Outdoors

In 1780 a patriot army of frontiersmen from the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, and present day Tennessee engulfed an overconfident loyalist force under British Major Patrick Ferguson at Kings Mountain. The battle is considered to be the “turning point of the American Revolution in the South.” Visitors can see a video on the battle, explore the exhibit area and learn about the people who fought at Kings Mountain at the visitor center, and walk the 1.5 mile loop trail around the battlefield. The bookstore offers publications about the area’s military and cultural history and its plants and animals. Combined with the Kings Mountain State Park, there are 16 miles of hiking trails and 16 miles of horse trails. The Ridgeline Trail stretches 12.1 miles and connects with Crowders Mountain State Park in North Carolina, creating a total of more than 15,000 acres of parkland serving more than 1.5 million visitors a year in the fast-growing corridor between Charlotte (NC) and the Greenville-Spartanburg (SC) areas. Every October 7^th, a ceremony commemorates the victory at the Battle of Kings Mountain. Throughout the year, 18th century military encampments and demonstrations are held at the park. Please check the webpage and Facebook page for dates and events. 9 am until 5 pm daily except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, and Columbus Day. Located off SC 161 and a beautiful 4 mile drive through Kings Mountain State Park.

The park provides access to 13,800-acre Lake Wateree which is popular for fishing, boating and other water-related activities. 72 campsites with water and electricity. Bathhouse with hot showers, dump station, picnic area, ice, playground, swimming, nature trail, biking & walking, camp store & tackle shop, fishing, pets allowed on leash. 6am-9pm daily. Park entrance fee charged for ages 15 and over. SC 10 east of US 21 (I-77, exit 41).

This 70-acre park features six regulation and two championship soccer fields, a seating capacity of 1,500, and a pavilion housing concessions, rest rooms, park offices, and a multi-purpose meeting space. This sports park also provides a pond, playground areas, picnic shelters and trails for walking or biking. It's much more than just soccer! Manchester Meadows conveniently adjoins Manchester Village >Rock Hill's outstanding shopping and dining areas.

This monadnock is a little-known gem full of history dating back to before the American Revolution. The iron mines located here helped fuel the Carolina Piedmont's first major industry, ironworks, which used hundreds of slaves and skilled workers and produced everything from kettles to cannons. Many historians also believe this was a stop for runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. The highest point in the county, it rises to 981 feet above sea level, and offers unique views of Lake Wylie's shoreline, Charlotte's skyscrapers and neighboring peaks of Kings Mountain, Crowders Mountain and Henry's Knob. Open to the public. Amenities include a gravel parking area at the base, two walking trails, picnic tables, and educational facilities. 

This pristine 70-acre park along the Catawba River include a picnic area, canoe launch with over 3½ miles of scenic, wooded trails. Trails include the Wetlands Trail–a handicapped accessible boardwalk trail through the wetlands area, the River Trail--a trail along the Catawba River with rubberized surface and handicapped access, and the Waterford Trail connecting River Park to the Waterford Business Park. Additionally, the River Trail connects to the trails at the neighboring Rock Hill Outdoor Center in Riverwalk. River Park is the perfect setting in which to study the delicate balance between man and our natural resources.

This facility is the first Olympic-caliber BMX training facility open to the general public on the US East Coast.  It has both an amateur and an elite supercross start hill as well as a pump track.  Programs are offered to suit all ages and skill levels. Race events are held at the local, regional and international levels.