Max patch to hot springs trail

Rising 4629 feet, max is a rolling, sprawling stretch of mountain meadow that offers plentiful sunshine, incredible views, and an ontopoftheworld feeling. The manmade meadow on top of the mountain was once home to large herds of grazing cattle. Jan 27, 2015 max patch to hot springs backpack shuttle on appalachian trail 12315 thru 12515 posted on january 27, 2015 by hikingman68 no comments this was originally going to be a warm weather hike because hot springs, north carolina is supposed to be an awesome place with activities like rafting, tubing and a cool hostel to name a few. Hikes are moderate to easy there is something for everyone easy access to trails great fishing pond it. The hot springs welcome center of madison county is located at 106 bridge street, the main street in hot springs, north carolina.

Max patch is one of the most popular hiking areas in our region. Mar 18, 2020 my pace today is pretty good and i hit 18 miles around 4. With little elevation gain and a short distance it is also very family and dog. As well, we were starting out on top of max patch, one of the most beautiful areas that i have been to on the at so far, and we were finishing up in hot springs, a great little trail town where we were guaranteed a warm, delicious, celebratory breakfast at the famous smoky mountain diner. At an elevation of 4,629 feet, max patch boasts a 360degree view of the appalachian mountains including the blue ridge and the smokies. Lovers leap hike, hot springs, nc romanticasheville.

There is an obvious trail leading away from the road and up to max patch mountain. It is a major landmark along the tennesseenorth carolina section of the appalachian trail, although its summit is located in north carolina. See photos and hiking guide for max patch bald mountain along the appalachian trail near hot springs and asheville north carolina in pisgah national. Wildflowers bloom there in the spring and fantastic leaf color can be seen in the fall. Standing bear to hot springs, nc coronavirus update the trek. Hike a section of the famous appalachian national scenic trail or a. Standing bear to hot springs, nc coronavirus update. Mar 28, 2020 popular access sites are affected by these changes include max patch and roan mountaincarvers gap, both in the cherokee and pisgah national forests, lovers leap in hot springs, and wayah bald and. The appalachian trail crosses the top of the grassy bald. Max patch is a local favorite in the southwest mountains of north carolina it is one of the mostvisited peaks in the area. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Planning on going from max patch to hot springs starting at daybreak this friday and arriving sometime saturday. Shortly after passing through this intersection the at leaves the forest behind and climbs up log stairs on the way to the summit.

The at and max patch trail continue straight climbing the mountain. Can be used to summit max patch over a much more difficult route. Hike max patch mountain, max patch mountain trailhead. Max patch and hot springs is a hiking adventure located in or near asheville, nc. Theres a large communication station or some kind of large piece of technology on the top of snowbird mountain south of max patch. According to my appalachian pages theres no camping other than these areas. About 20 minutes to the top by the short trail, 2530 on the longer loop elevation gain. Feb 14, 2017 with a 300acre field of masters tournamentquality grass capping its rounded, 4,629foothigh summit, max patch begs for loungers. Max patch short loop hiking trail, marshall, north carolina. Located about 40 minutes from hot springs, nc is max patch mountain, located in pisgah national forest.

The ride is long and twisty with the last three miles being just gravel if you are coming from hot springs, nc. 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. You can break this up however you like, this is just a general list. We met at hot springs the night before our backpack so as to get an early start the next day. Max patch to hot springs backpack shuttle on appalachian. Before the current pandemic situation a couple buddies and i had the good fortune to set off for a 4day backpacking trip along the appalachian trail in north carolinas pisgah national forest. Im guessing that today, hot springs is better known as a trail town. Enjoy panoramic smokies views on blueberry and rhododendronlined trails on the way to french broad river, where relaxing hot springs. Iron horse station is a beautifully restored 19th century hotel. Max patch mountain is a 4,600 foot bald that provides 360 degree views of the surrounding blue ridge and smoky mountains. Max patch to hot springs on the appalachian trail david. Can be used to summit max patch over a much more difficult route than the. The appalachian trail crosses the summit of max patch, about 20 miles west of hot springs at mile 251.

Max patch to hot springs backpack shuttle on appalachian trail 12315 thru 12515 posted on january 27, 2015 by hikingman68 no comments this was originally going to be a warm weather hike because hot springs, north carolina is supposed to be an awesome place with activities like rafting, tubing and a cool hostel to name a few. Fortunately, there is an easy loop trail that goes from the parking lot to the mountain summit and back. 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. Max patch sits in northern haywood county, north carolina less than a mile from the tennessee state line. If you wish to prolong your journey, there is the option of taking the buckeye ridge trail back to the parking lot instead of continuing on the max patch mountain loop trail. The appalachian trail crosses right over the summit running north and south.

Make a weekend trip from max patch to hot springs n. Max patch is a birding, hiking adventure located in or near hot springs, nc. Max patch to hot springs whiteblaze appalachian trail. Highlights include max patch, roaring fork shelter. Hot springs, nc is just 40 minutes north of asheville.

Aside from the gsmnp, this section of the appalachian trail was some of the most enjoyable. 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. Along the way it passes the roaring fork shelter, lemon gap, walnut mountain shelter, garenflo gap, deep park shelter, and a jesuit hostel. This is an incredible, relatively easy hike with the reward at the end being hot springs on the french broad river. Saturday we will hike about 11 miles, camping for the.

Visit max patch on your trip to hot springs or united states. In between the soaring mountains of the great smokies and the rolling hills of hot springs the a. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. If youre coming in from the north, it makes more sense to come via the town of hot springs than i40. Good places to hike on the appalachian trail in north. The appalachian trail passes through the middle of town, and many of the businesses cater to. We saw them several more times throughout our next few days and got to spend time with them at a hostel in hot springs. The vast majority of the people who visit max patch hike the 2. Looking up to the top of max patch the trail in this section southbound drops 1530 feet into deep gap, then climbs 14 feet to snowbird mountain before descending 2463 feet again to waterville school road. Hot springs is the only north carolina town where the appalachian trail runs directly down the main street. Max patch hiking hot springs, nc blue ridge mountain life.

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. Max patch mountain hot springs, north carolina hiking. We covered 34 miles from max patch through hot springs up to rich mountain fire tower then finished back down in hot springs. Description this long section of trail runs 20 miles from max patch road to the town of hot springs, nc.

Max patch is a 4,629foot tall bald mountain with an incredible 360degree mountain vista just 20 miles from hot springs. My pace today is pretty good and i hit 18 miles around 4. Max patch hot springs 2020 all you need to know before. The max patch loop trail encircles the base connecting to the sr 1182 parking lot and the buckeye ridge trail 304. Leave triangle, carpooling from a spot tbd, convenient to the group. This is a steep forest trail with rock outcrops and tight switchbacks.

Sep 15, 2015 a day hike between max patch and hot springs, nc. Mitchell on the east to the great smoky mountains on the south. The trail climbs max patch on log steps carved into the hillside and then crosses the grass to the broad summit of the mountain. A couple miles up max patch road, look for a large parking lot on the right side of the road.

After completing this hike, i have now completed the at all the way from amicalola falls to hot springs, or 274. Looks like if we stay near a shelter were gonna have to do like 14 miles the first day then 6 the next or 7 the first day and the next. Max patch trail hiking the appalachians near asheville, n. We are located at the junction of the appalachian trail and the french broad river in a valley surrounded by the blue ridge mountains and the pisgah national forest. Appalachian trail hike max patch to hot springs day 2.

About 20 minutes to the top by the short trail, 2530 on the longer loop. Max patch to hot springs on the appalachian trail david m allen. Max patch to hot springs appalachian trail information. 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. Its a scenic drive west from hot springs, and a moderately short adventure to a grassy bald thats drenched in sunshine and covered in wildflowers. It is located directly on the appalachian trail, across the street from the post office and next door to gentry hardware store hours. The appalachian trail passes through the middle of town, and many of the businesses cater to backpackers. Max patch is a bald mountain on the north carolinatennessee border in madison county, north carolina and cocke county, tennessee. Feb 05, 2019 aside from the gsmnp, this section of the appalachian trail was some of the most enjoyable. Apr 11, 2016 located about 40 minutes from hot springs, nc is max patch mountain, located in pisgah national forest. Popular access sites are affected by these changes include max patch and roan mountaincarvers gap, both in the cherokee and pisgah national forests, lovers leap in hot springs, and wayah bald and. If you are driving from i40 on the tennessee side, its more like 67 miles. Coronavirus leads forest service to close appalachian trail.

The elevation of hot springs is 1,326 feet, and by the appalachian trail, is 20 miles from the max patch summit. Hot springs the much beloved some might say nearly loved to death max patch bald in the pisgah national forest is getting a major makeover. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from march until november. 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. Hike the appalachian trail at max patch mountain, one of our favorite, cantmiss hikes in north carolina. Appalachian trail hike max patch to hot springs day 1.