With Saturday’s midday temperatures hovering in the mid-50s, it felt like the perfect day for a family outing. Wanting to explore someplace new, I suggested Bakers Mountain Park. Just 20 minutes from our house, this 189-acre park—part of the Catawba County Parks system—sits at the highest elevation point in the county (1,780 feet) and offers nearly six miles of trails ranging from easy to advanced.
Fun fact: Our trip to Bakers Mountain Park took us right past Henry River Mill Village – which is always neat to look at!
Winding through creeks and a mature Chestnut Oak forest, the park’s trails supposedly lead to a mountaintop observation deck with breathtaking year-round views. I say “supposedly” because we didn’t quite make it that far.
Our Trail of Choice
We chose the A.G. Clark Trail, a 0.78-mile (one-way) hike that passes by one of the park’s most unique features: the ruins of an old homestead dating back to the 1920s. The site includes a stone memorial dedicated to Private First Class A.G. Clark, a decorated U.S. Army soldier who lived there before serving in World War II. Clark fought in major battles, including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, before being killed in action in 1945. The memorial, built by local Boy Scouts, stands as a tribute to his service and sacrifice.
The cabin itself was once a two-story home with three fireplaces, a root cellar, and no electricity—offering a glimpse into life on Bakers Mountain nearly a century ago. The surrounding forest, now lush and thriving, was largely deforested during the homestead’s time due to wildfires and logging.
The hike was manageable for my two young kids, though there were some loose rocks and exposed roots to watch out for. However, since we got a later start than usual, they tired out quicker than expected. About ten minutes from the top, they decided they’d rather sit and play “Nature Cat” than finish the climb—so we took a break before heading back down.
The LITeracy Trail
There are a few other trails on the property that we look forward to checking out, including another homesite, but one thing I wanted to mention in particular is the LITeracy Trail, located right by the parking area. The LITeracy Trail is a creative way to blend reading, movement, and outdoor exploration. This 18-station trail traces the storyline of different children’s books, incorporating technology and fitness activities along the way. Since kids develop reading and language skills through real-world interactions, the LITeracy Trail offers a fun and engaging way to experience stories beyond the pages of a book. Plus, with featured books rotating quarterly, there’s always something new to discover.
Even without making it to the summit, our visit to Bakers Mountain Park was well worth it. Between the peaceful trails and the historical homesite, it made for a great family adventure. Next time, we’ll plan to start earlier—maybe then, we’ll finally see that legendary view from the top.
We finished our day off with an early dinner at Chubby’s of Hildebran, located not far from Bakers Mountain Park. While we have a Chubby’s location not far from our own home, it is not affiliated with this location, so we enjoyed having the opportunity to compare the two!
