Discover Polk County’s role in the founding of the country
Published 5:13 pm Tuesday, June 4, 2013
The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVNHT) is part of the U.S. National Trails System. It recognizes the Overmountain Men, Revolutionary War patriots from Virginia and modern day Tennessee, who crossed the Appalachian Mountains and then fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina. The OVNHT follows the route from Abingdon, Virginia, fording the Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals through present day Elizabethton, Tennessee and ascending over the steep mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina to the site of the Battle of Kings Mountain. The trail network consists of a 330-mile corridor, including a 70-mile branch from Elkin, North Carolina, that joins the main route at Morganton, North Carolina.
Starting from the Bradley Nature Preserve parking lot, the walk will begin at 10:00 am and should last around 3 hours. To get to the Nature Preserve take Hwy 108 toward the Polk/Rutherford County line. Turn onto County Line Road, heading south, and follow signs to Greys Chapel church. The preserve is just before the church. The moderate three-mile round trip hike is free, but participants are advised to bring water and a snack.
– article submitted by Ambrose Mills