Cerulean Knob Loop via Rich Mountain Loop Trail
8.7 mi
Distance
4 hrs 23 min
Time
terrain
1,752 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a difficult loop trail to Cerulean Knob in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This trail goes by Double Mountain, 5, Scott Mountain, 6 Turkeypen Ridge, Crooked Arm, Crooked Arm Cascades, and VISITOR INFORMATION KIOSK.
Sights to See
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
From Oliver's Cabin up the trail is quite steep of mostly loose rock. There are a fair number of creek crossings. Large amount wildflower blooms including orchids above the 2800ft area. Numerous fallen trees on the trail as we were there the first weekend the park was opened from the Crovid 19 shutdown. May 2020. Great less traveled trail in Cades Cove.
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A great loop from Cades Cove up Rich Mountain. The first mile or so is pretty level, then it gets STEEP for a few miles, then there's a nice ridge line with views (through the trees) both north and south, then a pretty steep descent on a rutted trail full of sharp switchbacks. Crooked Arm Cascades at the end is beautiful, a little bonus after all that hard work. There were lots of trees down across the trail when I went (4/2019) -- most could be scrambled over pretty easily. And lots of small stream crossings, all with easy rock hops.
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Public Tracks
Cades Cove area loop
Late start, 11:15?, CCW loop. Cold and gray with 1-2" of snow all the way - had 3.3"at home on Saturday. A few 3" long bear prints in the snow about half mile in and then a massive print about 3 miles in.
Cases Cive, Rich Mt, Cerulean Knob, Crooked Arm
Saw 2 bears at the end
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