Ninety Six National Historic Site Trail Map
Historical Trail (1 mile/1 hour)
Gouedy Trail (1.5-mile loop/1.5 hours)
Cherokee Path Trail (3 mile round trip/2 hours)
Loop of all three trails (3.8 miles/3 hours)
Fisherman’s Trail (1.25-mile loop)
There are four hiking trails at Ninety Six National Historic Site. The most popular, and the one not to be missed, is the paved path around the American Revolution battlefield and the original Ninety Six town site called the Historical Trail. Another trail that passes some historical sites is the Gouedy Trail, a 1.5-mile loop. The Cherokee Path Trail is a 1.5 mile out-and-back trail (3 miles round trip) that leads to the Star Fort Pond (aka Ninety Six Lake). If you don’t mind a 3.8-mile hike, the best way to see the entire park is to hike all three trails as one, big loop.
There is also a trail around the Star Fort Pond called the Fisherman’s Trail. I did not hike it because I was not aware of it when I visited. It is a 1.25-mile loop and can easily be added to the hike with the other three trails, bringing the total distance to around 5 miles.
Star Fort Pond
The Goudey Trail and the Cherokee Path Trail can be hiked separately, but their trailheads are along the Historical Trail. The quickest way to reach them is to take the Historical Trail in the counterclockwise direction. If facing the Visitor Center, go to your right and head towards the Logan Log Cabin and the Stockade Fort. The Cherokee Path Trail is .2 mile from the Visitor Center, and the Gouedy Trail is another .1 mile from there.
Dogs are allowed on the trails as long as they are kept on a leash. Be sure to bring a dog poop bag with you.
I was told mosquitoes are bad during the summer at the Star Fort Pond. There were some in September when I visited, but not enough to spray myself with mosquito repellent. I did not encounter ticks or chiggers in September, though I did run across a 3-foot snake sunning itself along the Gouedy Trail. That was a thrill.
Snake on the Gouedy Trail
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Last updated on October 15, 2019
