The Crooked Arm Ridge trail departs from the Cades Cove area and climbs the ridge until it meets up with the Indian Grave Gap to help create the Rich Mountain Loop. It offers great, although obscured, views of the fields that make up part of Cades Cove.

Further along, the trail becomes rockier and there are roots growing across the trail in places, so watch your step. The trail climbs more steeply up a series of switchbacks until about 0.9 miles, where the trail levels off and obscured views of Cades Cove come into view. While these are great, save your photos for a better spot later in the trip.

There are areas through this section where the trail has been eroded due to water and use by hikers and animals. In the fall, these sections can be filled with leaves up to your knees, making it difficult to see obstacles, or slippery from wet leaves. At roughly 1.75 miles, the best view of the Cove is off to the left, so stop for a minute to take some photos and rest after your climb. At 2.1 miles, the trail forks to the left (lower) and right (upper). Take the upper trail in the fall or winter to get views of the Laurel Creek drainage, or take the left trail for a short descent alongside some rhododendron trees. Both paths meet back up right before you arrive at the end of the trail, the junction of the Scott Mountain Trail and the Indian Grave Gap Trail.