
TPC Invasive plant management crew co-leaders Sam Byars, left, and Will Coffee plant red spruce trees
By Emma Castleberry
In December 2024, a multi-year restoration effort commenced at Graveyard Fields, one of the most beloved hiking destinations along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Spearheaded by The Pisgah Conservancy (TPC) and its partners, this initiative aims to rehabilitate the area’s ecosystems, enhance recreational experiences and safeguard habitats for rare wildlife species. The first phase of the project involved the planting of red spruce trees, a species native to the region.
“This planting was the first phase because the red spruce trees we planted have been growing for several years and were ready to go into the ground,” says Nina Ardle, TPC’s chief administrative and development officer. The original planting, scheduled for early October, was delayed due to Hurricane Helene.

TPC board member Peter Barry plants red spruce trees
For decades, Graveyard Fields has been a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, but its high foot traffic has had negative environmental impacts. “Unfortunately, trails in the area have been heavily degraded over time and stream banks have been impacted,” says Ardle. Planned improvements include trail rehabilitation, new trail construction and stream restoration at six critical sites. These efforts will not only reduce congestion but also improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitats.
Kelly Holdbrooks is a champion of the red spruce and the executive director of Southern Highlands Reserve, where the red spruce trees used in the first phase of this project were propagated. “Graveyard Fields was once a spruce-fir forest that was lost to logging and wildfires in the first part of the 20th century, so we’re helping to restore the original ecosystem,” says Holdbrooks. “We’ve been talking about this project for almost 10 years, and it’s a great place to start because of its high use as one of the most popular hiking spots on the Blue Ridge Parkway.”
Holdbrooks also emphasizes the project’s broader significance, noting the nearby habitat of the endangered Carolina northern flying squirrel. “We want to extend that habitat,” she says. “The biggest impact will be seeing the spruce-fir forest rebound. The desired outcome of the planting is a mixed canopy including both deciduous trees and evergreens, so we’re actually building back an ecosystem.”
The project’s early phases will not disrupt access to the area. “Initial construction will take place on new connective trails that don’t exist yet,” says Ardle, “meaning there shouldn’t be any impacts to users as a result of construction in the area.”
“I hike there with my family on a regular basis, and we hope one day to walk there with our grandchildren,” says Holdbrooks. “There’s a lot of hope and resilience built into restoration projects, and our region needs that right now. Our efforts help the forest system return to its original health and beauty.”
The Graveyard Fields Overlook is located at Milepost 418.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Learn more about the restoration project at PisgahConservancy.org.