AT Day Hikes: Max Patch

There are spots on the southern AT (Appalachian Trail) that are can’t miss. Places like Blood Mountain, Wayah Bald, the Smokies and the Roan Highlands, but there is one more places that easily fits on that list…Max Patch. Some say this mountain, that lies 10 miles southwest of the town of Hot Springs, is the most picturesque spot between the Smokies and the Roans.
I have traveled up to this spot on two occasions, my first visit was in October of 2013 and then again this past November on Thanksgiving weekend. I can say that I had read about this spot, a lot and it was on the top of my list of places to go in the summer of 2013. But it was a rainy summer, so I never seemed to find a day to get up on Max Patch and before I knew it was the end of July and summer was in the books. However, I came back to Tennessee in mid-October to visit and do some hiking, so going to Max Patch was a must. So, after some hikes to Black Balsam Knob, the Roan Highlands and the Beauty Spot when I started home I decided to take the scenic route, over Max Patch.

Black Balsam Knob.

Roan Highlands.

Beauty Spot.

On this first trip, I went up from the North Carolina side, via Hot Springs. From NC 209 it is about 10 miles to the parking area at the mountain. Most of the trip is on paved roads, but at the five-mile sign half of the road up is paved and the rest is gravel.

Downtown Hot Springs, NC.

It is five miles to the summit of Meadow Fork Road.

Headed up SR 1181.

As these kinds of roads go this one is pretty good. Now it is here that I need to mention that my second trip to Max Patch was this past Thanksgiving weekend as Glen and I decided to head to the summit. Why I mention this now is that we came up from the Tennessee side.

The first difference was I did the North Carolina side in the fall and the trip up the Tennessee side was in winter conditions. With that said, the Tennessee side is still a little more rugged. First you take TN 107 to Del Rio and where 107 ends take a left up a Forest Service Road, 12 miles.

Headed up TN 107 (future spot Meadow Creek Fire Tower).

TN 107 ends and it is up Round Mountain Road.

This way takes one past the Round Mountain Campground and through Lemon Gap. Being a Forest Service Road it is gravel, all 12 miles. Oh this way up is also steeper than the North Carolina side too and on this day snow covered most of the way up. Luckily Glen had a four-wheel drive, but cars made it up that side on this day, so it is not that bad.

Snow & ice on the road.

Nearing Round Mountain Campground.

Still five miles to Max Patch.

Whatever way one decides to travel up, you will know when you reach the parking area below the mountain. There waiting will be a big Forest Service sign that says Max Patch. Besides being easy to spot it makes for a good picture opportunity. The parking area is large (about 12-to-15 cars), but even on the day with snow the lot had a large number of cars and as the day goes along it fills up. On both days I hiked here I got there early and by the time I came off the mountain people were parked up and down the road. One other fact while the mountain is in North Carolina and the sign says Pisgah National Forest the parking area is actually in Tennessee.

The sign at Max Patch in October, 2013.

Sign makes for a great picture this past November.

In October the lot filled up fast & notice the metal gate.

Snow didn't scare off people in November.

When you walk up to the information board one will notice there is a metal gate. I point this out because back in winter of 2012-13 vandals drove ATVs up and across the summit and caused significant damage. While the culprits were caught and prosecuted there are plans to make the barricades more effective, this would be great.

The damage vandals made with ATVs. (from NC4x4)

I guess those idiots couldn't read pictures.

There are different ways to head up the mountain. Most head straight up from the information board. On my first visit this trail was “closed” but people came up and down this trail including me. On the next visit this sign was not here so I guess the Forest Service saw this as a lost cause.

The information board in November, 2014.

This notice there in 2013 had been torn off a year later.

The loop trail that goes left.

The trail to the right I took in 2013...

...& the way Glen and I went this past November.

The trail left loops around the north side of the mountain and connects with the AT (Appalachian Trail) below the summit. It can make a loop around the mountain and can be used as a bad weather trail. However, both times I have ventured up Max Patch I have headed right on the trail that loops around the south side of the mountain.

Some of the colors of autumn on the loop trail.

Fall colors & clouds over the Balsam Mountains.

The same area with the look of winter.

It is about half-mile from where this trail crosses the AT. You can go straight to continue on the loop trail, right heads south on the AT toward Max Patch Road, but both times I went left toward the summit of Max Patch on the northbound AT. From here it is about another half-mile to the top.

The junction with the AT in October 2013...

...& November, 2014.

AT Trail sign.

More compare & contrast: fall colors...

...& winter beauty.

A little over a month (well a year, but you know what I mean) it goes to this...

...from this.

The trail has some steep spots but is what I would call moderate. The views start on the first tough uphill, but you get a great look of the Balsam Mountains.

Wood steps...

...with melting snow.

At spots the snow was deep.

This fall vista in October, 2013...

...now a winter one in November, 2014.

Add caption

First good look at the east side of Max Patch

It is not long before one crest the first ridge. This first bald has a view that is west-to-east with the Black Mountains on one side and the Smokies on the other. The view from here, as from the summit, provides some wonderful views of the Smoky Mountains iconic peaks like Mount Sterling, Mount Guyot, Mount Cammerer and Snowbird Mountain.

Fall colors on the Tennessee Mountains.

Cloud over Laurel Mountain in October, 2013.

Snowbird Mountain with clouds & fall colors.

Mt. Sterling & Mt. Cammerer.

The Smokies in the distance...

the balds of Max Patch.

With my monocular I could spot both fire towers on Mount Sterling and Cammerer, I needed no assistance to see the FAA Tower on Snowbird Mountain; it is visible with the naked eye. However, the most prominent mountain from here is the end goal…the summit of Max Patch.

The Mt. Sterling Fire Tower.

If you look close you can see the round top of the Mt. Cammerer Fire Tower.

The white tower on Snowbird Mtn. is the FAA Tower.

Clouds & the still green autumn summit of Max Patch...

...with clear skies & its winter look.

As you head up the AT one will come to another item that Max Patch is famous for, its bird houses. These basic wooden houses are one of the most photographed features on the mountain. I have a 2015 AT calendar and one of these bird houses (the one my picture is with) at Max Patch is the January photo.

Bird house from my calendar (photo by Kevin Adams)

One of the bird houses....

...me with it in November.

The hike up from here the rest of the way up is not too difficult. Two things on reaching the summit come to mind. First the 360 degree panorama is breathtaking. There are not many views better, like Rabun Bald; Max Patch seems to be positioned in such a great place as most of the great southern Appalachian Ranges are in view. The other is how big the summit is, which should really be a surprise since planes were once landed here.

Looks like clouds pouring over the mountain.

In October 2013 there were plenty of clouds...

...over the North Carolina Mountains.

On my October trip Snowbird was below the clouds, but not Mt. Cammerer.

Fall panorama toward North Carolina...

...& Tennessee.

October 2013: At the summit.

November 2014: Back at the summit.

Snowy North Carolina Mountains.

In the distance Cold Mountain (center).

Crabtree Bald.

Sandymush Bald.

Mikes Knob (left) & Doggett Knob (right).

In the distance Roan High Knob & Grassy Ridge Bald.

Big Bald.

Mount Mitchell.

Something else that stands out on the summit is the US Geological Marker is easy to find. It rest on top of a patch of grass which sits like an island because the area has been worn down (if it is wet like in November it can get sloppy). Here is a piece of information, there is a second marker. It is not on the summit, it is actually not too far from where you crest the hill from the direction I came up. When I first came up in 2013 I missed it. I just happened to find in in November by chance, but if you look it is there. 

The non-summit U.S. Geological Marker...

...& the one at the summit.

In October, 2013 the summit "island' & an AT blaze.

In 2014 the "island" is there, but the AT blaze is gone.

AT the summit in October 2013...

...& November 2014.

Glen on the summit.

The AT continues off the summit, northbound across a meadow with more amazing views. It was about here where I turned around in 2013, but Glen and I continued on out to where the AT heads into the woods.  

November 2014: Headed toward the meadow & tree line.

October 2013: The same trail & tree line.

The AT in the distance Bluff Mountain.

Looking back up the AT toward Max Patch in 2013...

...with snow in 2014.

Two of my favorite pictures...

...of the snowy AT.

Winter panorama that includes the Bald, Unaka & Black Mountains.

The tree line was sporting autumn colors in 2013.

At the tree line on the AT with the stark beauty of winter in 2014.

It was here we turned and came back. It was funny on the day in November there were spots where there was no snow and then spots with drifts up to ones knees. Another interesting thing I observed was I actually could see the snow receding from the start to the end of our hike.

Snow up to my knees...

...people building a snowman.

Another look toward the Smokies.

When we started in November...

...& when we came back over three hours later.

The way back down we took the direct route off the mountain and overall, we hiked about three miles on the day. On the drive back, we headed back down the North Carolina side passing a hunting camp on the way back. I think Glen agreed this was the better way up. In October of 2013 I headed straight on SR 1182 which is a 11 mile trip to NC 209 near Waynesville, NC. Glen and I missed the turn for SR 1181 because the sign that once pointed the way was gone. We backed tracked and almost had to help a girl with two dogs in a Toyota Prius, who almost got stuck. I hope she made it where she was going because the road didn't get any better. Oh, on the way back to Hot Springs there was an overlook with a great view of Rich Mountain, where we hiked last Thanksgiving.

Headed down SR 1182 (Max Patch Road).

That hunting camp.

This sign was at the junction of SR 1181 & 1182, but it was gone in 2014.

Where we hiked Thanksgiving Weekend '13...Rich Mountain.

One day I plan to do the loop hike and who knows I might pass over Max Patch doing a section hike of this area of the AT. This is just one of those special places in the southern Appalachian Mountains and is a must see.

Max Patch Trail Rating:

My Take:

For Difficulty – 2 Stars

For Trail Conditions – 4 Stars

For Views – 5 Stars

For Solitude – 1 Stars

Overall – I covered most of this above, but the trail was moderate to easy, as with the AT it is in great condition, it always busy but the views are incredible!

Pete’s Take:

For Difficulty – 1 Rabbits Paws

For Trail Conditions – 4 Rabbits Paws

For Views – 5 Rabbits Paws

For Solitude – 0 Rabbits Paws

Overall – This is not a very difficult mountain to hike, even carring the lummox. The AT is always in great shape and Max Patch is no exception. While I am about the hiking, the views here are well worth the trip, but there is one downside…people. It is always busy here, but with that said I love Max Patch!