For those who love to wander in wonder, a visit to Kings Mountain in Blacksburg, South Carolina, is a must. This otherworldly destination is the site of an ancient volcanic arc and there are two parks from which to explore the bumpy terrain of the ancient chain of volcanoes that swipes through this part of the Palmetto State.
Located near the North Carolina border in Cherokee County, Blacksburg is a sleepy little bedroom town of about 1,800 people.
On its' outskirts are found two parks: a state park and a national military park. Both are named for the mountain they feature: Kings Mountain.
But Kings Mountain is more than just an ordinary mountain. While it's commonly known that mountain ranges were formed from tectonic activity millions and millions of years ago, Kings Mountain was formed by a chain of volcanoes known commonly as a volcanic arc.
Seen here in a recent satellite image from Google Maps, the volcanic arc is still very present in the area. And exploring it is exactly as fun as it sounds.
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A quick rundown on how a volcanic arc is formed (shown here) tells us that during the process, a portion of the earth shifts underneath its opposing counterpart.
The shift causes great pressure to form and eventually heated water causes magma to form and, eventually, volcanic activity can erupt. This is precisely the process that formed the volcanic arc outside of Blacksburg.
While exploring the terrain via the two aforementioned parks, visitors get a real sense of the ancient history and violent volcanic activity that took place here.
Volcanic rocks that remain from ancient lava that flowed and then cooled above the earth's surface, the parks are amazing places in which to have an adventure.
The two parks are Kings Mountain National Military Park and Kings Mountain State Park. They are located only a stone's throw from one another just outside of the tiny town of Blacksburg.
In addition to the volcanic arc, there's another reason to visit the two parks: there's a lot of history associated with both!
The Battle of Kings Mountain is commemorated at Kings Mountain National Military Park. The battle was a significant victory for the American patriots in the Revolutionary War.
And over at Kings Mountain State Park, visitors can walk through a living history farm that's reminiscent of 18th century farm life in the Piedmont of South Carolina.
A huge waterfall and reservoir also provide a fantastic spot for photo opportunities.
Did you know about the volcanic arc near Blacksburg and have you ever explored these two wonderful parks on the South Carolina/North Carolina border? Let us know in the comments!
Kings Mountain National Military Park is currently open on a limited basis due to the pandemic. Please see this link for park hours. Admission is always free. Kings Mountain State Park is open at 8 a.m. daily. It closes at 6 p.m. during winter hours and at 9 p.m. during daylight savings time. Admission is: $3 for 16 and over; $1.50 for seniors, $1 for kids age 6-15, kids under 6 are free. Learn more from the official South Carolina State Parks website.
