Where History and Nature Meet Along the Catawba River

Landsford Canal State Park offers one of the most unique outdoor and historic experiences in South Carolina’s Olde English District. Located along the Catawba River in Chester County, the park combines early transportation history, scenic river views and one of the largest populations of rocky shoals spider lilies in the world. The importance of the site, though, dates back hundreds of years, including the crossing by Loyalists and Patriots that occurred at the ford.

Originally built in the early 1800s, the Landsford Canal helped boats navigate the rocky rapids of the Catawba River and became an important part of trade and transportation in the Carolina Piedmont.

Today, visitors can walk beside the preserved canal system while exploring the natural beauty that surrounds it.

Land’s Ford During the American Revolution

Landsford Canal State Park protects historic roadbeds and approaches to Land’s Ford, which Patriot and British soldiers used to cross the Catawba River numerous times during the Southern Campaign.

The largest army known to have crossed here during the revolution was in October 1780. Following the Patriot victory at Kings Mountain, British troops under General Charles Cornwallis evacuated Charlotte and retreated into South Carolina. They used the ford and roads here to move west of the Catawba River and southward towards Winnsboro.

What You Will Experience at the Park

Visitors to Landsford Canal State Park can enjoy:

• Walking and hiking trails
• River views and wildlife observation
• Historic canal ruins
• Fishing and kayaking opportunities
• Seasonal spider lily viewing

The park offers a quieter outdoor experience that reflects the scenic and rural character of the Olde English District.

Why It Matters on the Backcountry Revolution Trail

Landsford Canal State Park is included on the Backcountry Revolution Trail because the historic river crossing and roads here were used heavily by troops during the battles of the Waxhaws, Rocky Mount, Hanging Rock and Fishing Creek.

Patriot General Thomas Sumter and his men camped in the area around Land’s Ford before and after the battles of Rocky Mount (August 1, 1780) and Hanging Rock (August 6, 1780).

After the revolution, Patriot veteran William Richardson Davie purchased this land and established his Tivoli plantation here, where he died in 1820.

Along the Trail: Where to Visit Next

• Battle of Beckhamville (Great Falls, Chester County): Visit Great Falls to see the remaining fields from the Battle of Beckhamville, one of three Chester County Revolutionary War sites interpreted with placards in the area. Together, Beckhamville, Fishdam Ford and Fishing Creek help show how much of the county’s backcountry was touched by the war.
• Battle of Fishdam Ford (Great Falls, Chester County): Another Chester County stop in the Great Falls area, Fishdam Ford helps tell the story of Revolutionary War movement along the Catawba River corridor. The site’s placards and landscape give visitors a sense of how local roads and river crossings shaped the Southern Campaign.
• Battle of Fishing Creek (Great Falls, Chester County): Fishing Creek rounds out the group of Great Falls battlefield sites and adds more context for how Patriot and Loyalist forces moved through Chester County. Combined with Beckhamville and Fishdam Ford, it creates a fuller picture of Revolutionary War activity in the backcountry.

Plan Your Visit: Stay, Dine & Explore

• Stay: Make Chester your home base for exploring Landsford Canal and the surrounding Revolutionary War landscape. Chester County lists lodging options including the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, The Farmhouse in Fort Lawn and Landsford Inn, giving visitors a few easy choices for an overnight stay.
• Dine: Before or after your visit, stop in Chester for a meal at local favorites such as Hillside Restaurant & Bar, Sabor Latino Grill in Richburg, Country Omelet or Front Porch Restaurant. These spots make it simple to turn a Landsford Canal day trip into a relaxed outing.
• Explore: Pair your park visit with Chester State Park and downtown Chester, or time your trip for the Rocky Shoals spider lilies, which bloom along the Catawba River from mid-May to mid-June and can be viewed from the park’s trail overlooks. Landsford Canal’s nature trail and river scenery make it a rewarding stop for both history and outdoor exploration.

Plan Your Backcountry Adventure

Before you arrive, be sure to tune into our upcoming Backcountry Revolution Trail Podcast to hear the diverse, untold voices of 1776 come to life.

The trail is marked. The hallowed ground is waiting. Discover the real story of the Revolution—plan your visit to the Olde English District today.