Shortly after passing through this intersection the at leaves the forest behind and climbs up log stairs on the way to the summit. The manmade meadow on top of the mountain was once home to large herds of grazing cattle. The appalachian trail follows the crest of the appalachians along the north carolina and tennessee state line. From the parking area you will climb over a small fence ladder and then have a choice of going left or right the trail straight ahead is closed for rehabilitation. Food, accommodation, etc according to a couple people i talked to hostel owners, hikers, etc, this area remains terribly busy until about midmay. The trails on max patch are fairly wellsigned, although a few confusing spots do exist so bring a map and pay attention. Everyone was a good sport, and we headed back to max patch. Come celebrate it by volunteering your time on max patch, one of the iconic jewels of the appalachian trail, and a highlight of all trails in western north carolina. From the parking area at max patch, the trail starts off going north. About 20 minutes to the top by the short trail, 2530 on the longer loop. See photos and hiking guide for max patch bald mountain along the appalachian trail near hot springs and asheville north.
Turns out the drive to get to the max patch hike and parking was the trickiest part of the whole day. If you hike north from max patch, hot springs is only a 20 mile hike away and has a lot of stuff for hikers. Zach robbins max patch mountain, simply known as max patch, is hands down one of the most beautiful summits in the southeast. In between the soaring mountains of the great smokies and the rolling hills of hot springs the a. This dog friendly and family friendly hike is great for picnics, star gazing, and is accesible year round. Appalachian trail hike max patch to hot springs day 1.
Long climbs in and out of gaps will test your hiking legs in this popular section of the at. This 311 mile section of the appalachian trail features many scenic vistas and a spectacular walk along a ridgeline in great smoky mountains national park. Rising 4629 feet, max is a rolling, sprawling stretch of mountain meadow that offers plentiful sunshine, incredible views, and an ontopoftheworld feeling. The meadow part of the hike on the buckeye ridge trail can be tailored to either a long or a short loop. This amazing area was cleared and used historically as a pasture for cattle and sheep back in the 1800s. Highlights include max patch, roaring fork shelter. The massive grassy bald is meticulously maintained by mowing and prescribed burns to preserve stunning 360 views of the tallest appalachian peaks. Hike a section of the famous appalachian national scenic trail or a. Make a weekend trip from max patch to hot springs n. This is max patch, a popular, iconic, almost idyllic bald summit on the appalachian trail thats beloved by hardcore at thruhikers, casual day hikers and frisbeeflingers alike. This is an incredible, relatively easy hike with the reward at the end being hot springs on the french broad river. These geospatial data and related maps or graphics are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such. The trail enters the great smoky mountains national park from the south at fontana dam.
Primarily used as a horse trail, but open to hiking. Hike the appalachian trail at max patch, a grassy, bald mountain thats. Max patch hot springs 2020 all you need to know before. From the parking area you have a choice of going left or right on official trails. I had made the most tenderfoot of tenderfoot mistakes i failed to orientate the map with a compass.
From the parking area hop on the trail going left into. June 1st is the 51st anniversary of the national trails day systems act. Your login works with all adventure projects sites. The cherokee national forest is a large national forest created on june 14, 1920 and managed by the u. It is one of the largest maintained balds in the southern appalachian mountain range and boasts incredible 360degree views of equally beautiful surrounding mountains. Gps wasnt very reliable and we followed a winding gravel road for about 6 miles to reach the spot. The appalachian trail crosses the summit of max patch, about 20 miles west of hot springs at mile 251. The carolina mountain club maintains the popular hiking area, max patch, a large grassy bald near the north carolinatennessee border. On our way back from the mother earth fair in ashville we stopped at max patch near hot springs nc for a day hike and a meal. The appalachian trail crosses right over the summit running north and south. The trail rolls elevation through the shady forest, meandering through switchbacks, crossing several small creeks over rustic. This particular loop branches just off of the appalachian trail at.
Max patch hiking hot springs, nc blue ridge mountain life. The hike departs from the trailhead on a gravel forest service road, roughly an hour and a quarter northwest of asheville view maps and driving directions. Take exist 24 off i40, climb to max patch by gravel road, once at the parking, just a short hike to one of the most incredible views you will ever see. In the 1920s, there was even a landing strip for airplanes offering thrill rides. Lovers leap is a rock outcropping on the appalachian trail in hot springs that offers a spectacular panoramic view of the french broad river and pisgah national forest. Max patch short loop hiking trail, marshall, north carolina. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. National forests in north carolina max patch usda forest service. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. The max patch loop trail encircles the base connecting to the sr 1182 parking lot and the buckeye ridge trail 304.
Max patch mountain was once cleared for pasture land, leaving an expansive flat summit that now serves as the ideal location for a picnic hike, flying a kite, or laying in the sun surrounded by the great smoky mountains. The appalachian trail conservancy explore by state. Hiking the max patch appalachian trail the adventurerr. Good places to hike on the appalachian trail in north. This entry was posted in trip report and tagged at appalachian trail section hiking, backpacking, beer, bluff mountain, bluff mountain outfitter, deer park mountain shelter, graves, hiking, hot springs, laughing heart hostel, max patch, roaring fork shelter, smoky mountain diner, the spring creek tavern, walnut mountain shelter, whiteblaze. Nice hike along a treeless summit of rolling hills. Rachel and i thought it would be a good idea to hike with the kids again, but this time we took them on a three day backpacking treck.
Max patch is just one of those hikes that everyone should try to do at some point in their life. The vast majority of the people who visit max patch hike the 2. The trail starts by walking through the front gate. Make sure you have good directions, dont think your gps will work here. Heading left the trail follows an old logging road along the wooded west slope of max patch. The summit is a short hike from the parking area deep in pisgah national forest. Max patch mountain via brown gap pisgah national forest. There is a reservationonly horse group camping area along cold springs creek. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from march until november. Today, its a 350acre tract of open land on a high knob with 360degree views. Max patch to hot springs on the appalachian trail david.
Forest service and encompassing some 655,598 acres 2,653. Max patch mountain part of the pisgah national forest is a bald mountain roughly equidistant from knoxville, tn and asheville, nc about a 1. Nov 08, 2016 rachel and i thought it would be a good idea to hike with the kids again, but this time we took them on a three day backpacking treck to north carolina along the appalacian trail. Hiking at max patch begins at the parking lot where a trail heads left and another trail heads right. Hike max patch mountain, max patch mountain trailhead. I was thinking of a section hike max patch to hot springs, but timing wasnt good for me.
The adventure begins at the lemon gap trailhead on max patch road view maps and driving directions, following the whiteblazed appalachian trail southbound from the border of north carolina and tennessee. May 10, 2017 dads bucket list included a hike on the appalachian trail. The bald, wide, rolling expanses of the mountain rise to the east. Oct 29, 2015 appalachian trail hike max patch to hot springs day 1 october 29, 2015 december 2, 2019 starpulp after planning my at hike for almost a year, i finally took my first step with my friend, jenni, the morning of saturday, september 12, 2015. There are nearly 40 miles of trails available in the area, including the appalachian trail, which runs along the spine of the mountains along the state line from i40 up to max patch mountain. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the national park service, us forest service, appalachian trail conservancy. Max patch is by far the most popular destination for hiking in the immediate area, and for good reason.
Max patch hike hiking virginia, maryland, west virginia. Max patch is one of the most popular hiking areas in our region. Max patch mountain via brown gap pisgah national forest, nc. You will emerge from the woods to the open fields of max patch with an impressive 360 degree view of the blue ridge and smoky mountains. Its one of the most spectacular settings youll experience in the blue. The appalachian trail conservancy explore by state north. Since the famous appalachian trail at goes through the tiny town of hot springs, you can hike from the center of downtown for a very scenic 2mile loop. At 4629 feet elevation, max patch is not the highest summit in its immediate vicinity, but this. With spring wildflowers and fall leaf peeping, the max patch trail is an easyto moderate hike on the appalachian trail near asheville, n. Good connector trail between cold springs horse trail and max patch road. The at and max patch trail continue straight climbing the mountain.
The initial part of the hike is a short easy climb to the summit of max patch followed by a gentle descent to a field and meadow hike that returns to the summit of max patch via the at which entails a moderate climb. Since the famous appalachian trail at goes through the tiny town of hot springs, you can hike from the center of downtown for a very scenic 2mile. From the parking area, go left on the blueblazed trail up an incline until the trail connects with the whiteblazed appalachian trail. The meeting place is at home depot, asheville, off of exit 44 at 8. Max patch and hot springs is a hiking adventure located in or near asheville, nc. Nat geo 782 trails illustrated map find it at trailful outdoor co. There is a third trail up the middle, that youll see many people using, but the national forest signs clearly indicate the trail is closed. Max patch loop via appalachian trail closed north carolina. Turn right and follow the at up a short but steep distance to the summit. With spring wildflowers and fall leaf peeping, the max patch trail is an easytomoderate hike on the appalachian trail near asheville, n. It is not easy to get to this trail over the bumpy forest service roads, but the trail is still quite popular. Lovers leap hike, hot springs, nc romanticasheville.
Davenport gap to max patch road or other waterville, north carolina hiking trails. Hikes are moderate to easy there is something for everyone easy access to trails great fishing pond it. Alternatively, you could drive about 5 miles further past max patch parking area to reach lemon gap parking and start there and hike to max patch eat lunch on top of the world and hike back or to share just the views with those of ages 7 to 70 you could just hike the 1mile loop trail. Max patch trail hiking the appalachians near asheville, n. It contains quite a few more hiking trails and attractions to explore. With the fogged in max patch and the twisty road to get there, my intuition had failed me. S tanding guard along the state line, max patch mountain is a grassy bald with fabulous panoramic views of the. Sitting on the border of north carolina and tennessee, max patch features 360 mountain range views and sits along the appalachian trail. About 20 minutes to the top by the short trail, 2530 on the longer loop elevation gain. Zach robbins contact zach max patch mountain, simply known as max patch, is hands down one of the most beautiful summits in the southeast. Max patch is a 4,629foot tall bald mountain with an incredible 360degree mountain vista just 20 miles from hot springs.
263 1024 366 100 1181 167 450 428 277 701 359 1448 715 64 470 55 21 808 1168 886 256 1497 8 908 972 1434 906 791 1222 774 1269 568 639 492 1062 183 1178 74 1292 415