There is a sign here and at all the other junctions to direct you to max patch. I had made the most tenderfoot of tenderfoot mistakes i failed to orientate the map with a compass. This is a twonight backpacking trip on the at from max patch to hot springs. Dogs offleash birding commonly backpacked fall colors rivercreek spring views wildlife. 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.
According to my appalachian pages theres no camping other than these areas. Loved the cabin, max patch, hot tub, christmas lights, firepit, stream, everything. Hike the appalachian trail at max patch mountain, one of our favorite, cantmiss hikes in north carolina. Find free public parking for hikers along andrews avenue turn right.
The trail eventually climbs back up out of the gorge and back to the campground. Explore more in our professional, high quality trail. Walking paths have long been a part of hot springs national park and the preceding hot springs reservation. If youre looking for things to do in asheville, hiking has to be at the top of your list. The trail climbs max patch on log steps carved into the hillside and then crosses the grass to the broad summit of the mountain. Max patch hiking hot springs, nc 1 comment located about 40 minutes from hot springs, nc is max patch mountain, located in pisgah national forest. Max patch mountain hot springs, north carolina hiking. Honeymoon cabinromanticmax patch, biltmore, asheville.
Sep 15, 2015 a day hike between max patch and hot springs, nc. The hot tub was so relaxing with the beautiful sights and sounds of nature. Hike a section of the famous appalachian national scenic trail or a. The vast majority of the people who visit max patch hike the 2. Before the world was forever changed max, joey and i spent 4 days backpacking along the appalachian trail in ncs pisgah national forest. Standing bear to hot springs, nc coronavirus update. Mar 18, 2020 my pace today is pretty good and i hit 18 miles around 4. The bald, wide, rolling expanses of the mountain rise to the east.
Max patch, at hike hike a section of the famous appalachian national scenic trail or a. 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. Apr 11, 2016 located about 40 minutes from hot springs, nc is max patch mountain, located in pisgah national forest. Appalachian trail hike max patch to hot springs day 1. With the fogged in max patch and the twisty road to get there, my intuition had failed me. We loved max patch, hot springs and the stars at night. Visiting hot springs in autumn will provide an opportunity to catch breathtaking views of the appalachian mountains fall foliage. My pace today is pretty good and i hit 18 miles around 4. Or hike the scenic route to max patch, following the appalachian trail from lemon gap on a tenmile adventure through a stream and wilflower. Meet at bluff mountain outfitters in hot springs for shuttle. See photos and hiking guide for max patch bald mountain along the appalachian trail near hot springs and asheville north carolina in pisgah national forest.
After completing this hike, i have now completed the at all the way from amicalola falls to hot springs, or 274. Max patch is a bald mountain on the north carolinatennessee border in madison county, north carolina and cocke county, tennessee. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from march until november. 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.
Max patch hiking hot springs, nc blue ridge mountain life. What others are saying camping atop max patch near asheville in pisgah national forest, on appalachian trail. 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. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. Max patch to hot springs on the appalachian trail david m allen. Max patch hot springs 2020 all you need to know before. 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. Appalachian trail section hike video trip report max.
We covered 34 miles from max patch through hot springs up to rich mountain fire tower then finished back down in hot springs. Iron horse station is a beautifully restored 19th century hotel. Visit max patch on your trip to hot springs or united states. With little elevation gain and a short distance it is also very family and dog. Max patch road to hot springs or other hot springs, north carolina hiking trails. Max patch sits in northern haywood county, north carolina less than a mile from the tennessee state line. Jamie albert added a new photo at max patch mountain. The headwaters of spring creek are to be found up in bluff, max patch and meadowfork and these waters converge with the french broad river in hot springs.
In between the soaring mountains of the great smokies and the rolling hills of hot springs the a. We had such an amazing time hiking, checking out the frogs at the pond, playing in all the water and roasting marshmallows. Max patch and hot springs is a hiking adventure located in or near asheville, nc. Planning on going from max patch to hot springs starting at daybreak this friday and arriving sometime saturday. We will meet friday, may 11 at the harris teeter in chapel hill exit 266 off of rte 40 where we will set up our carpool. On the walk from our motel, on the lawn of the spa, there are some irresistible rocks. See photos and hiking guide for max patch bald mountain along the appalachian trail near hot springs and asheville north carolina in pisgah national.
Max patch is a birding, hiking adventure located in or near hot springs, nc. The hiking around hot springs in madison county is among the best in the north carolina mountains and hiking max patch is considered a must. The trip to the parking lot at max patch takes about an hour from hot springs. Can be used to summit max patch over a much more difficult route than the. Thank you for sharing this we were actually considering trying to do an out and back hike from max patch to hot springs over a long weekend. Max patch loop via appalachian trail north carolina. Max patch mountain is a 4,600 foot bald that provides 360 degree views of the surrounding blue ridge and smoky mountains. Max patch is a local favorite in the southwest mountains of north carolina it is one of the mostvisited peaks in the area. If you would like to introduce someone to hiking, the trek from max patch to lemon gap would be great.
The appalachian trail on max patch max patch is a 4,629foot tall bald mountain with an incredible 360degree mountain vista just 20 miles from hot springs. Make a weekend trip from max patch to hot springs n. Highlights included max patch, bluff mountain, hot springs, french broad river, lovers leap and rich mountain fire tower. This is the perfect vacation spot and we thank you for sharing it with us. 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.
It was such a wonderful time to relax and celebrate nature. Water sources were few due to drought, so fill up at every trickle you see. We covered about 34 miles and experienced nearly every form of weather imaginable. We covered 34 miles from max patch through hot springs up to rich mountain fire tower then finished back down in. 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. This is a steep forest trail with rock outcrops and tight switchbacks. Theres a large communication station or some kind of large piece of technology on the top of snowbird mountain south of max patch. The appalachian trail crosses right over the summit running north and south. Max patch trail hiking the appalachians near asheville, n.
Appalachian trail town when people think of hiking in hot springs, nc, their first thought is of the appalachian trail. This outandback hike takes you from lemon gap deep in the woods to the peak of max patch and back, making for an awesome long day hike or a great introduction to backpacking. It is a big spacious bald about 45minutes drive from hot springs. The weather at max patch was like a blizzard with blowing fine snow at wind speeds that discouraged a few. Hidden in north carolina is a beautiful slice of nature called max patch. After reading this, i see that its probably going to take more than 3days to complete that. There are two concentrated areas of hiking trails within the park, the hot springs and north mountain trails and the west mountain trails. The cabin was very clean and it was everything we imagined. Mitchell on the east to the great smoky mountains on the south. Hot springs is the only north carolina town where the at passes directly through the heart of downtown.
Max patch loop via appalachian trail north carolina alltrails. Max patch to hot springs backpack shuttle on appalachian. It is a major landmark along the tennesseenorth carolina section of the appalachian trail, although its summit is located in north carolina. If youre coming in from the north, it makes more sense to come via the town of hot springs than i40. Hike a short twomile adventure through town and along the rivers banks, and to the summit of lovers leap, a rocky precipice that offers beautiful views of the french broad and the town of hot springs. 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. Visitors from all over the world travel here to hike this section of the at. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Highlights include max patch, roaring fork shelter. Hiking the max patch appalachian trail the adventurerr.
Today those walking paths form the base of the parks trail system. Max patch to hot springs on the appalachian trail david. 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. Located about 40 minutes from hot springs, nc is max patch mountain, located in pisgah national forest. Everyone was a good sport, and we headed back to max patch. I donned my pack, grabbed my trekking poles, and headed up the loop trail. Max patch to groundhog creek shelter blazing trails with. This is an incredible, relatively easy hike with the reward at the end being hot springs on the french broad river.
Max patch and hot springs, located near asheville, north carolina is a 20. 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. Lemon gap to max patch hiking trail, marshall, north carolina. Hot springs is a great base camp for hiking enthusiasts, with dozens of miles of backcountry footpaths only a short walk or drive away. Hike max patch mountain, max patch mountain trailhead. 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. The appalachian trail follows the crest of the appalachians along the north carolina and tennessee state line. 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. The hike up to the top is more than worth the spectacular view. Easy to moderate the appalachian trail crosses max patch at its 4,629. Today, its a 350acre tract of open land on a high knob with 360degree views.
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