It’s October, and the Blue Ridge Parkway is basking in full autumn glory. There are outlooks and hikes at every turn and endless opportunities for all levels of leaf peepers.

For a Halloween hike, nothing quite matches the eerie allure of Graveyard Fields. Although the name conjures up a creepy sense of mystery, its origin does not. One theory is that hundreds of years ago, a windstorm swept through the area, leaving mounds of dirt and exposed roots that eventually became covered in moss, resembling a graveyard. Another possibility is that logging during the early 20th century left mossy stumps. We’ll never know for sure, thanks to a massive fire in 1925 that incinerated the entire area, destroying proof of either theory. What we do know is that the only thing spooky about this hike is the name.

Trail access is at the Graveyard Fields Overlook, Milepost 418.8 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Go early. The Lower Falls loop trail is extremely popular, short, and sweet (1.2 miles round trip), descending an abundance of stairs to a well-paved path. It’s perfect for those who want a quick and memorable diversion.

The second view is just down the trail a bit.

Dave and I opted to add the spur to the upper falls, which lengthened our hike (3.2 miles) and elevation (450 ft). We ascended over exposed roots, boulders, and creek beds, through lush, fall foliage.

As forewarned, we did encounter a fair amount of MUD as the trail crept through creeks and marshy patches. After initially trying to avoid every sludgey puddle, we found it more efficient to traipse right through them—after all, isn’t that what hiking boots are for? Amazingly, by hike’s end, our shoes were no worse for wear.

At the upper falls, a small scramble over a few large boulders allowed us to get a bit closer for photos.

As we made our way back, the number of people on the trails increased dramatically. An overflowing parking lot greeted us upon our return, with no signs of slowing down.

The view from the overlook was stunning as fall color was nearing its peak.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is truly a leaf-peeper’s paradise.