Max Patch Mountain Hike Route Map

Max Patch Mountain, at 4,627', isn't the largest of mountains, even for the Southern Appalachians. However, its broad open summit commands unobstructed views of many, if not most, of the highest peaks in the region. Located just inside the border with Tennessee Max Patch sits just east of the Great Smoky Mountains. It's wide open lawn has been attracting visitors since the 19th Century, and for good reason. However, modern improvements in transportation and ease of access have boosted visitation here to the point that Max Patch could easily be loved to death if not for the protection of the forest service. Today, around five miles of trails surround the summit which is crossed by the Appalachian Trail itself. If you decide to visit PLEASE stick to the marked trail as off trail travel can destroy sensitive vegetation which, in turn, could cause severe erosion. With that, lets hit the trail...

NOTE: Many visitors fail to look at the map under the parking area kiosk, which clearly denotes the area trails, and simply head straight up the summit lawn along an apparent but false path. THIS IS NOT A TRAIL and is very damaging to the peak and the environment. PLEASE don't be one of these ignorant people...take a minute to read the map and follow only the designated trails!

Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.796444, -82.962596

Route Type: Loop Difficulty: MODERATE (Petzoldt Rating: 4.40 )

Hike Length: 3.0 miles Hike Duration: 1:30

Trailhead Temp: 25'F Trail Traffic: 1-5 people

Min. Elevation: 4,100' Max. Elevation: 4,629'

Total Vertical Gain: 700' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 233'

Trails Used (blaze color): Appalachian (white), Buckeye Ridge (yellow), Max Patch Loop (unblazed)

3-21-2013

Max Patch Mountain (3.0 miles; d=4.40)

Max Patch Mountain Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my loop hike at Max Patch Mountain as depicted a la Google Earth...
Max Patch Mountain Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my loop hike at Max Patch Mountain...
Subaru's represent!! One other car in the parking lot...not a common occurrence here as it's usually full...
The bullet-ridden parking lot trail map (apparently the locals are a bit violent)...I'd be following the so-called "Long Loop" with a side trip over the summit for a total of about 3-miles...
The trailhead sits right beneath the open summit, though there's no direct route from it. The Forest Service asks visitors to stay off the summit lawn to protect the grasses that grow there...
Across the fence, the trail heads to the along the western edge of the summit eventually meeting the summit trail on the far side...
The only thing to compromise the views around here are the power lines that cross the fields in a couple spots...
A few minutes of steady uphill walking in and the trail enters the woodlands on the west side of the summit...
The snow wasn't quite heavy enough to cover this seeping spring...
Clouds and sun were constantly switching on and off...
Within a half mile the trail breaks free of the woods atop the main summit ridge...
The wind hit me full force here, blowing out of the north...holding still to take some shot literally took my breath away. Here I'm looking up at the summit from where the path joins the Appalachian Trail which traverses it...
The panorama from the AT below the summit. I'd be headed to the left (north) along the AT away from the summit, saving it for the finale of the hike...
No one had preceded me on the AT today...though with the wind blowing so hard any trace of their passing would quickly be erased...
My planned route would take me north along the AT into the woods in the distant left, I'd then follow the open ridge across the center in front of Max Patch before climbing back to the summit...
Looking east I could see the high peaks of the Black Mountains...