Location: North Carolina Mountains < North Carolina < USA
Hiking trails abound near the Max Patch Retreat. You can walk the Appalachian Trail as it crosses Max Patch Mountain on the way to Hot Springs to the north and the Great Smoky Mountains to the south. Or head on over to the Big Creek or Cataloochee areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a little further away, but worth the drive. There are plenty of trails in Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests, too, and the Retreat adjoins both. If you like to wet a line, there are also plenty of good fishing holes near Max Patch Retreat.
The pond at Max Patch Mountain is just one mile from your door and is a great place to take the kids. Cold Springs Creek is a classic trout stream, just a few miles further down the road in the Harmon Den area of Pisgah National Forest. Both the pond and Cold Springs Creek are stocked with rainbow trout by the U.S. Forest Service. Other river activities within a short drive of the Retreat include canoeing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting.