Cowpens Battlefield Trail at Cowpens National Battlefield

The only way to see the Cowpens battlefield is on foot along the Cowpens Battlefield Trail. The trail is a little over a mile long, partially paved, and flat and easy. A person in a wheelchair can make it around with a little help. A detailed description of the trail is at the bottom of this page.

You can walk the Cowpens Battlefield Trail on your own or, if you are at the park at the right time (typically weekends), catch a tour with a Ranger. The only way to know when tours are held is to call the park at (864) 461-2828. Other special events are offered throughout the year, including Living History weekends where costumed actors dress and act like people of the time period. Also, the battle’s anniversary is celebrated every January 17th. Check Cowpens National Battlefield’s Special Events web page for details.

A 4-mile road encircles the battlefield, but unlike tour roads at many other National Battlefields, there are no battle-related stops other than one pullout with a wayside exhibit about the origin of the name “Cowpens.” The road serves mainly as the way to get to the picnic area and an exercise route for pedestrians and bikers. It is one-way, and a bike lane is available.

The road around Cowpens National Battlefield has a bike lane

There is one non-battle related stop that can be accessed by the road, an 1828 log cabin originally built by Robert Scruggs (you can hike to it as well by continuing down Green River Road at the eastern end of the Cowpens Battlefield Trail). The house, built in the style known as 19^th century yeoman farmhouse architecture, remained in the Scruggs family until the National Park Service purchased it in 1970. The NPS restored the cabin back to its original 1828 appearance by removing additions and modern improvements that had been added over the years. The house has no relationship to the Battle of Cowpens, for it was built over a half century later. However, visitors would often stop by and ask the family how to find the battlefield. Today, visitors can peer inside when the front door is open and see the house furnished the way it might have been back when it was built. The furnishings are all reproductions.

Scruggs Cabin at Cowpens National Battlefield

Interior of the Scruggs Cabin at Cowpens National Battlefield

There are also two Battlefield parking lots accessed from the main road. The purpose of these is so that those who cannot walk the entire length of the Cowpens Battlefield Trail can still get to the battlefield. A .25-mile paved path from each parking lot leads to the historic Green River Road, which is where the actual battle took place. So while easier, you still have a half-mile, round trip walk to and from the parking lot.

Paved path leads from a parking area to the Green River Road at Cowpens National Battlefield

Cowpens Battlefield Trail

The Cowpens Battlefield Trail begins at the back of the Visitor Center

Length: 1.25 mile loop
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Flat and easy

Cowpens National Battlefield Map (click to enlarge)

The Cowpens Battlefield Trail departs from the back of the Cowpens National Battlefield Visitor Center. It is a loop, with one half being paved and the other half being the gravel Green River Road, the road on which the actual battle took place. Until the park was created in 1972, parts of the Green River Road were highways SC 110 and SC 11, and fifty or so houses were in the area. The National Park Service acquired the land and removed the houses. SC 11 was rerouted north and SC 110 was rerouted south. The pavement was removed and Green River Road was restored to a gravel surface. The road is also officially part of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, for it is known for sure that the American militiamen from Virginia and North Carolina traveled this road on their way to the battle at Kings Mountain thirty miles farther east.

Green River Road portion of the Cowpens Battlefield Trail, Cowpens National Battlefield

Paved portion of the Cowpens Battlefield Trail at Cowpens National Battlefield

Walking the Cowpens Battlefield Trail is pretty much the main purpose of visiting Cowpens National Battlefield, but unfortunately it is not the most interesting of battlefield trails. It is not lined with monuments, earthworks, or artillery exhibits like many Civil War battlefields. In fact, other than one small monument, if you didn’t know you were on a battlefield, you’d think you were on a county park trail. The only thing setting the two apart are the wayside exhibits along the trail that mark the locations of American and British troop lines, as well as give information on the types of troops that participated in the battle.

Battlefield Trail at Cowpens National Battlefield

Battlefield Trail at Cowpens National Battlefield

After walking down Green River Road for approximately a half mile, the official Cowpens Battlefield Trail forks off to the right and continues once again along a paved path. However, there is an option to continue down Green River Road to the above mentioned Robert Scruggs house. It’s a nice walk if you haven’t seen the house, but keep in mind that you can park right next to it if you don’t want to walk. It’s a 10-minute trip, one way (.35 mile / .7 round trip).

Green River Road leads to the Robert Scruggs Cabin at the east end of the Cowpens Battlefield Trail

Green River Road at Cowpens National Battlefield

As mentioned, there is one monument in the park, the Washington Light Infantry Monument. It was erected in 1856 by the Washington Light Infantry militia of Charleston, South Carolina, to commemorate the American victory. By the time the National Park Service acquired the property, the monument had severely deteriorated. It has since been restored. The monument has nothing to do with George Washington other than being named for him. The Washington Light Infantry is one of the oldest surviving militias in the country, having been founded in 1807.

Washington Light Infantry Monument at Cowpens National Battlefield

Inscription on the Washington Light Infantry Monument at Cowpens National Battlefield

At the start and end of the Green River Road portion of the Cowpens Battlefield Trail, hikers do have the option to continue walking the road to the park boundary. However, there is nothing much to gain by doing so other than extending your walk. There are no points of interest concerning the Battle of Cowpens outside the area covered by the Cowpens Battlefield Trail.

Green River Road extends to the Cowpens National Battlefield boundaries on either end of the battlefield

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