Bakers Mountain Park is an hour and twenty minutes drive from our house and they open at 9:00AM. Due to the crush of crowds at easy to access hiking trails on weekends, we got an early start on Sunday (6-7-20). The drive was simpler than expected and we arrived in plenty of time to welcome the park attendant when she opened for us.
The 189-acre park has a little over four miles of hiking trails that lead to a lookout near the top of the mountain. The rocky and rooty paths were steeper than we imagined and provided a thorough workout.
The ruins of two turn of the century homesites and a large boulder out cropping were added attractions on the scenic trails through this dense chestnut oak forest.
The view of the western North Carolina foothills from 1780 feet was worth the muscle straining, sweat inducing climb.
We shared a well-deserved, Prickly Pear Shiner at the top and drank in the beauty of the day. The late-morning haze turned the distant mountains into ghosts.
You never think about what’s watching you, when you stand on a lookout platform and gaze into the distance.
Peeking at us from inside a hollow stump next to the lookout were Sally and Sam Salamander. North Carolina hosts more than 60 species of salamanders.
It was 90 degrees and steamy during our circuitous return on the Bakers Mountain Blue Trail. Karen took advantage of a well-placed bench to rest in the middle of the last climb.
This creek cascading over sheets of granite with a gentle falls made for a cool place to pause and reflect before leaving Bakers Mountain Park. We’ve discovered another convenient getaway near Charlotte to share with friends and family.