Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway
Cherokee Foothills Tour
| Departure: | King's Mountain National Military Park, South Carolina |
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| Destination: | Keowee-Toxaway State Park, South Carolina |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
This tour will take you the length of the byway, and a little more, exposing you to the rich cultural heritage of South Carolina, allowing you to partake of both the culture and setting of the Cherokee Foothills.
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Start: King's Mountain National Military Park
Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes Begin your adventure at King's Mountain National Military Park, which marks the site where colonial Patriots crushed Loyalist troops in 1780. Kings Mountain gives an interpretive history of military endeavors in the area during the Civil War. Anyone interested in history and the Civil War should make this a destination.
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Stop 2: Gaffney
Directions from previous place: Go north toward Antioch road, and drive for 1.2 miles on Antioch Road until it turns into SC-216. Take the road for 1.5 miles, and then merge onto I-85 via the ramp on the left. After 13.1 miles, take exit 95 toward SC-18 and make a left onto road 82, before making a right onto N. Limestone St. Follow the road for .9 miles before turning right onto US-29. After 1.6 miles, turn left onto W. Buford St, then right onto Limestone St to end at Gaffney.
Distance from Previous Site: 19.42 miles / 31.1 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 25 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes Visit the town of Gaffney to get a glimpse of its mammoth water tower, painted to resemble a peach. While in town, spend a few minutes at the monument honoring Colonel James Williams, who was killed at the Battle of King's Mountain.
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Stop 3: Cowpens National Battlefield
Directions from previous place: Go northeast on Limestone St and take a left, then an immediate right onto US-29, then another left onto W Frederick St. Continue to follow the street for .5 miles before the road turns into SC-11. After 10.5 miles, end at Cowpens National Battlefield.
Distance from Previous Site: 11.51 miles / 18.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 18 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Stop by the visitor center at Cowpens to collect souvenirs and to visit the site of the 1781 battle in which the American Patriots overwhelmed the British at the Battle of Cowpens. Hike the mile-long trail and see first-hand the fields where General Daniel Morgan's troops fought their way to victory. Take a break to enjoy a sun-filled picnic area and be sure to explore the various wayside exhibits.
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Stop 4: Campbell's Bridge
Directions from previous place: Go west on SC-11 for 26.4 miles, then turn left onto SC-14. After 2.2 miles, turn right onto SC-414, then left onto Pleasant Hill Road after another 1.1 miles. Turn right onto Campbell Covered Bridge Road to end at Campbell Covered Bridge.
Distance from Previous Site: 30.13 miles / 48.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 59 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 10 minutes Visit the only remaining covered bridge in the state, which has been welcoming visitors since 1909.
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Stop 5: Glassy Mountain
Directions from previous place: Go northeast on Campbell Covered Bridge Rd and turn left onto Pleasant Hill Rd, then take a left onto SC-414. After 3.8 miles, turn left to stay on the road. Turn left onto SC-414 W after 7.3 miles, then continue for 11.4 miles.
Turn right onto W. Duncan Rd and then make another right onto Farrs Bridge Rd and drive for 10.4 miles before turning right onto N. Cedar Rock Rd. Turn left onto Glassy Mountain Church Rd after 1.3 miles, then take another right onto Mountain View Drive to end at Glassy Mountain.
Distance from Previous Site: 35.66 miles / 57.1 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour 4 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 5 minutes Turn your gaze upward the to the daunting sight of Glassy Mountain, a 1,000-foot-high cliff with a sheer rock face.
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Stop 6: Caesar's Head State Park
Directions from previous place: Go southwest on Mountain View Dr. toward Glassy Mountain Church Rd., then turn right onto Boggs Rd. After 1.1 miles, turn left and then make a right onto Pumpkintown Hwy and drive for 11.2 miles. Turn right onto Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy, then make a left onto Caeser's Head Hwy. Follow the road for 1.3 miles before making a left onto Geer Hwy. After 6.7 miles, end at Caesars Head State Park.
Distance from Previous Site: 22.18 miles / 35.5 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 41 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Visit Caesar's Head for its beautiful vistas, excellent hiking trails, and impressive waterfalls. Picnic by Raven Cliff Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States.
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Stop 7: Table Rock State Park
Directions from previous place: Drive south on Geer Hwy for 6.7 miles, then turn right onto SC-8 and continue for another 1.9 miles. Stay straight; the road turns into Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy, drive for 4.5 miles before turning right onto Table Rock State Park Rd. End at Table Rock State Park.
Distance from Previous Site: 14.17 miles / 22.7 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 24 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Visit the dome of Table Rock Mountain, which provides one of the area's most notable landmarks and gives its name to one of the state's oldest and most popular parks.
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End: Keowee-Toxaway State Park
Directions from previous place: Drive south on Table Rock State Park Rd, then turn right onto Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy; drive for 12.8 miles before making a right, then a sharp left onto Cabin Rd, then another right onto Residence Dr. to end at Keowee-Toxaway State Park.
Distance from Previous Site: 13.84 miles / 22.1 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 27 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes The park covers 1,000 acres and features outstanding rock features, beautiful views, and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Set your picnic basket down here for a short lunch break.
