Grapeyard Ridge Trail

Grapeyard Ridge Trail is a 7.5-mile point-to-point hike from Greenbrier Road west to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. It drops into Rhododendron Creek, climbs to the ridge, reaches the old engine wreck in Injun Creek, then continues to the road. Allow about 5½ hours of hiking, plus time for the shuttle. The full route needs two vehicles; Roaring Fork is one-way, so confirm where you can legally leave a car at the western end before setting out. If you have one vehicle, the shorter choice is to hike to the wreck and back for about 5.8–6 miles round-trip. A parking tag is required if your vehicle stays in the park more than 15 minutes.

The trail climbs about 270 feet in its first two-thirds of a mile, then drops toward Rhododendron Creek. In leaf-off months, the climb opens views toward Mount Chapman, Mount Sequoia, Charlies Bunion, and Mount LeConte; foliage hides much of that skyline later in the year. The tread crosses the creek five times in roughly 1.2 miles, with no footbridges. After rain, water can be high and the rocks or logs used to cross can be slippery, so be ready to turn back if the crossings are unsafe.

At about 2.1 miles, the route leaves Rhododendron Creek and climbs through rhododendron tunnels to James Gap, around mile 2.85. It then descends to Injun Creek, where the remains of a Nichols & Shepard steam traction engine lie in the creek. The machine came here in the 1920s to saw lumber for Greenbrier School. On its return trip, it overturned at a switchback and fell into the creek; some parts were salvaged, while the rest stayed behind. This is the main historic stop and a natural turnaround for the shorter hike.

The creek valley holds old homestead sites from the Big Laurel community. William and Middleton Whaley arrived around 1800, and the stream now called Rhododendron Creek was once known as Laurel Creek. The route follows this settled valley before climbing onto the ridge.

For the full one-way hike, continue past the engine to the trail's western end at the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. That extra section is what turns the popular engine walk into a through-hike; plan the vehicle pickup before you start.