Hanging Rock Battlefield

The Hanging Rock Battleground park, maintained by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, is located two miles south of Heath Springs, occupying a portion of the 1780 battlefield.  A stone marker, on a trail next to a stack of large boulders just off Hanging Rock Road, describes the battle there.  Further north along Flat Rock Road near Hanging Rock Creek is the portion of the battlefield where the British camps were attacked.

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The Hanging Rock trail has 8 stops and is 0.7 miles long. Follow the loop trail with yellow trail markings from the parking area. The 0.7-mile unpaved path will take you through the area where the Patriot troops under Brigadier General Thomas Sumter launched their attack on the first of three British camps commanded by Major John Cruger on August 6, 1780, during the Revolutionary War. Look for interpretive signs on the battlefield to learn more about this historic engagement. And don't miss the view of Shelter Rock at the overlook. There, 13 year old Andrew Jackson, who would later become president of the United States, held the horses of the patriot officers who entered the camps on foot. The battleground was named for a large local rock formation. To see this unusual landmark, go 0.5 miles south to Flat Rock Road and turn left onto Hanging Rock Road. The trailhead is approximately 0.7 miles on the right. Please remain on the marked trail throughout your visit and watch for ticks and other wildlife. There are also no restrooms or drinking facilities at this site, so please be prepared in advance for your visit. Browse more American Battlefield Trust trails.