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American black bears, bobcats, and elk have been spotted at Max Patch. The Carolina Mountain Club, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and Appalachian Trail Conservancy also work to help restore and manage the area's ecosystem. The mountain is managed by the United States Forest Service to maintain its early ecological succession stage, preserving habitat for local flora and fauna in addition to the famed panoramic views. In addition to being a popular tourist destination, Max Patch is home to an array of native plants and wildlife. The Carolina Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and United States Forest Service worked collaboratively to relocate the Appalachian Trail to Max Patch's summit and completed the projected in 1984. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the mountain was used for a wide range of purposes including the site of an inn, a hostel circuit, and an airstrip before the United States Forest Service purchased the area in 1982 to preserve the historic site and prevent the construction of a ski resort. Max Patch was originally cleared in the early 19th century by farmers seeking to use the area as pasture for cattle and sheep. There are no public bathrooms or trash cans and parking is limited at the site. A small parking area is located near the summit with a short loop trail. It is known for its 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains, namely the Bald Mountains in the immediate vicinity the Unakas to the north the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the south and the Great Balsams and Black Mountains to the southeast. It is a major landmark along the Tennessee/North Carolina section of the Appalachian Trail, although its summit is located in North Carolina. Max Patch is a bald mountain on the North Carolina-Tennessee Border in Madison County, North Carolina, and Cocke County, Tennessee.

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