Located on 6680 Bakers Mountain Road in Hickory, North Carolina, Bakers Mountain Park offers something for everyone. Over six miles of walking, hiking and running trails have been cleared along the 189 acres of mature chestnut oak forest, wetlands and streams running through. The trails offer a level of difficulty for every liking depending on which one you choose to do and all of them are very well marked and taken care of. Maps are located all along the path for visitors to ensure you never find yourself lost.
A Park Ranger can be found on site that is always extremely helpful and ready to answer all the questions you might have.
Bathroom facilities are located right across the parking lot and on the way to the entrance of the trail. Ample parking is available however it does get busy on Weekends so plan accordingly and come early to secure a spot.
We made our way to the right of the restrooms and started the trek from there. The trail is pretty steep at times and definitely gets the heart rate going making it the perfect workout if you are looking for one, yet it isn’t that bad as small kids can easily do it with not much complain and few stops along the way for quick rest, a sip of cold water or just to gaze at the blooming wildflowers that surround the rocky path. In the autumn months the path is covered by the fallen crispy leaves leaving you with the feeling of walking over a colorful carpet every step you take.
The steep incline would be rewarded with stunning views of the western North Carolina foothills. The observation tower at the top makes for the perfect spot for picnic but if it’s too sunny or crowded the little gazebo is equally as romantic and the benches under the trees provide much needed break from the hot summer sun. Fall months are particularly beautiful here as the red and orange really stand out on the gorgeous blue background of the sky.
The 1-mile trek on the Carolina Thread Trail that follows the red and yellow marked trails to the Knoll Spur at 1280 feet elevation would be sure to not only provide a good exercise and beautiful views, but a great deal of knowledge on the vast range of plants and wildlife native to the North Carolina Mountains. Make sure to stop along the way and read all the information on the little boards located along the path describing the tree, plants and shrub you are looking at.
Going back to the parking lot make sure to take right instead of continuing the way you came so you can enjoy the little waterfall and maybe even cool off splashing in it. Kids would be sure to love it and dogs would be delighted to get a little wet on a warm summer day.
And if you thought that beautiful trails, lovely views and waterfalls were not enough, Bakers Mountain Park has one more thing to offer. A long Story Book trail for your little book lover would be sure to impress every child and it’s so very interactive that you might find yourself extending your stay a little longer than expected.
Make sure you pack a lot of water and snacks and let yourself fully enjoy all that this splendid place has to offer and let us know if you liked it as much as we did and tag us in your post so we can see it by using the hashtag #TRAVELBUGGED.