Part 8 of an 8 part series
A lesson learned hiking Bakers Mountain
Our final hike in an 8 part series took us to Bakers Mountain. I’m so proud of us for sticking with it! Looking back, we have explored some beautiful areas right outside of Charlotte and are a much more prepared for our trip to Montana next week. We have the shoes, the backpack, the water bladder, and have even learned some hiker lingo. I’ve discovered the Alltrail app and have not only learned how to read the trail maps but even know how to download them offline. So this last hike needed to be tough.
I found a challenging trail in the Rocky Face Mountain Recreational area which would include a “vertical mile challenge”. The views were promising and I even knew which direction we should take the loop. Unfortunately as we pulled into the parking lot, we realized there was a race underway which closed all the trails down for the day. Now what??
the lesson learned
Those of you who know me, might say that I’m a little bit of a control freak. Our family vacations are planned down to the minute and our trip to Montana is not any different. I have actually printed out a daily itinerary including the weather forecast for each day. My kids and husband have learned to love this about me, but when something doesn’t go as planned watch out as mom unravels. So in preparation for Montana, news about flooding, snow closures, and aggressive bison has been a little stressful. Pile on flight delays and issues with rental cars, and I’ve decided I am being tested. So this last hike couldn’t have been more appropriate as we realized the entire plan would have to be altered. Instead of giving up, we did a little research, found another hike 30 minutes away and just went with it.
Which trail should we hike?
Thanks to the plans changing we discovered a hidden gem at Bakers Mountain park. Bakers Mountain is located on the highest point of elevation in Catawba County. It has only 4 miles of hiking but an elevation of 1780 feet and a well thought out observation platform at the top.
The park rangers could not have been any friendlier and the trails were easy to follow and well maintained. We came across very few other hikers and almost felt like the park was open just for us! The hike up may not have been the “vertical mile challenge” but it ascended at a fast pace and turned out to be plenty of a challenge.
We ended up taking the Bakers Mountain Loop which from start to finish was only around 3 miles. I had no idea which direction to take the loop, so once again we just went with it.
The Bakers Mountain Loop trail
The parking lot was almost empty but the ranger office was open and full of information. He is apparently an avid birder and very knowledgeable about the area. The trail is a nice wooded walk which includes 2 old homesites, a couple of monuments, tree information (that’s a first), and a nice view from the top. The trail is steep but very manageable.
To be honest, this park or trail did not show up on any of my research about “hikes near Charlotte” so everything we encountered would be a surprise. You can pick up a map at the park office but the trails are marked well with maps at almost every intersection.
the top
During our 8 hikes, we have come across some pretty amazing summits. This one may not have been quite as breath taking, but the observation platform was something we hadn’t seen before. Plus, this might have been the only summit where we were up there all by ourselves!
Another unique observation on this hike was the unusual plant life, ranging from fern fields to blooming trees. Don’t miss the little waterfall and the random bird house. There are also several benches and places to picnic. All in all, it’s a quiet place to get away from it all for awhile.
Time to hydrate
Just because our hiking plans changed, didn’t mean we weren’t still very focused on the brewery afterward. This week’s choice was Blowing Rock Draft & Brewery located in historic Hollar Mill in Hickory, NC.
Just like their location in Blowing Rock, they offer a wide selection of house made beers in addition to a delicious pub food menu including wood fired pizzas. The outdoor beer garden offers tons of room and overlooks the expansive tap room.
Top Beer: blowing rock pilsner
Top food pick: shrimp tacos
The Vibe
