Garner Branch Campsite

Kings Mountain National Military Park commemorates a pivotal and significant victory by American Patriots over American Loyalists during the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. The battle fought on October 7, 1780 destroyed the left wing of Cornwallis’ army and effectively ended Loyalist ascendance in the Carolinas. The victory halted the British advance into North Carolina, forced Lord Cornwallis to retreat from Charlotte into South Carolina, and gave General Nathanael Greene the opportunity to reorganize the American Army.

This easy to moderate out-back hike passes across a few small streams and through a forest of rolling hills. It is entirely in the boundaries of Kings Mountain National Park. The route starts behind the National Park Visitor’s Center and ends at the Garner Branch Campsite – the only designated backcountry site in the national park. The route also includes a side trip up to Browns Mt. (1045′) which is located in the eastern foothills of the Blue Ride Mountains where a short spur trail leads to the site of an old firetower (which has been removed.)