Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Map
The park brochure is available in a number of different formats, including audio-description and text-only.
To access an audio-described version of the park brochure, you can either download the 39 files available here, or you can download the UniDescription app "UniD" and find the audio-description for the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail available there.The files are listed in order, and labeled with what information each contains.
A text-only description of the park brochure is also available here.
Feel free to contact us with any questions or for more information.
OVERVIEW: Section 10 of 17: Back side of brochure
OVERVIEW: Section 10 of 17: Back side of brochure.
Sections 10 through 15 describe and narrate the back side of this brochure.
OVERVIEW: Section 10 of 17: Back side of brochure. Sections 10 through 15 describe and narrate the back side of this brochure. It is entirely a map of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, explained in detail in sections 11 through 14. The brochure has a black border across the top with the title "Exploring the Trail Today." To the right side is listed "Days of the March, 1780" with a day-by-day account of where the Patriot soldiers were from September 24th until October 14th, broken down by day in section 15. The map is composed of a light brown line showing the historic route taken by the Patriots, and a dark brown line showing the modern driving roads that follow the trail. There is a legend in the bottom left corner, described in section 11.
MAP: Section 11 of 17: Exploring the Trail Today.
MAP: Section 11 of 17: Exploring the Trail Today.
DESCRIPTION: This is a map of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
MAP: Section 11 of 17: Exploring the Trail Today. DESCRIPTION: This is a map of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. Its northern border is at the top of the page, showing part of southwestern Virginia and the border where Tennessee and North Carolina come together and meet Virginia. The western border of the map is Johnson City, Tennessee. The southern border is Gaffney, South Carolina. The eastern border is Charlotte, North Carolina in the south, Statesville, North Carolina in the middle, and Jonesville, North Carolina two-thirds up the side.This is an overview of the map. To hear more about the details of the western branch from Abingdon, Virginia to Morganton, North Carolina, listen to Section 12 which is divided into 7 parts. This portion of the trail passes through many protected forest areas, crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail. To hear more about the eastern branch from Elkin, North Carolina to Morganton, North Carolina, listen to Section 13 which is divided into 4 parts. This section follows the Yadkin and Catawba Rivers. To hear more about the united trail from Morganton, North Carolina to Kings Mountain, South Carolina, listen to Section 14 which is divided into 6 sections. The map shows the route of the trail. It is composed of two branches, one from the northeast at Elkin, North Carolina and another from the northwest at Abingdon, Virginia. The two branches meet in the center of the map at Morganton, North Carolina. The trail proceeds southwest through the map, before swinging tightly to the east at Alexander's Ford of the Green River in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina border, and proceeding southeast to Kings Mountain National Military Park. The map also shows modern roads and cities, identifying parks and public lands and what amenities are available. Two different color lines follow the trail, one lighter showing what the historic route is believed to be, and one darker showing what modern roads most closely follow the historic trail. Portions of the lighter trail have dashed sections, designating what parts are available for hiking. Names and dates along the trail tell the names of the campsites used by the Patriot soldiers, and the date they made camp there during their march. To hear more about the interstates and modern cities shown on the map, listen to section 11.1. A legend in the bottom left corner of the map shows the scale to be 10 kilometers per 1 inch, or 10 miles for every 1 and 3 quarters inches. North is oriented to the top of the page. It explains the three different color lines on the map as was described: light brown for "Routes of the Patriot Militia," dark brown as "Commemorative Motor Route," dashed black lines for "Existing segments of Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail." It provides 6 symbols to help identify what amenities and facilities are available at different portions along the trail. Each one is a black square with a white symbol within it. A circle with a question mark inside it stands for "Information." A silhouette of the end of a picnic table stands for "Picnic area." A male and female silhouette with a vertical line between them stands for "Restrooms." A triangular silhouette of a camping tent stands for "Campground." The silhouettes of a person with a hiking stick in their hand and a backpack on their back stands for "Trailhead." A silhouette of the hiker figure standing in front of an information sign with a dotted line wrapping around the frame stands for "Self-guiding trail." CREDIT: NPS.
MAP: Section 11.1: Modern interstates and cities.
This section describes some of the modern interstates and large cities seen on a map of the Overmountain Victory Trail.
MAP: Section 11.1: Modern interstates and cities. This section describes some of the modern interstates and large cities seen on a map of the Overmountain Victory Trail. This will give you a better understanding of the length of the trail, where it is located, and what else can be experienced while exploring the trail. In the bottom right corner of the map is Charlotte, North Carolina. Interstate 77 enters the city from the south, from Columbia, South Carolina, and continues north out of the city along the right edge of the map skirting the east side of Lake Norman and continuing through Statesville, North Carolina, Jonesville, North Carolina, and Elkin, North Carolina, before the highway exits the map along the upper right side. Elkin, North Carolina is the beginning of the eastern portion of the trail. Just south of Charlotte, the state border between North Carolina and South Carolina moves west along the bottom border of the map. Moving up the left side of the map halfway, interstate 40 enters the map coming from Asheville, North Carolina, continuing to the east through the middle of the map. Interstate 40 passes through Morganton, North Carolina, near the center of the image, where the eastern and western portions of the trail meet. Interstate 40 continues east through Hickory, North Carolina, and further east through Statesville, North Carolina at the eastern edge of the map where it crosses interstate 77, and continues off the map towards Winston-Salem, North Carolina. From Charlotte again, in the bottom right corner of the map, Interstate 85 enters Charlotte from off the image from the east, and moves through the city westward, crossing the Catawba River and South Fork Catawba River as it enters Gastonia, North Carolina. Interstate 85 continues west through Gastonia, turning southwest and passing south of the city of Kings Mountain, North Carolina and Crowder's Mountain State Park. Interstate 85 then continues southwest entering South Carolina and passing northwest of Kings Mountain National Military Park, where the trail ends, and Kings Mountain State Park. As Interstate 85 continues to move southwest through South Carolina, it reaches the northwestern side of Gaffney, South Carolina, when the trail follows the interstate for a short distance. Interstate 85 passes to the south of Cowpens National Battlefield, a park that the trail passes through. Interstate 85 then exits the bottom of the map where it is labeled that it continues towards Spartanburg, South Carolina (not pictured). Coming up from the bottom of the map from Spartanburg, South Carolina is interstate 26, heading to the northwest towards Asheville, North Carolina. As interstate 26 enters North Carolina, it passes to the east of Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock, North Carolina. Interstate 26 exits the map on its lower left side, but returns higher up on the left side as it curves from northwest to northeast, leaving Asheville, North Carolina, moving through Cherokee National Forest and into Johnson City, Tennessee, then turning to the northwest again towards Kingsport, Tennessee off the upper left side of the map. Near the upper left corner of the map interstate 81 enters the map from Kingsport, Tennessee (not pictured), and continues northeast through Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia, through Abingdon, Virginia, where the western portion of the trail begins. Interstate 81 continues northeast through Abingdon, Virginia, and off the map towards the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.
OVERVIEW: Section 12 of 17: The Western Branch of the Trail, from Abingdon to Morganton
This section describes 7 parts of the Overmountain Victory Trail that form the western branch of the trail, beginning in Abingdon, Virginia and ending in Morganton, North Carolina.
OVERVIEW: Section 12 of 17: The Western Branch of the Trail, from Abingdon to Morganton. This section describes 7 parts of the Overmountain Victory Trail that form the western branch of the trail, beginning in Abingdon, Virginia and ending in Morganton, North Carolina. This portion of the trail begins in southwestern Virginia, crosses through part of northeastern Tennessee, Cherokee National Forest, and Pisgah National Forest. It crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail. The 7 following parts will provide more detail about each portion of the trail, including where it travels, what it passes by and through, and what amenities are available at marked sites of interest. The parts are divided by what day the trail was historically marched by the Patriot soldiers in 1780.
MAP: Section 12.1: Abingdon to Holston River, September 24th, 1780
This portion of the western trail begins in Abingdon, Virginia and ends along the South Holston River in Tennessee.
MAP: Section 12.1: Abingdon to Holston River, September 24th, 1780. This portion of the western trail begins in Abingdon, Virginia and ends along the South Holston River in Tennessee. Abingdon is located in southwestern Virginia, just north of the Tennessee border. The North Fork Holston River runs north of the city from the northeast to the southwest, and the Middle Fork Holston River runs parallel to it south of the city. A text box pointing to city reads "Virginia Patriot Militia Depart, September 24, 1780." Below the box reads "Muster Ground," an interpretive center at the start of the trail, and symbols indicating the presence of an Information area, restrooms, picnic facilities, and hiking trails. As the historic route exits the city to the south, three dotted hikeable portions are shown labeled "Colonial Road," "Town of Abingdon Trail," and "Wolf Creek Trail." The driving route exits the city on highway 58, and heads southwest towards the Tennessee border where it turns onto highway 75. As the driving route continues shadowing the historic route into Tennessee, it uses highway 44 along the north shore of South Holston Lake, passing a site of interest labeled as "Pemberton Oak." The driving route turns northwest into Bristol, Tennessee on highway 421, before turning back southwest on highway 11E 19. At this portion of the trail, the historic route is following the South Holston River southwest along the north bank and includes a note reading, "Encampment September 24, 1780."
MAP: Section 12.2: Holston River to Sycamore Shoals, September 25th, 1780
From the encampment on the night of September 24th along the South Holston River, the historic route continues to the southwest crossing the South Holston River at Choates Ford.
MAP: Section 12.2: Holston River to Sycamore Shoals, September 25th, 1780. From the encampment on the night of September 24th along the South Holston River, the historic route continues to the southwest crossing the South Holston River at Choates Ford. Located here is a dotted section marking the hikeable "Choates Ford Trail" along the eastern edge of Bluff City, Tennessee, including symbols for picnic facilities and a self-guiding trail. The driving route continues southwest on highway 11E 19 out of Bristol, Tennessee, crossing the South Holston River into Bluff City, Tennessee, where it turns onto highway 19E towards Elizabethton, Tennessee. Located just west of the trail is marked an area of interest named Rocky Mount Historic Site with symbols for Information, restrooms, and picnic facilities. This site of interest is located near Piney Flats, Tennessee along highway 11E 19. Once the trail reaches Elizabethton, Tennessee, the historic route shows dotted lines for a hiking portion on the "Linear Park Trail", moving southwest towards another hikeable portion of trail, the "River Trail" in Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. A group of text reads "Sycamore Shoals, Encampment September 25th, 1780. Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, River Trail," with symbols for a Trailhead, Information center, restrooms, picnic facilities, and a self-guiding trail. Two additional sites of interest marked in Elizabethton, Tennessee are Carter Mansion in the eastern part of the city, and Fort Watauga Monument in the western part.
MAP: Section 12.3 Sycamore Shoals to Shelving Rock, September 26th, 1780
This portion of the western trail resumes from Elizabethton, Tennessee where it crosses the Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals and moves southeast.
MAP: Section 12.3 Sycamore Shoals to Shelving Rock, September 26th, 1780. This portion of the western trail resumes from Elizabethton, Tennessee where it crosses the Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals and moves southeast. The driving route follows highway 362 to the south, closely following the historic route. As the trail enters Cherokee National Forest, an area of interest is marked to the west of the road titled "Gap Creek Monument." The trail turns hard left to the east onto highway 361, squiggling through the mountains onto highway 19E, passing Doe River Gorge and running parallel to the Appalachian Trail. The historic route shows a hikeable portion at "Roan Mountain Community Park Trail" and heads towards the next historic encampment spot labeled "Shelving Rock, Encampment, September 26, 1780, Roan Mountain State Park," showing symbols for an information center, restrooms, picnic facilities, campgrounds, and a self-guiding trail. The driving route follows highway 19E to the southeast, away from the southerly heading historic route, crossing the Appalachian Trail and into North Carolina and the town of Elk Park, North Carolina.
MAP: Section 12.4: Shelving Rock to Roaring Creek, September 27th, 1780
This portion of the western trail resumes with the historic route at Shelving Rock near Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee, and the driving route in Elk Park, North Carolina.
MAP: Section 12.4: Shelving Rock to Roaring Creek, September 27th, 1780. This portion of the western trail resumes with the historic route at Shelving Rock near Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee, and the driving route in Elk Park, North Carolina. From Shelving Rock, the historic trail continues south through Cherokee National Forest towards the Tennessee and North Carolina state border. A dotted line shows a hikeable portion of the trail labeled "Birchfield Trail" along the western side of the Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area. As this trail reaches the North Carolina state border, it intersects a dotted green line labeled Appalachian National Scenic Trail. This intersection is labeled "Yellow Mountain Gap," and the trail labeled "Yellow Mountain Trail." A site of interest is marked to the west along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, labeled "Roan High Knob, 6285 feet, 1916 meters." The historic route continues south to a spot labeled "Roaring Creek, Encampment, September 27, 1780." The driving route, which by this point has already entered North Carolina, resumes in Elk Park, North Carolina on
MAP: Section 12.5: Roaring Creek to Cathey's Plantation, September 28th, 1780
This portion of the western trail resumes with the historic route at Roaring Creek in Pisgah National Forest, after just having crossed the state border into North Carolina from Tennessee.
MAP: Section 12.5: Roaring Creek to Cathey's Plantation, September 28th, 1780. This portion of the western trail resumes with the historic route at Roaring Creek in Pisgah National Forest, after just having crossed the state border into North Carolina from Tennessee. The historic route continues southeast to a spot labeled "Bright's Trace," where it meets the driving route which is following highway 19 E southwest from Elk Park, North Carolina. The two trails continue south along the border of Pisgah National Forest following a creek and highway 19 E.. Once the trails exit Pisgah National Forest, they turn southwest following the creek to Spruce Pine, North Carolina. On the south side of the city of Spruce Pine is labeled "Cathey's Plantation at Grassy Creek, Encampment, September 28th, 1780."
MAP: Section 12.6: Cathey's Plantation to North Cove and Turkey Cove, September 29th, 1780
This portion of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Spruce Pine, North Carolina and the historic campsite of Cathey's Plantation at Grassy Creek.
MAP: Section 12.6: Cathey's Plantation to North Cove and Turkey Cove, September 29th, 1780. This portion of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Spruce Pine, North Carolina and the historic campsite of Cathey's Plantation at Grassy Creek. At this point the historic route splits into two different trails, one southern and one northern. The southern historic trail moves south out of Cathey's Plantation, passing the Museum of North Carolina Minerals and NPS Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Symbols indicate a information center and self-guiding trail are located here, with the title "Orchard Trail." The intersection of the Overmountain Victory Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway is labeled "Gillespie Gap." The historic route bows to the west but resumes its journey south into Pisgah National Forest, winding around mountains southeast to a spot labeled "Turkey Cove, Encampment, September 29, 1780." The driving route closely follows this southern historic trail south from Spruce Pine, North Carolina on highway 226, also passing the Museum of North Carolina Minerals and crossing the Blue Ridge Parkway. The northern historic trail moves east out of Cathey's Plantation, back-tracking for a short distance before turning southeast. The historic trail intersects the Blue Ridge Parkway at Hefner Gap, where a dotted line marks "Rose Creek Trail" as being available for hiking. The northern historic route continues south into Pisgah National Forest, coming to a spot labeled "North Cove, Encampment, September 29th, 1780," just on the south side of highway 221.
MAP: Section 12.7: North Cove and Turkey Cove to Morganton, September 30th, 1780
This portion of the western route of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes with the historic route split into two trails, a southern trail camped at Turkey Cove, and a northern trail camped at North Cove.
MAP: Section 12.7: North Cove and Turkey Cove to Morganton, September 30th, 1780. This portion of the western route of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes with the historic route split into two trails, a southern trail camped at Turkey Cove, and a northern trail camped at North Cove. The driving route is attempting to follow the southern historic trail, but takes some wider curves and detours around rough mountains. The southern trail, from its camp at Turkey Cove, follows a creek south through Pisgah National Forest for a few miles before turning east towards Lake James and Lake James State Park. Lake James State Park shows symbols for available information centers, restrooms, picnic areas, campgrounds, and self-guiding trails. As the trail approaches the lake, a dotted line denotes a hikeable portion of the trail labeled "Black Bear Creek Trail." The southern historic route is shown being beneath where Lake James is now, crossing through Lake James State Park following the north shore of the Catawba River to the east. The northern historic trail from its camp at North Cove leads east before a sharp turn south, located just to the west of Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. Two points of interest within the Wilderness Area are labeled "Linville Mountain, 3215 feet, 980 meters," and Linville Gorge. A Visitor Center for Linville Falls is located along the Blue Ridge Parkway to the north of where the Overmountain Victory Trail intersects. The northern historic route here is available for hiking, marked with a black dotted line, and labeled "Trail #308 and Road #1238." The northern historic trail continues south towards Lake James and Lake James State Park. As the trail reaches the lake, two different portions of hikeable trails are labeled. The first is labeled "1780 Trail," and the second "Paddy's Creek Trail," within Lake James State Park. The northern historic route crosses underneath Lake James and reunites with the southern historic route on the north shore of the Catawba River. The historic route continues following the river to the east into Morganton, North Carolina, leading to the junction with the eastern trail at a site labeled "Quaker Meadows McDowell House, Encampment, September 30th, 1780." Here are symbols for an information center and restrooms. The driving route resumes after just having crossed the southern historic route on highway 226. This highway merges with highway 221, and they together continue south through Pisgah National Forest. Upon leaving the Forest, the driving route passes a site of interest labeled "Joseph McDowell House, summer only," with symbols for an information center, restrooms, and a self-guiding trail. The driving trail crosses the Catawba River and continues south into Marion, North Carolina. Noted here is the location of the "McDowell County Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center" on the southwest side of the city. In Marion, North Carolina, the driving route turns east onto highway 70, following the Catawba River and heading to Lake James and Lake James State Park. The driving trail turns north onto highway 126, crossing the southern historic route, north back across the lake and into Pisgah Nationa Forest, crossing the northern historic route, squiggling around the north shore of Lake James, and resuming its eastward move into Morganton, North Carolina, where it crosses the historic route again and intersects with the eastern driving trail on highway 64.
