About this spot
Graveyard Fields Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 418.8, Canton NC; free parking at the overlook lot. A short, staired roughly 0.3-mile (about 20-minute round trip) trail leads to Second Falls, also called Lower Falls, a roughly 60-foot tiered cascade on Yellowstone Prong. Multiple sources describe large boulders around the plunge pool that are popular for jumping and sunbathing, plus swimming in warmer months. The hazard that matters: rocks here are notoriously slick, there are no lifeguards, and water levels and current shift quickly after rain, with slip injuries common. Jumping and swimming are widely practiced and not prohibited, but caution is warranted; the area gets very crowded on weekends and during fall foliage season.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.