Ready, set, hike!

Lake Whelchel is one of three areas in Cherokee County where people can hike parts of the Overmountain Victory Trail. Ten years after it started, Cherokee County is closing in on another milestone in the effort to build a historic trail.

Cherokee County Council formed the Overmountain Victory Trail committee in 1994 and charged it with developing plans for a 35-mile multi-use trail. It follows the historic route taken by the Overmountain Men on their march to the Battle of Kings Mountain.

Plans have centered on crafting a 5 1/2-mile trail section from Furnace Mill Dam to the site where the Battle of Cowpens occurred. The proposed trail would run along Cherokee Creek.

The National Park Service will begin land survey work for the new trail section some time after its fiscal year starts Oct. 1, Overmountain Victory Trail committee member Paul LeFrancois said. Overmountain committee members are in talks with land owners about securing property easements so the trail can cross private land.

This would mark the fourth section completed for the Overmountain Victory Trail. There are trails at Furnace Mill Dam, Lake Whelchel and Cherokee Ford.

"Our main goal right now is to connect the Furnace Mill Dam site to the Battle of Cowpens," LeFrancois said. "The trail would cover a distance of 5 1/2 miles when it is finished. This would make a reasonable day hike for families."

The proposed trail would be built in two sections.

The first section will extend from Furnace Mill Dam to Woods Crossing Road while the second section route would be from Woods Crossing Road to Cowpens National Battlefield.

There is no timetable for when construction will begin.

"It will take some time. We have to get the land surveys done and get permission from property owners before we can move forward," LeFrancois said. "Once the trail is built to Wood Crossing Road, we will be half way to our goal to connect a section of the Overmountain Victory Trail at the Battle of Cowpens."