Weekday Hike! Rich Mountain Loop / Indian Grave Gap / Crooked Arm Ridge

This is a favorite loop hike starting at the gate to Cades Cove Loop Road. We follow Rich Mountain Loop Trail clockwise, west to the John Oliver cabin, north along Martha's Branch, up Tater's Ridge to the junction with Indian Grave Gap Trail. From there we go east on the ridgeline, past the Rich Mountain Trail junction and Cerulean Knob, and on to the junction with Crooked Arm Ridge and Scott Mountain Trails. We’ll go a short ways down Scott Mountain to Campsite 6 for lunch. Then we descend Crooked Arm Ridge Trail, past two overlooks and the Falls on the way to the junction with Rich Mountain Loop Trail, and back to the trailhead.
* Total hike distance is 8.7 miles with 1958 ft elevation gain; rated Moderate.
* For more information and to register for this event, go to the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club website HERE.
* Our Moderate hikes are: 5-10 miles and/or elevation change of 1000-1800', on-trail hiking. Hikers should be regularly hiking 5+ miles with 400-500 feet of continuous elevation gain over a mile, at a 2.0-2.5 mph pace.