Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail Map

"Connecting the Graveyards"

GPS Coordinates: 35.32216, -82.85069 (Graveyard Loop Trail Junction)

GPS Coordinates: 35.32598, -82.85221 (Graveyard Ridge Trail Junction)

Album Direction-Of-Travel: Northbound

Highlights: Graveyard Fields, Early Fall Foliage

Length: 0.4 miles

Petzoldt Rating: 0.78

Difficulty: HARD

Total Elevation Gain: 190'

Elevation Gain/Mile: 475'/mile

Min. Elevation: 5,040'

Max. Elevation: 5,230'

Blaze Color: YELLOW

See Following Trip Reports for more info:

Black Balsam/Graveyard Fields Loop

Graveyard Fields

Graveyard Fields & Graveyard Ridge

Connecting Trails:

Graveyard Fields Loop Trail (#358)

Graveyard Ridge Trail (#356)

Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail (#356A)

Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail Map
Route map of the Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail Map
Route map of the Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Graveyard Fields Loop/Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail Junction -- 5,050'
The lower terminus of the Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail is here, where it splits from the Graveyard Fields Loop Trail about 3/4-mile from the western trailhead for the latter...
Graveyard Fields Loop/Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail Junction -- 5,050'
The lower terminus of the Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail is here, where it splits from the Graveyard Fields Loop Trail about 3/4-mile from the western trailhead for the latter...
Graveyard Fields Connector Trail -- 5,060'
The Connector Trail climbed only gradually at first, with the ridge where it's heading visible above...
Graveyard Fields Connector Trail -- 5,080'
The Connector Trail doesn't concern itself with a whole lot of switchbacks to make its moderate climb. As a result a few sections of the trail are a bit eroded...
Graveyard Fields Connector Trail -- 5,120'
A few patches of larger trees start mixing in as the trail climbs, marking places which must have been spared the hottest parts of the fires which consumed the rest of the valley a century ago...
Graveyard Fields Connector Trail -- 5,150'
There are actually a couple flat stretches on this trail...stretches that can be quite wet after a good rain...
Graveyard Fields Connector Trail -- 5,170'
The path nears the top of the ridge beneath a pair of (seasonally) showy maples...
Graveyard Fields Connector Trail -- 5,200'
Ascending the narrow, eroded path...
Graveyard Fields Connector Trail -- 5,230'
Nearing the top there are some nice views to be had back across Graveyard Fields, with the Blue Ridge Parkway visible traveling the ridge beyond...
Graveyard Fields Connector/Graveyard Ridge Trail Junction -- 5,230'
The Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail as it reaches its upper terminus, at the Graveyard Ridge Trail...
Graveyard Fields Connector/Graveyard Ridge Trail Junction -- 5,230'
The upper terminus is somewhat ugly, as the Graveyard Ridge Connector departs downhill through an eroded gully. This spot is about 1/4-mile west of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at the east end of Graveyard Ridge.