Stories
Catawba County Parks 25th Birthday Bashes
Join us for special Birthday Bashes at each of our parks this July!...
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Catawba County Parks Trail Challenge
Help celebrate 25 years of Catawba County Parks by completing our trail challenge! Here's how to participate...
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Take on the Catawba County Triple Threat
Looking for the ultimate three-day weekend? Our three large-scale parks represent the ultimate “triple threat” for outdoor adventure: hiking, biking, and paddling...
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2023 Year End Review
As we wrap up North Carolina's Year of the Trail, here's a review of 2023 and all...
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MCP All-Access Route
This easy 2.2-mile route at Mountain Creek Park follows paved paths to the lakefront area and back, passing many of the park’s most popular amenities including...
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Ride Dirt, Not Mud
Help protect the trails from damage and preserve them for future enjoyment for everyone with this explanation of why not to...
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Riverbend Highlights Loop
This 6-mile route at Riverbend Park travels along a river, pond and numerous creeks, through woods rich in biodiversity and across open, grassy meadows past notable spots...
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Gratitude for Trails & Parks
This month we show gratitude for the great trails right here in Catawba County and extend a heartfelt thanks to the stewards of our outdoor spaces...
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Bakers Mountain Highlights Tour
This moderately-challenging 2.4-mile route at Bakers Mountain Park incorporates the park’s most notable spots featuring views, streams, historical sites and natural landmarks...
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St. Stephens Dog Walk
This family- and dog-friendly 0.43 mile walk at St. Stephens Park loops around the perimeter of the park, past a playground, picnic shelter, and two fenced-in dog parks...
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MCP Technical MTB Ride
This 2.25-mile mountain biking route at Mountain Creek Park incorporates the park’s two most advanced trails rated blue/black, which...
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Achieve a Trail Goal
In the month of September, we're celebrating the Year of the Trail by encouraging you to Achieve a Trail Goal, no matter how big or small....
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Riverbend Green Trail Loop
This 6-mile route on Riverbend Park's multi-purpose Green trail follows the outer perimeter of the 690-acre property, traveling through a variety of habitats...
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Bakers Mountain Story Walk
This family-oriented, quarter-mile story walk at Bakers Mountain Park follows the stroller-friendly, paved LITeracy Trail...
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Celebrate NC Parks
Recognizing a role in preserving natural spaces for wildlife conservation and for passive recreation for our community, the opening of Riverbend Park in 1999 led to...
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MCP Loblolly Loop MTB Ride
This 5.25-mile mountain biking route at Mountain Creek Park follows a lollypop loop for a ride that is easy enough for a novice but challenging enough for an experienced rider...
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Riverbend Blue Trail Run
This 4.3-mile route at Riverbend Park follows the Blue trail on a mixed singletrack and doubletrack course for a flowy and mildly technical trail run....
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Bakers Mountain Wildflower Walk
This seasonal 1.6-mile route at Bakers Mountain Park was designed to showcase the park’s diversity of spring wildflowers which reach peak bloom mid-April...
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Celebrate NC Trails
Catawba County has over 45+ miles of trails that weave and wander through our community, and this April, we celebrate them all......
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Featured Hike: MCP Outer Perimeter Route
This 10-mile route at Mountain Creek Park, rated moderate for its length, follows the park’s outer perimeter along the edge of the lake, the inlets of two creeks and...
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Spring Into Action
As we draw closer to spring, we encourage you to "Spring Into Action" to help preserve and protect our unique and diverse natural heritage. Some great ways to do your part are...
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Featured Hike: Riverbend Family Loop
This hike at Riverbend Park is an easy 2-mile loop, with an optional 0.6-mile add-on to a creekside picnic area. It is perfect for the family and...
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Visitor Profile: Rob Dickerson
Lifelong cyclist Rob Dickerson shares his passion for Mountain Creek Park, which he labels "a Swiss army knife of great activities" for families and individuals...
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Featured Hike: Bakers Mountain Loop
This moderately challenging 2.7-mile loop hike at Bakers Mountain Park takes an average of 1.5 hours to complete. The route features...
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First Day Hikes to Kick Off NC Year of the Trail
To kick off the new year and North Carolina's Year of the Trail, the Catawba County Park System will host First Day Hikes on January 1, 2023...
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Pup 'n Play: A Treat for You and Fido
Newly-adopted dogs and their owners can enjoy Catawba County's dog parks at no cost through Pup ‘n Play......
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Clark Cabin & Memorial at Bakers Mountain
This Veterans Day, we share the story of A.G. Clark, a decorated US Army soldier killed in action in World War II who is memorialized at Bakers Mountain Park...
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Mountain Creek Park Video
Take a mini desk vacation to Mountain Creek Park with this video produced by Table Rock Productions....
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Fall at Bakers Mountain Park
Autumn foliage, an increased bird population, and a sparkle on the trails create a perfect scene at Bakers Mountain Park in the fall....
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Riverbend Park Video
Take a mini desk vacation to Riverbend Park with this video produced by Table Rock Productions....
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Riverbend Park in the Fall
Visiting Riverbend Park this fall? Check out these pro tips from longtime ranger Lori Owenby....
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St. Stephens Park Video
Take a mini desk vacation to St. Stephens Park with this video produced by Table Rock Productions....
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Celebrate TACO Week at County Parks
The Catawba County Park System will celebrate Take a Child Outside (TACO) week, which takes place September 23-30, with a series of events for families and kids....
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Bakers Mountain Park Video
Take a mini desk vacation to Bakers Mountain Park with this video produced by Table Rock Productions....
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Hummingbird Banding at Riverbend Park
During the first two weeks of August for the past 15 years, Catawba County’s Riverbend Park has hosted its Hummingbird Banding demonstration for the public. This year...
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Mountain Creek Park: The Reviews Are In…
In the short time since its June 2022 opening, Catawba County’s newest outdoor destination, Mountain Creek Park, has already been getting rave reviews....
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Riverbend Park: Inspiring Your Inner Explorer
Riverbend Park’s shoreline stretches along the Upper Catawba River Trail, an 82-mile blueway that runs from Lake James to Lake Lookout Shoals on the eastern edge...
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Welcome to Mountain Creek Park
Mountain Creek Park, the Catawba County Park System’s newest outdoor destination, officially opened to the public on June 18th, 2022....
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Bakers Mountain: Then and Now
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bakers Mountain Park by traveling back in time to look at the history of the mountain as a well-known local destination for centuries....
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County Parks Artwork Unveiled
Three CVCC students – Stephanie Huitron, Gideon Hart and Maddie Barrymore – created a four-piece artwork series representing the Catawba County Park System...
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Visitor Profile: Michelle Kelly
Meet Michelle Kelly, who exercises her two dogs, Charlie and Azul, at St. Stephens Dog Park every day, rain or shine....
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Meet Our Rangers: Dwayne Martin
Learn about what it's like to be a ranger at Riverbend Park through the eyes of Superintendent Dwayne Martin....
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Visitor Profile: Tom Abernathy
Come with us as we hike with Tom Abernathy at Bakers Mountain Park, a spot he's been visiting since childhood....
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Visitor Profile: Garrick Lane
Watch television/video producer Garrick Lane share his passion for Catawba County Parks in the best way he knows how: by video....
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Meet Our Rangers: Tabitha Hope
Meet Tabitha Hope, who has been wrangling pups at St. Stephens Park for the past ten years......
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Visitor Profile: Christina McNally
Get to know Christina McNally, whose passion for the outdoors since childhood led her to instill the same in her kids by playing in the mud at Riverbend Park......
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Meet Our Rangers: John Sutton
Learn more about Bakers Mountain Superintendent John Sutton, who has worked at Bakers Mountain Park for the past 20 years....
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