Max Patch, Mountain summit in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina, United States
Max Patch is a mountain summit in Pisgah National Forest with a grassy peak covered in wildflowers. Several trails from here connect to the Appalachian Trail system, offering loop options between 1.5 and 2 miles (2.4 and 3.2 km) round trip.
The mountain served as grazing land for livestock during early settlement times, which created its open grass-covered peak instead of forest. This historical grazing shaped the landscape and leaves the summit open today.
The summit sits along the Appalachian Trail, where volunteers regularly maintain and protect this section. Visitors notice the kept paths and the care that keeps this hiking route alive.
Access is via gravel forest service roads with marked parking areas at the base. The trails are well-marked and easy to walk, with most visitors reaching the open summit without difficulty.
From the summit, visitors see 360 degrees around them and look out over landscapes in North Carolina and Tennessee at the same time. This all-around view from a single point is rare for mountain hikes in the region.
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