Kings Mountain National Military Park, SC

In November 2023 I drove to Blacksburg, SC to visit Kings Mountain National Military Park and walk its 1.8 mile Battlefield trail. I like this short trail for three reasons:

The trail itself is paved out of recycled tires so it is spongy under my feet
It is an easy trail in a wooded setting especially beautiful in the fall, rising 220 ft with plenty of benches along the way. I usually walk it twice in both directions.
It offers an opportunity to learn about the historical American Revolutionary war battle that took place there on October 7, 1780. All along the trail are markers that tell the story of how the Americans managed to halt the British’s advance into the Carolinas.

Established in 1931, Kings Mountain National Military Park commemorates the pivotal battle of Kings Mountain. The battle marked the first major win of Patriots against Loyalists. According to Theodore Roosevelt “This brilliant victory marked the turning point of the American Revolution.” It resulted in the death of hundreds of Loyalists including their British commander Major Patrick Ferguson. Loyalists used muskets. They are quicker to load but not as accurate. Americans used riffles. They are slower to load but more accurate.

President Hoover visited on October 7th, 1930 to mark the battle’s 150th anniversary. 70,000 people attended the event. A monument on a short side trail commemorates his visit. There is a theatre and a museum at the visitor center. I suggest watching the free documentary before walking the trail. It helped me look at the woods from their historical perspective, imagining how the place might have looked on that October day. History has always fascinated me. It is an eerie feeling when considering that 240 years ago, many lost their life on the grounds I was walking.

If you plan to go, I recommend visiting mid-October to early November when foliage is at peak. It is quite magical.

References AllTrails, Kings Mountain National Military Park web site

Battlefield Trail