Following what appears to have been a successful ban on camping and fires on the popular Max Patch Bald in northern Haywood County, the U.S. Forest Service has extended the policy another three years.
Overuse at Max Patch had been a growing issue beginning around 2010. Officially added to the Pisgah National Forest in 1983, Max Patch, through which the Appalachian Trail passes, attracted locals and tourists who knew all the short hike had to offer, including sweeping views from the grassy bald. Although to reach the trail, one has to drive several miles on a windy, at times rutted road, the hike to the top is relatively short, only about a half mile. The scramble to the top is steep at times, but the hike is easy enough that even those with minor mobility issues can make the trek.
Amid the pandemic shutdown in 2021, there was explosion of visitors to Max Patch, including dozens — even hundreds — at a time camping at the idyllic 4,626-foot summit that boasts 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. The hike presented an opportunity to get outdoors and meet other people in the open air. As it gained popularity regionally, it also started to catch on nationally, as it was included in numerous magazines and other publications, including “best hikes” lists. It was also the subject of popular social media posts, which themselves can draw visitors. Because the trek to the top is relatively easy, people wanting to camp can haul up a good deal of supplies, some of which ended up left on the once-pristine bald…