Graveyard Ridge Trail Map

Route map for the Graveyard Ridge Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Graveyard Ridge Trail Map

Route map for the Graveyard Ridge Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

Graveyard Ridge/Mountains-to-Sea Trail East Junction -- 5,200'

The eastern terminus of the Graveyard Ridge Trail is here, where it meets the Mountains-to-Sea Trail just above Graveyard Fields. The Graveyard Ridge Trail heads left here to follow the south side of Graveyard Ridge, while the MST goes right to follow the north side...

Graveyard Ridge/Mountains-to-Sea Trail East Junction -- 5,200'

The Graveyard Ridge Trail as it departs from its eastern junction with the MST...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,200'

The Graveyard Ridge Trail starts out through a tunnel of young beech trees...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,210'

Through the treetops, the busy parking area for Graveyard Fields can be seen...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,220'

The beech tunnel continues...

Graveyard Ridge/Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail Junction -- 5,230'

This unmarked, eroded junction is where the connector trail down to Graveyard Fields meets the Graveyard Ridge Trail...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,240'

Just past the connector junction the surroundings open up offering the first views of the day...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,250'

Looking across the upper end of Graveyard Fields from the Graveyard Ridge Trail...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,270'

A panoramic shot of Graveyard Fields as seen from the Graveyard Ridge Trail...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,280'

The walk along the ridge is pleasantly easy. The trail ascends as it heads west, but at a very gradual rate...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,290'

Back in the woods briefly...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,300'

Another opening allows for a view west of the high ridge extending south from Black Balsam Knob...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,310'

The Catawba rhododendron is a common sight along this trail...

Mountain Laurel

...as are the beautiful blooms of the mountain laurel...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,340'

This is a gorgeous stretch of trail, to say the least...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,350'

Yet another opening reveals Black Balsam Knob (6,214') towering above, just to the west...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,370'

The grade picks up slightly as the Graveyard Ridge Trail nears its western junction with the MST...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,390'

Tunneling through the laurel and rhodo...

Graveyard Ridge/Mountains-to-Sea Trail West Junction -- 5,400'

About 1.3-miles after departing their eastern junction, the Graveyard Ridge and MST reach their western junction. In this shot the Graveyard Ridge Trail continues straight ahead while the MST crosses from left-to-right...

Catawba Rhododendron

This giant and incredibly showy rhododendron bush grows right alongside the junction...

Graveyard Ridge/Mountains-to-Sea Trail West Junction -- 5,400'

The Graveyard Ridge Trail as it departs north from its western junction with the MST...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,400'

The portion of the Graveyard Ridge Trail between the MST and Ivestor Gap doesn't see near the traffic its eastern section does, and can be quite overgrown during the summer...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,400'

Surrounded by rhododendron blooms with 6,040-foot Tennent Mountain looming ahead...

Graveyard Ridge Trail @ Dark Prong -- 5,410'

Here the trail makes a quick rock-hop across the upper waters of Dark Prong. Even after heavy rains I doubt this crossing poses much difficulty...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,430'

Rising behind is the high ridge extending north from Black Balsam Knob...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,450'

Ahead, the rugged south face of Tennent Mountain looms ever larger...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,470'

As mentioned earlier, this portion of the GRT gets quite overgrown in the summer. It was only May when this shot was taken...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,490'

The trail is now climbing to make its crossing of the crest of Ivestor Ridge. This allows for more nice views, looking back, of neighboring Black Balsam Knob (6,214', left) and Tennent Mountain (6,040', right)...

Flame Azalea

Another favorite bloom of the Southern Appalachians that is common along the Graveyard Ridge Trail...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,510'

Crossing the very overgrown crest of Ivestor Ridge, the green dome of Grassy Cove Top (6,040') now appears ahead...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,520'

There are some nice views to be had as the trail crosses to the north side of Ivestor Ridge. This shot looks down the valley of Greasy Prong...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,520'

A panoramic shot of Grassy Cove Top as seen from the north side of Ivestor Ridge...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,530'

After enjoying the brief views it's time to dive back into the woods...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,550'

The trail as it crosses the damp upper drainage of Greasy Prong...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,550'

A common tree at these elevations is the yellow birch, two of which are seen here on the right side of the trail...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,560'

If anything the trail gets more overgrown the closer it gets to Ivestor Gap...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,580'

Grassy Cove Top looms large ahead...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,590'

You can't tell because of the tall grass, but this part of the trail is also very wet. Without waterproof boots, you'll definitely have wet feet after crossing this stretch...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,620'

Beginning the final climb up to Ivestor Gap, Tennent Mountain (6,040') dominates the skyline behind you...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,640'

The wet and muddy trail continues...

Graveyard Ridge/Greasy Cove Trail Junction -- 5,650'

A mile and three-quarters after departing the west junction with the MST (and a quarter-mile from Ivestor Gap) the trail reaches its junction with the Greasy Cove Trail...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,660'

The panorama ahead as the trail turns towards Ivestor Gap (seen ahead, above the trail on the right) from its junction with the Greasy Cove Trail...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,680'

A zoomed shot of grassy Ivestor Gap, just ahead...

Graveyard Ridge Trail -- 5,690'

This short split rail fence signals the trails arrival at Ivestor Gap...

Graveyard Ridge/Art Loeb Trail Junction (Ivestor Gap) -- 5,700'

The upper terminus of the Graveyard Ridge Trail is here, where it meets the Art Loeb Trail at Ivestor Gap.

Graveyard Ridge Trail @ Ivestor Gap -- 5,700'

Looking at the upper terminus of the Graveyard Ridge Trail as is arriving via the Art Loeb at Ivestor Gap. The giant green dome of Grassy Cove Top (6,040') rises above.