Max Patch

Max Patch is a bald mountain on the North Carolina-Tennessee border and a prominent Appalachian Trail landmark, prized for broad views from its grassy summit. That openness was shaped by people as well as nature: farmers cleared the summit for pasture in the early 19th century, and the area later served uses that included an inn, a hostel circuit, and an airstrip. In 1982 the United States Forest Service acquired the site to preserve it and stop a proposed ski resort, then moved the trail onto the summit two years later. Today it is actively managed to protect scenic character, wildlife habitat, and recovery from damage caused by overuse.

North Carolina · United States