost guaranteed to have company. Don’t let that stop you from checking it out.