Trails
Park Maps and Brochures:
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, June 1, 2019 - 8:00am
Saturday, September 28, 2019 - 8:00am
Saturday, October 12, 2019 - 8:00am
Trails
The beauty and diversity of Crowders Mountain State Park are best appreciated on its miles of hiking trails. Hiking trails lined with wildflowers and mountain laurel lead along the ridges and to the summits of Crowders Mountain and Kings Pinnacle. Other trails are easy promenades through pastoral surroundings. Circle the lake on a gravel path or view aquatic plants and animals along a narrow creek. Bring a pair of binoculars and do some bird watching or tote a camera and capture the beauty of wildflowers in bloom.
Lake Trail
Location: Sparrow Springs Access. Starts and ends at the park lake
Description:
The trail circles the park lake.
Crowders Mountain State Park’s TRACK Trail adventures were designed for use on the Turnback Trail, Fern Trail, and Lake Trail. These three trail combined make a 2.1 mile round-trip hike.
Surface: natural surface
Length:
0.80 miles
round trip
0.80 miles
round trip
Difficulty:
easy
easy
Blaze:
light blue circle
light blue circle
Pinnacle Trail
Location: Sparrow Springs Access. Begins at the Visitor Center and ends at the summit of King's Pinnacle.
Description:
King's Pinnacle is the highest point in Gaston County at 1,705 feet.
Surface: natural surface
Length:
2.00 miles
one way
2.00 miles
one way
Difficulty:
strenuous
strenuous
Blaze:
orange circle
orange circle
Ridgeline Trail
Location: Sparrow Springs Access. The trail starts near the summit of Kings Pinnacle, and follows the ridgeline all the way to the South Carolina State line.
Description:
The Ridgeline trail continues for 2.5 miles into South Carolina through Kings Mountain State Park, and terminates at the 16 mile Kings Mountain National Recreation Trail that goes through Kings Mountain State Park and Kings Mountain National Military Park.
Surface: natural surface
Length:
6.20 miles
one way
6.20 miles
one way
Difficulty:
moderate
moderate
Blaze:
red triangle
red triangle
Rocktop Trail
Location: Linwood Road Access. starts at the road crossing of Sparrow Springs Road and Freedom Mill Road and ends at the summit of Crowders Mountain
Description:
There is no parking at either end of the trail and the trail must be accessed by either beginning on the Crowders Trail (visitor center) or the Tower or Backside Trails (at the Crowders summit). This trail crosses several rock ledges and requires good footwear and careful attention to staying on the trail.
Surface: natural surface
Length:
1.40 miles
one way
1.40 miles
one way
Difficulty:
strenuous
strenuous
Blaze:
red square
red square
Tower Trail
Location: Begins at the Linwood Access Area and ends at the radio towers on Crowders Mountain.
Description:
The trail is an old roadbed that begins with a gentle climb that becomes quite steep towards the end. Please note that business vehicles use this trail to access the radio towers near the summit.
Surface: gravel
Length:
1.80 miles
one way
1.80 miles
one way
Difficulty:
strenuous
strenuous
Blaze:
light blue square
light blue square
Contact
704-853-5375
crowders.mountain@ncparks.gov
Addresses
Park office and
Sparrow Springs access
522 Park Office Lane
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
GPS: 35.213316, -81.293555
Linwood access
4611 Linwood Road
Gastonia, NC 28086
GPS: 35.240917, -81.269312
Boulders access
108 Van Dyke Road
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
GPS: 35.171180, -81.362762
Hours
The gates at Linwood Road, Boulders and Sparrow Springs access (including all trails, picnic areas and the lake) close at the listed times below.
- December to February:
7:00am to 6:00pm
- March to April:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- October:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- November:
7:00am to 7:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
- 8:00am to 5:00pm daily
- Closed Christmas Day
Campers may access the Campground Trail parking at Sparrow Springs during these hours:
- December to February:
7:00am to 7:00pm
- March to April:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- October:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- November:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
There is a 1-mile hike to the campground from the parking lot. Please plan accordingly.