The enabling legislation for the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail provides for certifying sites along the trail route that have historical significance to the march of the Patriot army to Kings Mountain. The management plan drawn up by the National Park Service at the trail's inception identified 16 potential sites worthy of certification.

An important point is that certification does not provide for unlimited public access. Sites on private property remain private property. Public access is provided only on the day of the OVTA march reenactment visit. Access at other times is at the owner's discretion. Visitors should contact the owner in advance to arrange access.

Public sites are open during regular operating hours and for the normal fees charged, if any.

Bedford's Hill - This site is not certified. This site is private property and access is at the owner's discretion.

Marlin's Knob - This site is not certified. This site is private property and access is at the owner's discretion.

Gilbert Town - This site was certified October 4, 1998. This site is private property and access is at the owner's discretion. Public access is provided on October 4 and 5. This site was not included among the original list of sites. Its certification occurred because of research by Rutherford County's historian, Nancy Ellen Ferguson. This is the only site, other than Kings Mountain, where both armies camped. This was the first court house of Rutherford County. The hill above the site is named Ferguson Ridge and was the site of Ferguson's camp. This area was later important in the gold production in Rutherford at the beginning of the 19^th century. More on the history of Gilbert Town is in a paper written by Nancy Ferguson for the Kings Mountain Forum at kings Mountain National Military Park.

Alexander's Ford of Green River - This site is not certified. This site is private property and access is at the owner's discretion.