Campsite 32 manway

[bacpacer]

I have heard that there is an old manway that goes from behind the ranger station at Greenbriar up to campsite 32 on Injun Creek.

Is it still passable and is it worth hiking?

Also, does anyone have info on the water sources at #32? I read that it sometimes dries up and is hard to get to from camp.

Any info appreciated. Thanks

[chknfngrs]

had to google Manway.

[gpburdelljr]

I’d email, or call the park.

https://www.nps.gov/grsm/contacts.htm

[Daybreak]

had to google Manway.

Ditto.

Manway - a trail that isn't officially recognized by SMNP

I have also encountered:
Herd path - "trails" to "trailless" New England hundred highest peaks.
Ranger trail - typically direct route to old lookout tower.
Here are two blogs about this trail and a couple others. 2008-2012. The first is specifically this manway. The second one has more info on safety and general off-trail hiking.

https://gosmokies.knoxnews.com/profi...-experiences-1

https://hikinginthesmokies.wordpress...22-26-27-2012/

[gjbu]

Pre Covid it was wide open all the way up. I have not been up there in last few years.

[Slugg]

Ditto.

Manway - a trail that isn't officially recognized by SMNP

I have also encountered:
Herd path - "trails" to "trailless" New England hundred highest peaks.
Ranger trail - typically direct route to old lookout tower.
Here are two blogs about this trail and a couple others. 2008-2012. The first is specifically this manway. The second one has more info on safety and general off-trail hiking.

https://gosmokies.knoxnews.com/profi...-experiences-1

https://hikinginthesmokies.wordpress...22-26-27-2012/

Doesn’t have to be Smokies - maybe it’s a SE term but I’m familiar with the word as meaning as any “unofficial” trail.

[jeffmeh]

Never heard the term before. I was picturing this, lol.
78141808stl_1__2_1_1_2_1__31998.jpg

[gpburdelljr]

Doesn’t have to be Smokies - maybe it’s a SE term but I’m familiar with the word as meaning as any “unofficial” trail.

The only references I can find are about manways in the Smokies.

[illabelle]

Here's a clip from the 1930s map. I think you're probably talking about the trail along Rhododendron Creek (double lines indicates it actually used to be a road). We've been to #32 a few times. Once we were told (by a ranger) to check out the Rhododendron Trail, which we did. It's been several years ago, and I don't remember much about it.

I'm not aware of issues with water at #32. If it was dry, you could always backtrack on the trail a little bit to the spot where the old engine lies upside down in the creek. There's a good flow there, and I don't believe you'd have any issue getting plenty of water. To those who aren't aware, there's an actual engine in Injun Creek. The name may possibly be a misspelling from semi-literate folk.

Here's the link to the full map.

https://tile.loc.gov/image-services/.../0/default.jpg

[illabelle]

There are many manways in the Smokies. We bushwhacked this weekend from the Elkmont Campground on an old manway to Mids Gap, then hiked a loop on some of the currently established trails.

Hiking the old manways, or even wandering around in the woods where no trails have ever existed is completely legal. But you must be responsible for your own safety. If you're going off-trail, please be sure to leave information with someone and when they should expect you to return. Rhododendron Creek is a low-risk adventure, but a hiker stills need to be disciplined about safety. There have been a few stories in recent years about someone getting lost near a trail, and not being found until too late.

[SmokyMtn Hiker]

It's not a manway but an actual trail, it's just not official or on a map. It's been many years since I've hiked it but it was an obvious trail that actually passes by 2 old cemeteries via short side trails. Park at the ranger station, which I think you can, and walk the road just a few yards further crossing a small bridge over the creek. The obvious trail will be immediately on your right and will follow the creek upstream most of the way to campsite 32. If I remember correctly it's not much more than a mile give or take. Hiking upstream look for any faint or obvious trail on your right and it will most likely lead to an old cemetery with a only a few graves marked with flat rocks for headstones. Happy hunting/exploring!!!

[gpburdelljr]

Could it have been an old road bed for the steam engine in the creek.

[Slugg]

The only references I can find are about manways in the Smokies.

Here’s WB’s own referring to a commonly-used manyway I’ve hiked myself in the Bald River Backcountry - probably where I first saw the term.
https://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/sho...chesi-Mountain

Blogger referring to a manway on the BMT near the Doc Rodgers ruins:
https://cumberlandgal.blogspot.com/2...forgotten.html