Sycamore Shoals State Historic Site- A Peaceful Stop in the Tennessee Mountains
Today, I will take you to one of the old frontier posts in colonial history. Nestled in a valley along the Watauga River, Sycamore Shoals State Park is one of those fun, fascinating, and worthy destinations for a fun day trip for those in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. This State Park offers a few things for families and people of all ages to enjoy.
Sycamore Shoals State Park 70-acre stretch that sits along the Watauga river and historically was one of the main river crossings for the area. Historically speaking, Sycamore Shoals is rich with lore and events. The colonial settlement was one of the first outside of the original 13 colonies. The settlement played a significant role in the Cherokee Wars in the 1700s. The settlers would also take part in the Overmountain Men’s victory against the British in the Revolutionary War at King’s Mountain. Sycamore Shoals was the mustering site for Major Ferguson and the mountain men who would fight in the arguably decisive victory in the Revolutionary War. Another particularly interesting aspect of Sycamore Shoals is that this area is claimed to have been the birth site of the first independent democratic community in North America with the creation of the Watauga Association in 1772. The association was where the local settlers would communally elect 5 of their own to govern for them.
In terms of activities, the State Park features a museum exploring the colonial history of the region, a recreation of the original fort that was built in the 1700s, an arboretum, a butterfly garden, a picnic area, an amphitheater where “Liberty: The Saga of Sycamore Shoals” is presented each July, and a trail that runs along the Watauga. I cannot speak to many of the activities due to it being winter when I was there and COVID, however, I will speak to what I know about. The museum is interesting and does have several exhibits about colonial life in the area as well as more informative exhibits on famous events like the Overmountain Men, the formulation of the Watauga Association, etc. The fort is also pretty interesting to see, though due to COVID it was empty and the buildings inside were closed, unfortunately. However, tourists could explore the walls with a small rampart to stand on overlooking the amphitheater.
Now the trail is on the shorter side and is the definition of an hour hike. There is one trail called the ‘Patriot’s Path’ which is a ~1-mile trail that starts at the side parking lot and goes to a roundabout at the end. The trail follows closely along the Watauga River, though there wasn’t much in terms of river access. The trail itself is pretty flat and is a small gravel path making it an extremely easy hike. I’d argue that the trail is handicap manageable for most people due to the flatness and gravel. About halfway along the loop, you will pass a butterfly garden which I assume during the spring and summer is more gorgeous. Due to the cold, while I visited though, the plants were mostly dead. The path is gorgeous and is lined with lots of trees, some of which have been identified for visitors.
In terms of a review of the park? I’d say the enjoyment of this park could be very subjective and based on what you are looking for out of a park. The history of the park is quite interesting and history buffs like me will fully enjoy that. If you are looking for a place for a family walk with smaller children or older people who aren’t able to undertake harder trails, this would also be the park for you. The trail is easily manageable and isn’t too long or hard to complete. The views are gorgeous and the Watauga flowing alongside the trail is a welcome feature. If you are a bigger hiker though and are looking for breathtaking views or more intense trails, I would recommend finding something else in the TN mountains around the park. The park is certainly a nice stop with family or for history buffs, but if you are looking for a good day hike? Keep on the road.
