Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Hike the appalachian trail at max patch, one of north carolinas most popular at hikes, on a grassy, bald mountain thats covered in wildflowers. Venture just past the summit for the prime locations. To access this trail from downtown mars hill, head west on nc2w cascade st. This is an incredible, relatively easy hike with the reward at the end being hot springs on the french broad river. Max patch is a littleknown scenic place in north carolina. Directions take exit 7 on interstate 40 and head east on gravel cold spring road, usfs 148, for six miles, then left north on nc sr 1182 to intersection with a. Pisgah national forest shuts down camping, many trails.
Make sure you have good directions, dont think your gps will work here. It contains quite a few more hiking trails and attractions to explore. Max patch is a fantastic hike, and made our list of top family hikes and 25 best places to see fall foliage. On our way back from the mother earth fair in ashville we stopped at max patch near hot springs nc for a. Simply choose a selection from each of the list boxes below, then click on the submit button.
United states north carolina pisgah national forest max patch loop via appalachian trail. The trails on max patch are fairly wellsigned, although a few confusing spots do exist so bring a map and pay attention. Max patch loop via appalachian trail north carolina alltrails. I was thinking of a section hike max patch to hot springs, but timing wasnt good for me. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you. Nice hike along a treeless summit of rolling hills. About 20 minutes to the top by the short trail, 2530 on the longer loop. Consider things such as access and accommodation at the base of max patch, as well as the logistics of climbing to the summit. Our friends in nc took us up to max patch for a quick afternoon hike over memorial day weekend. Hike max patch mountain, max patch mountain trailhead. Trailhead tees the trailhead the trailhead the trailhead. This hike follows the at southbound from lemon gap, exploring a wildflowerfilled creek valley and visiting the roaring fork shelter.
Max patch is a mountain on the tennessee north carolina border. Max patch hiking hot springs, nc blue ridge mountain life. Max patch is a bald mountain on the north carolinatennessee border in madison county, north carolina, and cocke county, tennessee. It was once forested, but legend has it that indians burned it, apparently for visibility. Say goodbye to max patch, graveyard fields, looking glass rock and mountains to sea for the summer. See photos and hiking guide for max patch bald mountain along the appalachian trail near hot springs and asheville north carolina in pisgah national. Davenport gap to max patch road or other waterville, north carolina hiking trails. It is not easy to get to this trail over the bumpy forest service roads, but the trail is still quite popular.
If you are going to backpack it, starting at max patch makes the most sense as there are good camping sites close to lemon gap including the shelter about 2 miles from the trailhead. 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. 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. Theo and i have hiked and enjoyed a lot of this trail over the years. If you hike north from max patch, hot springs is only a 20 mile hike away and has a lot of stuff for hikers. The trails were short and mostly easy and the views were fantastic. 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.
Navigation the trail from the trailhead at the parking lot makes a loop around the base of the bald and then joins the at near the summit of max patch. Topo maps, latitude and longitude coordinates, and address for max patch mountain. Avoid the usual weekend crowds at the max patch trailhead and hike this scenic alternate route to the viewpacked mountain bald. There is a reservationonly horse group camping area along cold springs creek. Max patch mountain at 4,629 feet is not close to being the tallest peak in the region, but you are surrounded by countless 5,000 and 6,000foot peaks in every direction. If youre looking for a shorter route to the summit, or searching for a quick hike to catch an epic summit sunrise or sunset, follow the 1.
This program calculates the approximate walking distance in miles between two points along the appalachian trail. Max patch mountain part of the pisgah national forest is a bald mountain roughly equidistant from knoxville, tn and asheville, nc about a 1. Max patch trail hiking the appalachians near asheville, n. Please submit any useful information about climbing max patch that may be useful to other climbers.
The new weed patch mountain trail offers exciting backcountry adventures for hikers, mountain bikers, and rock climbers. Max patch short loop running trail, marshall, north carolina. Food, accommodation, etc according to a couple people i talked to hostel owners, hikers, etc, this area remains terribly busy until about midmay. This particular loop branches just off of the appalachian trail at. It can be quite a busy location during the warm months visitors can expect to see families picnicking, tossing around a baseball, playing music, or practicing photography. The hike trails to the northeast, skirting the mountain and beginning a continuous, moderate climb. The unaka, black, great balsam, plott balsam, and great smoky mountain ranges are home to the highest peaks in the east and can all be seen from max patch. Its one of the most spectacular settings youll experience in the blue. Two easy loop trails lead you to, and around, the summit. Weed patch mountain trail info and map conserving carolina. 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. Hike max patch trail in winter for great views in north carolina.
Camping is allowed in nearby areas but is prohibited on the summit itself. The pastoral setting atop 4600 max patch is widely considered as the prettiest spot on the entire appalachian trail. Hike a section of the famous appalachian national scenic trail or a. With little elevation gain and a short distance it is also very family and dog. From the parking area at max patch, the trail starts off going north. A couple of offtrail waterfalls top off the list of. Apr 30, 2020 max patch mountain engagement photos and wedding pictures in the pisgah national forest in north carolina, overlooking the great smoky mountains. Feb 16, 2020 our friends in nc took us up to max patch for a quick afternoon hike over memorial day weekend. This trail has panoramic views from open fields of max patch, follows both trail and old road. The vast majority of the people who visit max patch hike the 2. This is the lower loop of max patch to lemon gap and resting at the roaring fork shelter for lunch.
From downtown hot springs, go south on bridge street until it turns into. Nov 27, 2019 but cold temps can make it a bit of a challenge to reach the max patch trailhead. Be sure to bring a vehicle that can pull the weight if the road is snowcovered and icy. The trail climbs max patch on log steps carved into the hillside and then crosses the grass to the broad summit of the mountain. These distances are based on the appalachian trail data book for 2020, a publication of the appalachian trail conservancy, all rights.
Once parked, hop out and take a survey of the upcoming challenge. 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. Today, its a 350acre tract of open land on a high knob with 360degree views. Since then there has been homestead, a logging mill, and an air strip on the mountain. Max patch mountain, a summit located in madison county, north carolina. National forests in north carolina max patch usda forest service. Turn right and walk a short way to see the view from the summit and then go back on the at and continue on that trail while it descends from max patch summit into a wooded area. Dads bucket list included a hike on the appalachian trail.
Make a weekend trip from max patch to hot springs n. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. If you chose to tackle these routes in winter come prepared with an emergency kit and a snowworthy vehicle. Lemon gap to max patch hiking trail, marshall, north carolina. From the gravel parking lot, youve got two choices for getting to the top of max patch. 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. Max patch is by far the most popular destination for hiking in the immediate area, and for good reason. A trio of route options leads to max patch from asheville. Except for the dramatic approach to max patch this section of the at is mainly rolling soft hills that a novice hiker would not realize the 10 miles or so you would log at the end of the day. Rising 4629 feet, max is a rolling, sprawling stretch of mountain meadow that offers plentiful sunshine, incredible views, and an ontopoftheworld feeling. Max patch loop via appalachian trail north carolina. This dog friendly and family friendly hike is great for picnics, star gazing, and is accesible year round.
With spring wildflowers and fall leaf peeping, the max patch trail is an easyto moderate hike on the appalachian trail near asheville, n. Max patch the summit at max patch provides an overwhelming 360 degree view be sure to take the camera. May 10, 2017 dads bucket list included a hike on the appalachian trail. Mileage is given, in miles, as one heads north from springer for mileage from katahdin simply subtract 2178.
At 4629 feet elevation, max patch is not the highest summit in its immediate vicinity, but this grassy bald is certainly one of the prettiest. The bald, wide, rolling expanses of the mountain rise to the east. See more ideas about max patch, mountain engagement photos and engagement photos. The atblazed posts along the open bald lend themselves to endless awesome photo opportunities. Pisgah national forest shuts down many trails, camping, roads. I will say that the road up to the trailhead is a very rough, worn down ride. With spring wildflowers and fall leaf peeping, the max patch trail is an easytomoderate hike on the appalachian trail near asheville, n. Hike the appalachian trail at max patch, a grassy, bald mountain thats covered in wildflowers, and one of north carolinas most popular at hikes. Photos of max patch loop via appalachian trail alltrails. Max patch short loop hiking trail, marshall, north carolina. One time, we tried to take the linear trail all the way south on marie street and into the protected lands.
Apr 11, 2016 max patch is a fantastic hike, and made our list of top family hikes and 25 best places to see fall foliage. It is a 6 mile drive down a maintained but bumpy u. Max patch hot springs 2020 all you need to know before. Well worth the detour, the hike to the top is part of a small loop that is well marked. Max patch to hot springs on the appalachian trail david m allen. Either way, this is one of the souths most scenic sections of the at, and it is well worth your. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from march until november. Either way, this is one of the souths most scenic sections of the at, and it is well worth your journey from wherever you are coming from. Max patch hot springs 2020 all you need to know before you. It is a major landmark along the tennesseenorth carolina section of the appalachian trail, although its summit is located in north carolina. Sitting on the border of north carolina and tennessee, max patch features 360 mountain range views and sits along the appalachian trail.
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