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Crowders Mountain State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Crowders Mountain State Park | |
|---|---|
| North Carolina State Park | |
| Natural Monument (IUCN III) | |
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| Named for: Crowder's Mountain | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Gaston |
| Location | |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 1,385 ft (422.1 m) |
| Area | 2,083 acres (843 ha) |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Managed by | North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources |
| Nearest city | Gastonia, North Carolina |
  Location of Crowders Mountain State Park in North Carolina
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| Website : Crowders Mountain State Park | |
Crowder's Mountain State Park is a 2,083 acre (8.43 sq km) North Carolina state park in Gaston County, North Carolina in the United States. It is near King's Mountain, North Carolina and on the outskirts of Gastonia, North Carolina, it includes the peaks of Crowder's Mountain and King's Pinnacle. Crowders Mountain was named after Ulrich Crowder, a German merchant and farmer who in 1789 purchased the mountain and the land around it before moving west. The cliffs are a popular destination for rock climbers.
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The mountain itself is a monadnock, or isolated mountain peak. It sharply rises some 800 feet above the surrounding countryside, and presents sheer rock cliffs that are 100 - 150 feet in height. The mountain rises to 1,625 feet above sea level. The peak is believed to be the remnant of a much higher mountain which formed some 400 - 500 million years ago and was gradually worn down by the elements. The park sets at the northeast end of the Kings Mountain Range, a 16 mile long range of low peaks which include the site of the Battle of Kings Mountain of the American Revolution.
The Park contains two peaks:
- Crowder's Mountain, 1,625 feet (495 meters), is in the northeastern section of the park.
- King's Pinnacle, 1,705 feet (520 meters), is in the western section of the park.
In the early 1970s there were plans to develop and excavate the mountain for natural resources; to prevent this the Gastonia city council and other concerned citizens purchased the land from developers and presented it to the state government. In 1974 the State of North Carolina officially designated the area as Crowders Mountain State Park. Nearby King's Pinnacle was added to the park in 1987.
Several hiking trails lead to the summit of Crowders Mountain, and from the summit it is possible on a clear day to see the skyscrapers of Charlotte, North Carolina to the east.
- Crowders Trail - Strenuous, 2.5 miles. This trail winds along the base of Crowders Mountain which ultimately leads to the top of the mountain.
- Backside Trail - Strenuous, .9 miles. From the Crowders Trail this trail leads around the backside of the mountain to the top.
- Rocktop Trail - Strenuous, .9 miles. Admittedly the most difficult and technical trail in the park. It travels along the ridge of Crowders Mountain so each side has steep drop offs and unseen cliffs.
State Parks of North Carolina, Walter C. Biggs and James F. Parnell, Authors. John F. Blair, Publisher. 1989 ISBN 0895870711
- Crowder's Mountain State Park home page
- Photographs at Hiking the Carolinas
- Crowder's Mountain Traveler's Companion website
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