Hidden in north carolina is a beautiful slice of nature called max patch. With little elevation gain and a short distance it is also very family and dog. Noaa national weather service national weather service. As we later learned, it can be driven to from the max patch nc side of things directions here. Max patch hiking hot springs, nc blue ridge mountain life. Vacation rental cabin just 4 miles from the max patch bald and the appalachian trail crossing.
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. At the top of the mountain, turn right onto state road 1182 and max patch parking is 3 miles. Hike max patch mountain, max patch mountain trailhead. Hike the appalachian trail at max patch, a grassy, bald mountain thats covered in. Camping is allowed in nearby areas but is prohibited on the summit itself. Max patch mountain is a mountain in north carolina and has an elevation of 4616 feet. Either way, this is one of the souths most scenic sections of the at, and it is well worth your. Major storm to impact the central and eastern states sunday.
Severe weather threat for the tennessee valley and florida. Hiking the max patch appalachian trail the adventurerr. Max patch is an iconic, grassy bald near the north carolina tennessee border reached by an easy hike up the last bit of the mountain from a forest service parking lot or via the appalachian trail, which crosses the bald. Max patch is a grassed bald with amazing 360 degree views into the great smokies, a great place for a sunset picnic or the jumping off point for a day hike along the appalachian trail. Max patch and hot springs is a hiking adventure located in or near asheville, nc. The appalachian trail crosses max patch and is three miles away as the crow flies, about a 1520 minute drive. Turn right on nc highway 209 and continue for another. I wrote a couple weeks ago about the very difficult hike up wolf creek from the hot springs side post here. Max patch or the patch, as its sometimes simply called in the local areais a magnificent example of a southern appalachian bald, those expansive high clearings dominated either by grasses as in this case or shrubs that make unusual glades in a mountain chain otherwise dominated by forest and too low for a climatically controlled.
Max patch on the appalachian trail in madison county. Hike the appalachian trail at max patch, one of north carolinas most. The map now contains brown squares outlining nearby us topo map quadrants. Max patch short loop hiking trail, marshall, north carolina. Max patch is a birding, hiking adventure located in or near hot springs, nc. 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. Take 1181 for 2 miles and then turn right onto state road 1182. The easiest directions to the area involve coming in via i40. Max patch is a terrific day hike right on the appalachian trail, easily accessible, with one of the best views of the mountains.
The primary coordinates for max patch mountain places it within the nc 28743 zip code delivery area in the maps and aerial photos section below, youll find links to. Vast panoramas open in all directions, with views stretching 360 degrees around the grassy mountain. The direct hike to the top is a gentle climb on a narrow dirt path. This dog friendly and family friendly hike is great for picnics, star gazing, and is accesible year round. From patton avenue intersection of leicester highwaync 63 for 26 miles. Max patch and hot springs, located near asheville, north carolina is a 20. From hot springs, nc take highway 209 to meadow fork road also called state road 1175. The sky there is so big that if feels like its twice the size. From the gravel parking lot, youve got two choices for getting to the top of max patch. The bald can be approached from two directions at the trailhead and we chose to go right, the longer path which was moderately difficult. Clicking anywhere within a quandrant will display an info window with the map name, as well as links to download the map to your computer.
Wolf creek falls 30 feet high is located just inside the tennessee border in cocke county. The martingale at max patch, hot springs, north carolina. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Max patch hot springs 2020 all you need to know before you. 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. From the parking area at max patch, the trail starts off going north. The trail rolls elevation through the shady forest, meandering through switchbacks, crossing several small creeks over rustic wooden. Max patch hot springs 2020 all you need to know before. With a 300acre field of masters tournamentquality grass capping its rounded, 4,629foothigh summit, max patch begs for loungers. Lemon gap to max patch hiking trail, marshall, north carolina. Lovers leap hike, hot springs stay home, stay safe.
The drive to the trailhead goes nearly to the top, and the at runs right through it. Take exist 24 off i40, climb to max patch by gravel road, once at the parking, just a. Make a weekend trip from max patch to hot springs n. A trio of route options leads to max patch from asheville. Sitting just inside north carolina along the boundary with tennessee, the mountain is. Nc, catching views of the iconic bald after trailing through a shady forest. The appalachian trail crosses the top of the grassy bald. Max patch mountain physical feature summit in madison county. With spring wildflowers and fall leaf peeping, the max patch trail is an easytomoderate hike on the appalachian trail near asheville, n. From downtown hot springs, go south on bridge street until it turns into highway 209. If you chose to tackle these routes in winter come prepared with an emergency kit and a snowworthy vehicle. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. 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.
The site is at the top of max patch mountain, just under 5,000 feet. National forests in north carolina max patch usda forest service. Each trail has its own printable page with all the information and links, including where available. Birds chase, dive and soar in the nearly constant breezes. Make sure you have good directions, dont think your gps will work here. 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. Sitting on the border of north carolina and tennessee, max patch features 360 mountain range views and sits along the appalachian trail. Max patch is a bald mountain on the north carolina tennessee border in madison county, north carolina, and cocke county, tennessee. The hike follows the max patch spur trail to the appalachian trail, and then climbs through the mountains expansive fields of golden grasses, wildflowers and wild berries in. Max patch mountain is a physical feature summit in madison county. I somehow managed to go probably 5 years without visiting max patch and was so filled with awe when i finally went back a. Topo hike trails map pdf waterville, nc weather forecast. This video is about our trail ride to max patch in nc. At thruhikers often oblige, saying its one of the finest rest spots on the entire trail, and so do readers like michael wright, who hikes the 2.
At the bottom of the exit, turn left from the west or right from the east, up the mountain, onto forest service road 148, cold springs creek road. With spring wildflowers and fall leaf peeping, the max patch trail is an easyto moderate hike on the appalachian trail near asheville, n. This is an incredible, relatively easy hike with the reward at the end being hot springs on the french broad river. Max patch trail hiking the appalachians near asheville, n. Insects chirp loudly in the grassfilled wonderland. A powerful storm system moving across the central u. Max patch loop via appalachian trail north carolina. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon across the tennessee valley into the southern appalachians and over south florida. This particular loop branches just off of the appalachian trail at. Max patch loop via appalachian trail closed north carolina. 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. At the 4,629foot summit, the hiker is rewarded by a large expanse and a 360degree view of the mountains beyond.
At an elevation of 4,629 feet, max patch boasts a 360degree view of the appalachian mountains including the blue ridge and the smokies. Wildflowers bloom there in the spring and fantastic leaf color can be seen in the fall. View 21 photos for 5922 max patch rd, clyde, nc 28721 a 3 bed, 1 bath, 1,036 sq. Max patch, located near hot springs, north carolina is a 2. Max patch to wolf creek falls here again is wolf creek falls, a 30 waterfall just over the border into tennessee near hot springs, nc. At 4629 feet elevation, max patch is not the highest summit in its immediate vicinity, but this. This amazing area was cleared and used historically as a pasture for cattle and sheep back in the 1800s. Max patch mountain via brown gap pisgah national forest, nc. Continue straight about 12 miles onto max patch road. 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. 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 mountain topo map in madison county, north carolina. It is a major landmark along the tennessee north carolina section of the appalachian trail, although its summit is located in north carolina. The carolina mountain club maintains the popular hiking area, max patch, a large grassy bald near the north carolina tennessee border.
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