Cedar Shoals Creek plunges 10 feet in a series of drops known as Horseshoe Falls. The waterfall is not named for its shape, but after a legendary 18th century blacksmith. Sergeant Galbraith "Horse-Shoe" Robinson is the main protagonist of the 1835 historical novel Horse-Shoe Robinson: A Tale of the Tory Ascendancy by John Pendleton Kennedy. Due to his trade as a blacksmith, the sergeant is nicknamed Horse-Shoe. Robinson was a Patriot and the legend is told that he hid in the small cave at the falls to spy on the Loyalists encamped across the Enoree River at Musgrove Mill. The legend continues that Mary Musgrove provided food and intelligence to Robinson who then relayed the information to Patriot militia leaders. There is no way to prove or disprove the legend, but it made a good story in 1835 and still does today.
I visited Musgrove Mill State Historic Site in late April 2017. The site is north of I-26 between the towns of Clinton and Cross Anchor, South Carolina. I provided driving directions and a synopsis of the Revolutionary War battle here.
To reach the falls from the visitor center on the south side of the Enoree River, drive out the park road to SC 56. Turn left (north) and drive 2.1 miles crossing the river on the way. Make a sharp left onto Horseshoe Falls Road. Drive south for 1.4 miles. A large gravel parking area is located on the right before the road crosses the pony truss bridge over Cedar Shoals Creek. The trailhead and two handicap parking spaces are located across Horseshoe Falls Road. The 500 foot concrete trail is ADA accessible and provides a view of the falls obstructed by trees. A dirt side path leads down to the creek.
Gravel parking area
Horseshoe Falls Road crosses Cedar Shoals Creek on this pony truss bridge
Handicap parking and trailhead
Another view of the bridge and creek
Concrete trail and wooden bench
The end of the ADA compliant trail provides space for wheelchairs and attendants
Obscured view of the falls from the overlook
Continuing along the trail
Horseshoe Falls and pool
A closer view of the falls
Lots of water due to recent rain
Reflections in turbid water
View downstream
Falls from further downstream
Entry to the Musgrove Mill State Historic Site is free.
The shoals of the Enoree River provided a good place to build a mill. With the river dropping rapidly over a short distance, the miller could harness the power of the swiftly moving water to grind corn and other grains. The shoals are included in the Musgrove Mill State Historic Site and are visible from the British Camp Trail on the south side and from a canoe and kayak access point on the north side of the river.
I visited Musgrove Mill State Historic Site in late April 2017. The site is north of I-26 between the towns of Clinton and Cross Anchor, South Carolina. I provided driving directions and a synopsis of the Revolutionary War battle here.
To reach the access point and the shoals from the park entrance, drive north on SC 56 for 2.1 miles crossing the Enoree River on the way. Make a sharp left onto Horseshoe Falls Road. Drive south for 1.4 miles and cross Cedar Shoals Creek on a pony truss bridge with a weight limit of 3 tons. Continue an additional 0.3 miles to a very small gravel parking area on the left.
Information kiosk at parking area
Stairs down to the river
Enoree River shoals
Bridge piers of a long abandoned bridge
Looking across the river to the British Camp trail
View downstream
The Enoree River is over 200 feet wide at the shoals
Water falling from one layer of bedrock to the next
Standing waves near a small island
Entry to the Musgrove Mill State Historic Site is free.
I visited the Musgrove Mill State Historic Site near Cross Anchor, South Carolina in late April 2017. My short synopsis of the Revolutionary War battle that took place on August 19, 1780 can be found here.
Although Edward Musgrove had declared his neutrality in the war several years earlier in order to maintain business for his mill, a Loyalist militia of some 200 men had camped in his fields to control the Enoree River ford located just downstream from the Musgrove Mill and to deny Patriot access to the mill. On the night before the battle, an additional 100 militiamen and 200 provincial soldiers on their way to join up with Major Patrick Ferguson also made camp on the plantation.
The 1.1 mile British Camp Trail is a loop that begins and ends at the parking area. While the trail is mostly in the woods, it is likely that the colonial plantation owned by Mr. Musgrove consisted of more open, cultivated fields. The trail descends about 60 feet to the river bottom land and then climbs back up to the elevation of the parking area. Numerous wood timbers have been installed as steps to assist with this elevation change. I started my hike near the restrooms and picnic shelter at the south end of the parking lot and proceeded counter-clockwise. Although the trail was not rated, I would consider this an easy hike.
Topographic map with GPS route overlay
Red blazes mark the trail
Wayside interpretive sign
Ravine near the trail
Some of the numerous timber steps
Trail leave the forest and enters the field behind the visitor center
Re-entering the forest
More steps and a monument
This monument was erected in the early 20th century to memorialize the legendary (and possibly fictitious) Mary Musgrove
Inscription:
Mary Musgroves
Revolutionary
Fame
The trail continues through the field
Possible site of Musgroves Ford with the Highway 56 bridge in the background
The trail turns left and follows the river upstream
Enoree River at a second potential location of Musgrove Ford
A small bridge crosses a drainage swale
Islands near the site of Musgrove Mill
Shoals on the Enoree River
Location of a former bridge over the river
Another view of the shoals
The former road heading up from the river
Crossing another drainage
Debris in the drainage ditch has likely caused this stagnant pool
Typical trail condition along the river
The only tree I had to climb over on the trail
A final view of the river
The trail is easy to follow even without blazes in some places...
...but more difficult in others
The trail levels out as it reaches the top of the hill
A picnic area is located adjacent to the trail near the parking area
The trail follows the earthen dam
Fishing pond created by earthen dam
Trail crosses the entrance road...
...and returns to the visitor center or parking area
Entry to the Musgrove Mill State Historic Site is free.
