Stories

Riverbend Park: Inspiring Your Inner Explorer

Published: June 27, 2022

Bordered by three lakes and 186 miles of river shoreline, Catawba County, North Carolina is a natural playground for boating, paddling, fishing and water sports enthusiasts. One of the best places to enjoy the county’s extensive waterways is at Riverbend Park, a 690-acre gem named after its idyllic location along the Catawba River in Conover, North Carolina.

Riverbend Park’s shoreline stretches along the Upper Catawba River Trail, an 82-mile blueway that runs from western North Carolina’s Lake James to Lake Lookout Shoals on the eastern edge of Catawba County. A boat launch at the park makes it easy for paddlers to access the blueway to explore the Catawba River on canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.

But paddling isn’t the only story you’ll be able to tell after a day at Riverbend. Riverbend Park is home to 19.7 miles of trails that are a year-round destination for hikers, bikers, birdwatchers and nature lovers. The multi-use trail system features single-lane natural trails and wide grass-and-gravel based trails, including eight miles of technical singletrack perfect for mountain biking.

One of the most popular trails is the Red Trail, affectionately known as the Shoreline Trail, which winds along the Catawba River under the shade of mature river birches and beeches. Benches and picnic areas dot the riverbank, inviting visitors to take in magnificent views of the river and its inhabitants or spend some time fishing for bass, bream, yellow perch and catfish.

The park is also a haven for dog lovers, who are welcome to roam the trails with their pups on leash or allow them to run free in Riverbend’s 2-acre dog park.

Perhaps the most unique feature of the park is the diversity of its natural habitat, which ranges from the wetlands to riparian corridors and upland forests. Together, these habitats are home to a unique array of birds and wildlife including American bald eagles, hummingbirds, great blue herons, whitetail deer and river otters.

When asked to name his favorite spot at the park, Riverbend Park Superintendent and longtime ranger said, “If I had to pick just one spot, it would probably be the area around the hawk watch site. I spend a lot of time there each fall counting migrating raptors. And it’s a beautiful place to be; the views from there are fantastic. On clear days you can see the Brushy Mountain chain that runs along the border of Alexander and Wilkes Counties, and from one particular corner, you can even view the iconic Grandfather Mountain ridgeline.”

When Riverbend Park was established by Catawba County in 1999, it was comprised of 450 acres of dense hardwood and Loblolly Pine forest. In 2019, the park added 209 acres of preserved natural grasslands that host seasonal displays of wildflowers that have become known as “trail runner’s heaven.” The park’s trail system winds through wetlands, mature forests, rolling hills and open meadows, enabling visitors to experience all of the park’s natural habitats in one visit.

Thanks to that diversity, there’s a magic about Riverbend that inspires the inner explorer in visitors. “At Riverbend, especially when my children were younger, they loved to get into the mud and to the creeks and really discover things and explore within those realms,” said local resident Christina McNally. “Our county parks are so easy to get to and offer opportunities to see different terrains. At Riverbend, you can see the river, you can see a stream, you can be in the woods, you can be in a field. There are various habitats there, and I love that because there are different things to look at each time.”

One of Riverbend’s near-daily trail runners, Garrick Lane, loves the park so much he created a video to pay tribute to what he calls “my favorite place when I’m not working.” As he explains, “On any given day, even if you’re running and the rain is coming down sideways, it’s a beautiful day at Riverbend. Some days you might jump over a snake, other days run with the deer, other days you might just stop and watch a family of turtles bask in the sun on a rock. That’s just what Riverbend is, and that’s what it means to me.”

If making time for play time is what Making. Living. Better. is all about, then Riverbend Park in Conover, North Carolina is the place to be. But that’s just the starting point. The Catawba County Park System’s four major parks (Bakers Mountain, Mountain Creek, Riverbend and St. Stephens) offer more than 1,500 acres of natural habitat to explore by foot, bike, paddle (and dog!) seven days a week. If you love the outdoors, you’ll find endless ways to enjoy them in Catawba County. Find your adventure at www.catawbacountyparks.org.