Back atop the treeless ridge the cold wind hit me full force once again...I had to literally hold my breath to take many of these shots! Here I'm looking west towards the 6,000' bulk of the Great Smoky Mountains...

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)

Max Patch Mountain, Haywood County (3-21-13)

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...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
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...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
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...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Across the fence, the trail heads to the along the western edge of the summit eventually meeting the summit trail on the far side...
IMG 7165p Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
The only thing to compromise the views around here are the power lines that cross the fields in a couple spots...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
A few minutes of steady uphill walking in and the trail enters the woodlands on the west side of the summit...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
The snow wasn't quite heavy enough to cover this seeping spring...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Clouds and sun were constantly switching on and off...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Within a half mile the trail breaks free of the woods atop the main summit ridge...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
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...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
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...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
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...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
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...
IMG 7177p Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Looking east I could see the high peaks of the Black Mountains...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
From where I hit the AT, I could have made a quick jaunt up to the summit of Max Patch but decided to save it for the finale...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Heading north on the AT, it took me less than five minutes to get to the edge of the bald and back into the trees...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
The AT heads back into the trees north of Max Patch...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Upon entering the woods, I was so enthralled by the snow-encrusted trees that I totally missed where the trail turned downhill...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
After retracing my steps a short distance I was back on the AT and heading downhill...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
There have been precious few days like this down here this winter...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
The weight of the snow on this rhododendron had created a rather difficult obstacle...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
As the trail continues down off the ridge it crosses this small stream, which the snow wasn't heavy enough to cover...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Rhododendron valley...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
The AT bottoms out at the fields that could be seen from up above...
IMG 7196p Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
A broad U-turn takes the trail around what looks like a spring area...
IMG 7198p Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Curled rhodo leaves testify to the coolness of the afternoon...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
A nice point-to-point hike is to continue north on the AT for another 5 miles to Lemon Gap...no time for that today as I'd be heading right to continue the Max Patch loop...
IMG 7203p Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
The lower part of the loop is almost completely flat, running through what looks to be a very young forest...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Reaching the halfway point, the trail passes the wide field visible from up above. Though this is Forest Service land, it is still mowed to maintain the open fields visitors have come to expect on Max Patch...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
If it was a warmer day this would have been a nice place to lay out for a bit...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Beyond the field the trail curls back downwards back into the woods...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Here I'm nearing the low point of the hike, though for the mountains my return climb would not be at all that strenuous... I'd only have to recover about 300 vertical feet to get back to the summit...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
I was thoroughly enjoying this...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
At what looks like an old logging road the summit loop heads right from the Buckeye Ridge Trail...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Looking at Max Patch from the location of the previous photo...
IMG 7215p Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
After a short distance the trail split yet again, this time giving you the option of heading to the summit or straight back to the parking lot...of course, I'd be heading up...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
After the final split, the trail doesn't take long to once again break free of the trees...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
It's not really much of a climb back to the summit but it was just enough to warm me up again...
IMG 7221p Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Overlooking the fields I had passed a short time earlier...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
The 'crux' of the climb back to the summit...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Arriving back atop the summit ridge...
IMG 7225p Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
Back atop the treeless ridge the cold wind hit me full force once again...I had to literally hold my breath to take many of these shots! Here I'm looking west towards the 6,000' bulk of the Great Smoky Mountains...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
To the south from the ridge were the high peaks of Haywood County. I believe that the broad, snow-capped summit in the center distance is Black Balsam Knob (6,214'), some 33 miles distant...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
The windswept lawn...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest
The Smoky Mountains dominate your attention up here, pictures don't do justice to how massive they appear from the slopes of Max Patch...
Max Patch southern bald heath bald Great Smoky Mountains Black Mountains Great Balsam Mountains Roan Highlands winter hike Pigeon River Gorge Pisgah National Forest Hot Springs Haywood County Appalachian Trail Cherokee National Forest