Kings Mountain State Park
Mountains
Bart Joy
Park Manager
My name is Bart Joy, and I am the Park Manager at Kings Mountain State Park. I made the decision to pursue a career as a park ranger when I was attending college at Clemson University. I went hiking to waterfalls in Oconee and Pickens counties with friends-- and I was hooked. I changed my major to focus on parks management, and my passion for the outdoors grew from there.
A place I love at Kings Mountain is the spillway. It is a beautiful example of CCC dam construction, but is also a great place to relax and enjoy a picnic or a snack. It’s near the trailhead, greeting you at the beginning of your hike and also welcoming you back from your adventure.
A first-time visitor to Kings Mountain not only needs to see the spillway, but they also need to check out the 1800’s Living History Farm. It’s great to see the old buildings that recreate a 19th-century yeoman farm, and it is also a peaceful place where you can hang out with the farm animals.
**Our Ultimate Outsider stamps are located at the Farm, Dickey-Sherer House kiosk and the Trading Post.
The Piedmont’s Kings Mountain State Park has miles of forested trails perfect for supreme Kings Mountain hiking, two fishing lakes, and sits adjacent to Kings Mountain National Military Park, one of many national park Revolutionary War sites. Local crowds flock to the park during regularly scheduled special events, especially every November when living history demonstrations are held at the park’s replica 1800s Piedmont farm.
For those who want to stay overnight at Kings Mountain, campground accommodations–including equestrian facilities–are available at the Kings Mountain campground, with easy access to Kings Mountain hiking, fishing and more.
BY THE NUMBERS
1
of 16 SC State Parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps
115
standard campsites for RVs or tent camping
10
tent sites for tent camping only
15
equestrian campsites
30
miles of equestrian trails
20+
plus miles of hiking trails
1
Ridgeline Trail that connects 3 parks and 2 states
2
park lakes - Lake Crawford and Lake York - for fishing and paddling
5
picnic shelters available for rent for group gatherings
6885
acres for you to enjoy