Brown Gap to Max Patch Road - Appalachian Trail

We continued hiking on the Appalachian Trail along the Tennessee and North Carolina border north of Interstate 40 in early January 2019. We skipped the 10.1-mile segment from Green Corner Road to Brown Gap as it was beyond our abilities for a winter day-hike with four hours of commuting added. So we started hiking north again from Brown Gap. To reach Brown Gap from Interstate 40, take exit 7 in North Carolina, the Harmon Den exit. Head north (compass east) on gravel Cool Springs Creek Road for 3.2 miles to a parking area and pit toilet on the left. Drive through the parking area to the northwest corner and continue on Cool Springs Creek Road another 1.2 miles to Brown Gap. A gate marks the state line and the border between the Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests. Parking is very limited, but we had the place to ourselves. Be aware that all roads beyond the interstate are gravel. You may encounter deep ruts, small washouts, and logging trucks. That said, we managed to traverse all these roads in a mini-van.

The first mile north from Brown Gap climbs 700 feet for a gradient of over 13% then it flattens out for the remainder of the hike to Max Patch Road. There are no streams or other water sources along this short hike. Parking off of Max Patch Road is also very limited, so we parked our second vehicle one-third mile further up Max Patch Road at the parking area for Max Patch.

Topographic map with GPS route overlay

Elevation profile

Cool Springs Creek Road from the Tennessee side of Brown Gap

The ultimate No Parking signs

The trail starts on an old logging road...

...but quickly veers off to a well-worn footpath

Sidehill climbing

There's a blaze, so the trail must be here somewhere

Long shadows and sawed fallen trees

More sidehill climbing

Crossing the saddle between two ridges

A rootball divot on the trail

Entering a thicket

Even more sidehill climbing

Approaching a summit

Ridgeline walking

The trail maintainers still have some work to do

Crossing another saddle on a very straight path

An important sign post as the AT turns sharply left

Double blaze reinforces the turn put us on the correct path

The path widens to a single lane

Approaching Max Patch Road

The end is in sight

The trail continues across the road and so will we on another day

In general, there is no fee to enter or hike in the Cherokee or Pisgah National Forests.

The Cherokee National Forest website is https://www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee.

The Pisgah National Forest website is https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/nfsnc/home.
 

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail website is https://www.nps.gov/appa/index.htm.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy website is https://appalachiantrail.org/.