Crowders Mountain State Park in North Carolina preserves Crowders Mountain and The Pinnacle, two steep summits at the northeast end of the Kings Mountain Range whose dramatic cliffs and isolated rise make them distinctive in the surrounding landscape. Formed as remnants of much higher ancient landforms, the area was once prairie-like, crossed by a Cherokee trading route, and lay along the boundary of Catawba and Cherokee hunting grounds. After mining exploration in the early 1970s, local citizens and organizations successfully pressed for protection. Established in 1973 and later expanded, the park is now a major destination for climbing, hiking, camping, and wide views toward Charlotte.