Blog Index

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Horseshoe Falls on Cedar Shoals Creek - Musgrove Mill State Historic Site


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 park website is http://southcarolinaparks.com/musgrovemill/.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Enoree River Shoals - Musgrove Mill State Historic Site


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.

The park website is http://southcarolinaparks.com/musgrovemill/.

Friday, April 28, 2017

British Camp Trail - Musgrove Mill State Historic Site


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.

The park website is http://southcarolinaparks.com/musgrovemill/.