Appalachian Trail: Brown Gap to Max Patch

Appalachian Trail: Brown Gap to Max Patch

Go 6.9 miles on the Blue Ridge, mostly tracing the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, to one of the largest balds in the Southern Appalachians.

Author:	Backpacker Magazine
Date:	26 Sep 2007 10:47:23 PM
Activity:	Hiking ActivitySearchHiking
State:	North Carolina (NC)
Distance:	6.9 mi (Change units)
Elevation:	Total Gain: 1779 ft Total Loss: 736 ft Net Change: 1043 ft
Difficulty:	5 / 10
Tags:	Asheville, Appalachian Trail, Del Rio, AT hikes in North Carolina, North Carolina
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

TO TRAILHEAD: From I-40 exit 7, head N on Cold Springs Rd. (FR 148). Take first L (FR 148A) just before Harmon Den parking lot. Drive 1.3 miles to trailhead @ Brown Gap.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

MPM01

Dist: 3.66 mi	Points: 325	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Max Patch via AT

Points of Interest

MPM001

Location: 35.773102°, -82.995850°
Ascend log steps from Brown Gap (3,500 ft.) through a hardwood forest to the ridgeline; toothwort, stonecrop, and larkspur grow at your feet

MPM002

Location: 35.778172°, -82.982727°
Drop to S side of ridgeline, where in spring the blooms of mountain laurel and pungent evergreen galax grow in this warmer, drier environment

MPM003

Location: 35.782421°, -82.978416°
Ascend back along ridgeline

MPM004

Location: 35.789230°, -82.970253°
Look S for a flat, sheltered campsite (room for 2 or 3 tents)

MPM005

Location: 35.789360°, -82.963600°
L @ Y; hillside and path with pink-striped spring beauties. Catch glimpses of Max Patch through openings between trees

MPM006

Location: 35.792221°, -82.961853°
Straight @ 4-way across Max Patch Rd. (NC 1182). Descend and cross small stream through thinly wooded hillside with yellow birch

MPM007

Location: 35.792728°, -82.958191°
Straight across grassy road; ascend SE side of bald on steep log steps

MPM008

Location: 35.794590°, -82.957977°
R @ Y; listen for Eastern towhees and field sparrows in fields below

MPM009

Location: 35.797371°, -82.956596°
Grassy summit of Max Patch (4,629 ft.) anchors SW end of Buckeye Ridge. Expansive 360-degree views of Smokies; Mt. Mitchell rises in the E. Backtrack to trailhead