Hiking Bakers Mountain in Hickory NC: History, Humor and a View Worth the Climb
Did you know that Bakers Mountain is the highest point in Catawba County, has rocks that may date back around 400 million years , and was reportedly used as a hiding place by Tories during the American Revolution? I didn't know most of that either when I headed out to hike it. I was mainly there to take on the Blue Trail, get a good workout, make my way to the top and hopefully end up with a beautiful view. Bakers Mountain Park is in Hickory, North Carolina, and Catawba County lists the mountain at 1,780 feet , the highest elevation point in the county. The park itself protects 189 acres of mature forest and has almost 4.5 miles of hiking trails that range from easier walks to some pretty good climbs. There is also a mountaintop observation area overlooking the Catawba Valley, which was exactly where I was trying to get. There are several trails to choose from, and I knew before I started that I wanted the Blue Trail . The Red Trail gives you another way around the mountain and ...