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.
MAP: Section 14.1: Morganton to Bedfords Hill, October 1st and 2nd, 1780
This portion of the Overmountain Victory Trail begins in Morganton, North Carolina, where the western and eastern bands of Patriots have merged at Quaker Meadows.
MAP: Section 14.1: Morganton to Bedfords Hill, October 1st and 2nd, 1780. This portion of the Overmountain Victory Trail begins in Morganton, North Carolina, where the western and eastern bands of Patriots have merged at Quaker Meadows. From the campsite, the historic route travels southwest out of the city. A point is marked to the west of the trail, labeled "Pilot Knob, 2092 feet, 638 meters." A little further south past Pilot Knob is another spot, labeled "Bedford's Hill, Encampment, October 1st and 2nd, 1780." The driving route exits south out of Morganton, North Carolina on highway 64. It follows this highway to the next camp site, closely shadowing the historic route for most of its journey.
MAP: Section 14.2: Bedfords Hill to Marlins Knob, October 3rd, 1780
This section of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Bedford's Hill, where the Patriots have been camped for two nights.
MAP: Section 14.2: Bedfords Hill to Marlins Knob, October 3rd, 1780. This section of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Bedford's Hill, where the Patriots have been camped for two nights. This is just south of Pilot Mountain, and near the headwaters of the First Broad River which flows to the southeast. The historic route moves south from Bedford's Hill, traveling to the left of a yellow symbol shaped like a jagged star. The symbol is labeled "Battle of Cane Creek, Cowan's Ford, September 12th, 1780." The historic route continues south along Cane Creek to another spot marked "Marlin's Knob, Encampment, October 3rd, 1780." The driving route had followed highway 64 from Morganton, North Carolina to Bedford's Hill, and continues following highway 64 southwest. The highway closely follows the historic trail, passing the site of the Battle of Cane Creek, and following Cane Creek to Marlin's Knob.
MAP: Section 14.3: Marlin's Knob to Gilbert Town, October 4th, 1780
This section of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Marlin's Knob, following Cane Creek south southwest through southern North Carolina.
MAP: Section 14.3: Marlin's Knob to Gilbert Town, October 4th, 1780. This section of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Marlin's Knob, following Cane Creek south southwest through southern North Carolina. The historic route continues following Cane Creek to the south, passing a site labeled "New Britain Church." Cane Creek intersects and ends at the Second Broad River near this site, which flows from the northwest to the southeast. Areas of interest marked to the east are labeled "Biggerstaff's Old Fields, Red Chimneys, October 14th, 1780," and "Cherry Mountain, Flint Hill, 2040 feet, 622 meters." The historic route crosses the Second Broad River and continues southwest to a site labeled "Gilbert Town, Encampment, October 4th, 1780." The driving route resumes from Marlin's Knob on highway 64, and continues on highway 64 to the southwest, passing New Britain Church, crossing the Second Broad River, and closely following the historic trail.
MAP: Section 14.4: Gilbert Town to Alexanders Ford, October 5th, 1780
This section of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Gilbert Town, located north of Rutherfordton, North Carolina.
MAP: Section 14.4: Gilbert Town to Alexanders Ford, October 5th, 1780. This section of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Gilbert Town, located north of Rutherfordton, North Carolina. The historic route is shown as having hikeable portions approaching Rutherfordton, North Carolina, and continuing through that city. The historic route enters the city on the north side and exits on the southwest, crossing the Broad River and coming to the next campsite marked along the Green River. These two rivers flow parallel to each other at this point, from the northwest to the southeast, merging together further to the southeast. The point is labeled "Alexander's Ford, Encampment, October 5th, 1780." A dotted black line here shows the route of a hikeable portion of the historic route, labeled "Alexander's Ford Trail." The driving route continues southwest from Gilbert Town, winding through the city of Rutherfordton, North Carolina, eventually exiting the city southwest on highway 108. The highway here has to cut far west across the Broad River and Green River, reaching an intersection with highway 9, a few miles to the west of where the historic trail is located.
MAP: Section 14.5: Alexander's Ford to Cowpens, October 6th, 1780
This section of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Alexander's Ford on the Green River, southwest of Rutherfordton, North Carolina.
MAP: Section 14.5: Alexander's Ford to Cowpens, October 6th, 1780. This section of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Alexander's Ford on the Green River, southwest of Rutherfordton, North Carolina. The historic route proceeds southwest from the river crossing. After crossing to the south of modern highway 74, the historic route shows a black dotted section available for hiking labeled "White Oak and Vineyard Trails." The historic route then turns to head southeast, gently moving in a serpentine pattern across the state border into South Carolina, through the town of Chesnee, South Carolina, to Cowpens National Battlefield located east of Chesnee. A point is marked here, and labeled "The Cowpens, Encampment, October 6th, 1780." A dotted black line is shown running through the park, and is labeled "Cowpens National Battlefield, Green River Road." Symbols indicate this location has an information center, restrooms, picnic areas, a self-guiding trail, and a trailhead. The driving route resumes a few miles west of the historic route, at the junction of highways 108 and 9. From this intersection, the driving route follows highway 9 to the southeast, closely following the serpentine route of the historic route. The driving route turns onto highway 1343, then highway 1102 before reaching the state border of South Carolina. Once crossing into South Carolina, the driving route is labeled as following highway 58, turning south onto highway 73, then turning east onto highway 101, then 146, then 144, and finally highway 11 which brings the route to Cowpens National Battlefield.
MAP: Section 14.6: Cowpens to Kings Mountain, October 7th, 1780
This section of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Cowpens National Battlefield, located at the intersection of highway 11 and highway 110 a few miles east of Chesnee, South Carolina.
MAP: Section 14.6: Cowpens to Kings Mountain, October 7th, 1780. This section of the Overmountain Victory Trail resumes at Cowpens National Battlefield, located at the intersection of highway 11 and highway 110 a few miles east of Chesnee, South Carolina. The historic route moves southeast to the northern edge of the city of Gaffney, South Carolina. A lake is located to the northeast of Gaffney, labeled Lake Whelchel, and shows a black dotted line marking a hikeable portion of the trail. It is labeled "Lake Whelchel Trail." The historic route continues moving east to the Broad River, flowing from the north to the south. The historic route follows the west bank of the river to the south for a few miles before crossing to the eastern shore. The crossing point is marked and labeled "Cherokee Ford." The historic route proceeds northeast from the river towards the state border of North Carolina, coming up along the west side of Kings Mountain National Military Park, before turning sharply southeast and entering the park. Within the park's borders is a yellow jagged star shape, labeled "Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7th, 1780." A black dotted line is shown within the park, and labeled "Kings Mountain National Military Park, Battlefield Trail." Symbols indicate this park has an information center, restrooms, a self-guiding trail, and a trailhead. Partially swallowing the National Military Park on the northern, eastern, and southern sides is Kings Mountain State Park. This park is indicated as having restrooms, picnic areas, campgrounds, and a self-guiding trail. North of these parks, across the state border into North Carolina, is marked Crowders Mountain State Park, with symbols for an information center, restrooms, picnic areas, campgrounds, and a self-guiding trail. North of Crowders Mountain State Park is the city of Kings Mountain, and east of the park is the city of Gastonia. The driving route resumes at Cowpens National Battlefield, and follows highway 11 to the east, closely following the historic route. When the historic route skirts the northern edge of Gaffney, South Carolina, the driving route continues on highway 11 southeast into the middle of the city to a point marked "Colonel Williams Grave." The driving route then exits the city to the northeast on highway 18, turning southeast onto highway 329, turning northeast to cross the Broad River on highway 29, sharp turn south then east onto highway 207 then highway 30, closely following the historic route northeast on highway 66, then turning southeast to enter Kings Mountain National Military Park on highway 216. The trail has now arrived at the Battle of Kings Mountain.
TEXT: Section 15 of 17: Days of the March, 1780
This section of text is located in the upper right corner of the map on the back of the brochure. It is a timeline of the historic march to the Battle of Kings Mountain.
TEXT: Section 15 of 17: Days of the March, 1780. This section of text is located in the upper right corner of the map on the back of the brochure. It is a timeline of the historic march to the Battle of Kings Mountain. TEXT:September 24: Virginia militia from Washington County, under Campbell, muster at Abingdon, Virginia, Sept. 24. This now marks the route’s western branch. September 25: Shelby, Sevier, and Campbell muster Watauga and Holston valleys militia at Sycamore Shoals on the Watauga River, to join Burke County (North Carolina then) militia under Charles McDowell. September 26: This Patriot group spends first night at the Shelving Rock, using its overhang to shelter gunpowder from rain. Also on Sept. 26, 350 North Carolina Patriot militia from Surrey and Wilkes counties, commanded by Colonel Benjamin Cleveland and Major Joseph Winston, muster at today’s Elkin, depart the next morning, and join up with other Patriots at Quaker Meadows. September 27: Patriots cross Roan Mountain in recent snow, two to three inches deep, at 4,682-foot Yellow Mountain Gap, the highest point on the Trail. Two men desert here to warn Ferguson about the Patriot army. On Sept. 28 to Sept. 30 the Patriot force splits so that Loyalists can’t slip by, and then it reunites at Quaker Meadows. October 1 and 2: Army stops to dry out and to prepare for battle expected soon. McDowell agrees to step aside, and Campbell takes command. October 3: Army camps by Marlin’s Knob by Cane Creek. South Carolina Patriots under William Hill and Edward Lacey camp nearby at Flint Hill (Cherry Mountain). October 4: At Gilbert Town, Army finds Ferguson gone, possibly headed toward Ninety Six in South Carolina. October 5: Thinking they follow Ferguson, Army moves to the Green River, away from Kings Mountain. Small parties of Georgians under William Candler and North Carolinians under William Chronicle join the Overmountain men. With new news that Ferguson is headed east, Patriots decide to reverse direction and pursue. October 6: Now convinced Ferguson heads east toward Charlotte, Patriots race to meet Lacey and Hill’s South Carolinians. October 6, evening: At Cowpens the groups unite, select 900 best mounted and armed men to pursue Ferguson, eat hastily, and push on despite rain. October 7: Patriot army crosses the flooding Broad River at Cherokee Ford at 8 am. October 7, 3 pm: Patriots find Ferguson’s 1,000-strong Loyalist army atop Kings Mountain. In fierce fighting Ferguson and 120 loyalists are killed, with nearly all the rest wounded or captured. Patriots suffer 28 killed, 62 wounded. October 14: On the return, at Biggerstaff’s Old Fields (Bickerstaffs or Red Chimneys), 30 Loyalists are tried. Nine are hanged.
OVERVIEW: Section 16 of 17: Accessibility
OVERVIEW: We hope that this audio description of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail brochure helps you to explore and engage with this protected story from our history.
OVERVIEW: Section 16 of 17: Accessibility. OVERVIEW: We hope that this audio description of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail brochure helps you to explore and engage with this protected story from our history. Though there is not a museum or visitor center dedicated to the trail, the trail passes through many parks and facilities that may be able to provide additional accommodations or suggestions for how to best experience the trail. Whether you plan to hike the existing portions, or ride along the commemorative motor route, we hope that you take the time to surround yourself with some of the same sounds and feelings felt by the Patriots who risked everything in defense of their liberty. To find out more about what trail locations have visitor centers or museums, listen to section 9 of this description, entitled "One Trail with Many Partners."
OVERVIEW: Section 17 of 17: More information ADDRESS:Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail 2 6 3 5 Park Road, Blacksburg, SC 2 9 7 0 2. PHONE:864-936-3477. WEBSITE:www.n p s.g o v/o v v i. Visit www.n p s.g o v/n t s for information about the National Trails System. This Trail is an affiliated area of the National Park System. Please visit www.n p s.g o v to learn more about national parks and National Park Service programs in America’s communities.
