This month’s Rock Hill Coca-Cola Bottling Company Picnic Trip keeps us a little bit closer to home. We heading just across the county to Kings Mountain National Military Park. The park commemorates an important American victory during the Revolutionary War and will remind you of the enduring historical importance of the region. Pack the basket with sandwiches and chips, load the cooler with Coke products, and head that way.
To Get There
An easy 45 minute drive will take you west out of Rock Hill on SC-5. Drive around York and turn right onto US 321 N. Eventually you’ll take a slight left onto SC-161, then another left onto State Rte 705 into the Kings Mountain National Military Park.
What To Do There
Visitor Center
Start your trip to Kings Mountain National Military Park with a look around the Visitor Center. There you will find a movie that tells the site’s story, a museum featuring historical artifacts found at the site, and a bookstore stocked with many interesting books.
Once you orient yourself at the Visitor Center, you will know where to picnic and where to go next.
Battlefield Trail
This 1.5 mile paved, self-guided walking trail makes a loop around the battlefield. Along the way you will see the terrain of the battle and several exhibits that explain what took place. Take the time to learn something new. If all you do is walk this trail, the trip will have been worth it. You can always continue on to one of the hiking trails.
Hiking Trails
Remember to register with the Visitor Center before venturing out on any of the hiking trails in the park.
Park Loop
The longest of the trails in the park, this 16 mile loop will take you through both the National Military Park and the Kings Mountain State Park. You should allow for a full day of hiking to complete the loop.
Browns Mountain
Starting at the Visitor Center, the Browns Mountain Trail leads 2.5 miles to the top of Browns Mountain. Going up and back will take 5 miles.
Clarks Creek
This trail also begins at the Visitor Center and leads for 3 miles to Lake Crawford in the State Park. Round trip is 6 miles.