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. Highlights include max patch, roaring fork shelter. Winds decreasing strong winds from the nw on mon night, light winds from the wnw by tue morning. The trail climbs max patch on log steps carved into the hillside and then crosses the grass to the broad summit of the mountain. 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.
Lemon gap to max patch hiking trail, marshall, north carolina. Creekside, private cottage offers outdoor hot tub and indoor jacuzzi garden tub. The manmade meadow on top of the mountain was once home to large herds of grazing cattle. Come enjoy hot springs, nc and leave in a better state of mind. Hike the appalachian trail at max patch mountain, one of our favorite, cantmiss hikes in north carolina. Max patch is a 4,629foot tall bald mountain with an incredible 360degree mountain vista just 20 miles from hot springs.
The appalachian trail follows the crest of the appalachians along the north carolina and tennessee state line. The trail was otherwise non eventful and had few running water sources. Explore the best trails in hot springs, arkansas on traillink. Max patch and hot springs is a hiking adventure located in or near asheville, nc. Good places to hike on the appalachian trail in north. Max patch hiking hot springs, nc blue ridge mountain life. Internet, air conditioning, hot tub, pets welcome, tv, satellite or cable, children welcome, parking, no smoking, heater bedrooms. Planning on going from max patch to hot springs starting at daybreak this friday and arriving sometime saturday. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from march until november. 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.
The usfs has closed some popular trails in our area, including lovers leap, max patch loop, laurel river and pump gap loop. Max patch is one of the most popular hiking areas in our region. With more than 3 hot springs trails covering 26 miles, youre bound to find a perfect trail like the arkansas river trail or hot springs creek greenway trail. If you are going to backpack it, starting at max patch makes the most sense as there are good camping sites close to lemon gap including the shelter about 2 miles from the trailhead. Visit max patch on your trip to hot springs or united states.
Explore the best trails in hot springs, north carolina on traillink. This is a steep forest trail with rock outcrops and tight switchbacks. With more than 12 hot springs trails covering 48 miles, youre bound to find a perfect trail like the erwin linear trail or tweetsie trail. Max patch mountain is a 4,600 foot bald that provides 360 degree views of the surrounding blue ridge and smoky mountains. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround.
Shortly after passing through this intersection the at leaves the forest behind and climbs up log stairs on the way to the summit. The appalachian trail crosses the summit of max patch, about 20 miles west of hot springs at mile 251. Theres a large communication station or some kind of large piece of technology on the top of snowbird mountain south of max patch. Wildflowers bloom there in the spring and fantastic leaf color can be seen in the fall. 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. Along the way it passes the roaring fork shelter, lemon gap, walnut mountain shelter, garenflo gap, deep park shelter, and a jesuit hostel. Standing bear to hot springs, nc coronavirus update. Developed recreation areas are closed, as are trailheads on the appalachian trail.
Either way, this is one of the souths most scenic sections of the at, and it is well worth your. 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. In between the soaring mountains of the great smokies and the rolling hills of hot springs the a. The appalachian trail crosses right over the summit running north and south. I hate to give it a two star but the only good thing about this hike was max patch and hot springs that you can drive to. 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. 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. Max patch to hot springs on the appalachian trail david.
Max patch mountain hot springs, north carolina hiking. The max patch loop trail encircles the base connecting to the sr 1182 parking lot and the buckeye ridge trail 304. Max patch loop via appalachian trail north carolina. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. You can break this up however you like, this is just a general list.
The at and max patch trail continue straight climbing the mountain. Mitchell on the east to the great smoky mountains on the south. Rising 4629 feet, max is a rolling, sprawling stretch of mountain meadow that offers plentiful sunshine, incredible views, and an ontopoftheworld feeling. It is a major landmark along the tennesseenorth carolina section of the appalachian trail, although its summit is located in north carolina. Make a weekend trip from max patch to hot springs n. Alternatively, you could drive about 5 miles further past max patch parking area to reach lemon gap parking and start there and hike to max patch eat lunch on top of the world and hike back or to share just the views with those of ages 7 to 70 you could just hike the 1mile loop trail. Located about 40 minutes from hot springs, nc is max patch mountain, located in pisgah national forest. Max patch to hot springs backpack shuttle on appalachian.
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. Best hiking trails near hot springs, north carolina. According to my appalachian pages theres no camping other than these areas. Max patch trail hiking the appalachians near asheville, n. The appalachian trail passes through the middle of town, and many of the businesses cater to backpackers. Hikes are moderate to easy there is something for everyone easy access to trails great fishing pond it. Max patch is a bald mountain on the north carolinatennessee border in madison county, north carolina, and cocke county, tennessee. 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. Fortunately, there is an easy loop trail that goes from the parking lot to the mountain summit and back. At an elevation of 4,629 feet, max patch boasts a 360degree view of the appalachian mountains including the blue ridge and the smokies. This is an incredible, relatively easy hike with the reward at the end being hot springs on the french broad river.
We met at hot springs the night before our backpack so as to get an early start the next day. Description this long section of trail runs 20 miles from max patch road to the town of hot springs, nc. Iron horse station is a beautifully restored 19th century hotel. We had the amazing crew over at bluff mountian outfitters in hot springs, nc shuttle us to the top of max patch. Can be used to summit max patch over a much more difficult route than the. Find free public parking for hikers along andrews avenue turn right. My pace today is pretty good and i hit 18 miles around 4. The elevation of hot springs is 1,326 feet, and by the appalachian trail, is 20 miles from the max patch summit. Max patch is a birding, hiking adventure located in or near hot springs, nc. The appalachian trail crosses the top of the grassy bald. Lovers leap hike, hot springs, nc romanticasheville. Max patch short loop hiking trail, marshall, north carolina. The most popular trails are max patch trail, lovers leap loop trail and max patch trail.
1449 1179 1231 1378 1360 496 979 723 1170 1019 129 207 483 1188 1569 603 1025 578 356 92 1 431 749 576 672 515 1245 980 1090 1479 1455 607 1003 862 16 179 1481 621 592 1485 259 1274 36 111 608