You’re Welcome To Park It Here
Published May 27, 2009
The great outdoors are pretty great in Catawba County.
Nature has run its bountiful course throughout the region, with scenic jewels such as Catawba River Greenway, Lyle Creek Greenway and a bevy of nearby state parks including Lake James, Lake Norman, Tuttle and Southside.
Bakers Mountain provides not only the highest elevation point in the county, but 189 acres of mature chestnut oak woodlands.
The Catawba County Parks Division oversees three major facilities, including Bakers Mountain Park in the southwestern corner of the county, Riverbend Park in the northern part of the county along the Catawba River and St. Stephens Park in Hickory.
Bakers Mountain climbs to an elevation of 1,760 feet, and the surrounding park boasts six miles of hiking trails and an observation platform near the top of the mountain that gives hikers a panoramic view of the Catawba Valley.
Riverbend Park is 450 acres that includes one mile of shoreline along the Catawba River.
“It is an ideal stretch to fish for largemouth bass, bream, catfish and striper, plus canoeists and kayakers can utilize the water, too,” says Blair Rayfield, Catawba County Parks Division manager.
Riverbend also has 12 miles of trails that include 7.8 miles for mountain biking.
A two-acre fenced dog park is on the site, and the park’s lodge includes a large meeting room available for events. “We also offer a lot of outdoor educational programs for the public at this facility,” Rayfield says.
The 9-acre St. Stephens Park opened in December 2008. It features a 1/3-mile gravel trail, small playground, meeting room and one-acre dog park.
The Catawba River Greenway Park in Morganton offers year-round biking, hiking, canoeing and picnicking. The park features a paved walking trail, picnic shelters, fishing piers, canoe launch and a 1,200-foot multilevel observation deck and a 170-foot bridge that crosses Silver Creek.
“Catawba County is proud of all its hiking, biking, fishing and other recreational opportunities,” Rayfield says. “Preserving nature is what we do, so that residents and visitors can fully enjoy these great outdoors.”
For more on parks in the region, go to the Hickory Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau’s site at www.hickorymetro.com/recreation.htm.
Story by Kevin Litwin
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