Walking History: A Journey Along the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail

By: Bailey Scarlett, 2025 Davidson Impact Fellow

As a lifelong North Carolinian, I’m always eager to deepen my understanding of the state I call home. I take pride in knowing the history, culture, ecology, and geography of this region. So when I was invited to represent the Carolina Thread Trail on a thru-hike of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, my excitement was quickly followed by surprise. A National Historic Trail—one of just 21 in the country—runs through North Carolina, and I had never heard of it!

A bit of quick research revealed that I, like many others, had unknowingly visited several destinations along this trail over the years. Yet the story behind this historic path remains relatively unknown.

This past September, I arrived in Abingdon, Virginia, ready to walk that path and live its story. One of the most consequential campaigns in the fight for American independence began in a quiet pasture—where my olive green hiking boots now stood. I joined a group of historians, trail professionals, and curious hikers to retrace the route followed by a patriot militia in 1780 as they pursued British forces toward a decisive victory at the Battle of Kings Mountain.

This route, which winds through the mountains and foothills of Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina, was designated a National Historic Trail by Congress in 1980. Yet it had been more than three decades since anyone had attempted to traverse the full distance on foot. That’s largely because the trail is administered by the National Park Service as a Commemorative Motor Route, allowing drivers to travel between landmarks on paved roads. The Overmountain Men, as they were known, rode on horseback. While many parts of the countryside still retain a historic character that offers a glimpse into their experience, the indigenous trading routes and wagon roads have since evolved into state highways and stoplights.

Historian William Caldwell spent months compiling maps and documents to design a safe pedestrian route for our group. Using rural roads and public trails, we spent the next 14 days immersed in the ecosystems, stories, and challenges faced by the patriots who once crossed these same hills. We walked through four states, crossing streets, creeks, pastures, and even segments of the Appalachian Trail.

The tradition of hiking the OVT on foot began in the 1970s, in preparation for the nation’s bicentennial. A group of passionate historians and citizens planned a route that captured the spirit of the original march, eventually growing the movement into a robust community that celebrated the journey annually. Their efforts were rewarded with the trail’s National Historic designation in 1980, marking the bicentennial of the battle. Today, nearly 200 partner organizations are associated with the OVT, maintaining trails, providing historical education, and stewarding destinations along the way. Some are directly tied to the mission, like the Overmountain Victory Trail Association and the Partnership for the National Trails System. Others, like Tennessee State Parks or the Overmountain Vineyard in Polk County, offer hospitality and support to hikers and visitors.

The “revival,” as our group affectionately called it, drew from first-person accounts of the bicentennial hikers and evolving scholarship on the 1780 campaign to create an immersive experience. The kickoff celebration in Abingdon featured reenactments, music, and stories from expert historians. Our summit of Kings Mountain was a quieter moment—one that came to life as we silently traced the final approach of 900 sleep-deprived soldiers toward the loyalist camp.

In other ways, this hike was a uniquely modern and impressively precise logistical feat. Every step of the 220-mile journey was mapped, reserved, and scouted to align with the historic timeline. Safety was a top priority: our high-visibility orange-clad crew maintained constant communication with a support vehicle, which placed cautionary signage along roadways.

While an undertaking of this scale demands meticulous planning, the OVT thru-hike organizers had a broader vision: to open future hikes to public participation. By refining the structure and schedule with a small group of professionals, they laid the groundwork for sharing this extraordinary experience with a wider audience in the years ahead.

As the 250th anniversary of American independence approaches—and with the Battle of Kings Mountain’s milestone close behind—immersive experiences like this one will be more meaningful than ever. They offer us a chance not only to walk in the footsteps of history, but to carry its stories forward.