The Carolina Thread Trail and The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge - Claremont, NC
“As I get older, the more I stay focused on the acceptance of myself and others, and choose compassion over judgment and curiosity over fear.” - Trace Ellis Ross
The Story -
On Thursday afternoon while traveling down several backroads on my way to Conover, North Carolina to meet with a client, I noticed quite a few large brown directional signs for the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge. When my client was running late, I took the opportunity to search Google for more information about it. I discovered not only was the Bridge very close, but that the site also included a small park and several trails. Whaaat? So excitingly, after my meeting, I took the ten-minute drive to the attraction, put on my hiking shoes, and off I went to explore. What I stumbled upon was remarkable!
Sign at the entrance to The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge Park & Carolina Thread Trail.
Bunker Hill Covered Bridge -
The breathtaking Bunker Hill Covered Bridge is one of only two original remaining covered bridges in North Carolina, with the other being Mt. Pisgah Covered Bridge in Randolph County. In 1894, the Catawba County Commissioners called on nearby owners of Bunker Hill Farm to build and maintain a bridge that would cross Lyle’s Creek on the old Island Ford Road, a former Native American trail and a trail also used during the Revolutionary War by Continental Army Troops. Originally constructed as an open span, the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge, whose roof is ninety-one feet long, was completed in 1895, and covered in 1900. In 1921, its wooden shingles were replaced with a tin roof. Bridges were covered to protect their timbers from the elements, and travelers enjoyed a reprieve from rain and snow only as a fortunate consequence.
The trail follows along the Lyle Creek, a tributary of the nearby Catawba River.
Carolina Thread Trail -
The Carolina Thread Trail is a network of multi-use trails located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Currently, it is made up of over eighteen separate trails that stretch across two states and fifteen counties. The trails provide opportunities for recreational activities such as hiking, biking, and horseback riding, and also connect natural areas, cultural resources, and communities. The one mile Carolina Thread Trail at the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge site is one of the shortest but also one of the most culturally and historically significant in the Carolina Thread network of trails. It is an easy trail, mostly flat, shaded, and well-maintained. The Lyle Creek runs next to most of the trail, sometimes disappearing deep below tall bluff walls.
Modern footbridge over Lyle Creek.
Deep bluffs along the Lyle Creek Trail.
View of Bunker Hill Covered Bridge from John’s Overlook.
Required selfie in front of the bridge.
Bunker Hill Covered Bridge from below.
A view of the inside of the Bridge. A lot of graffiti unfortunately.
Path on the way back to the trailhead.
Another selfie in front of the Bridge.
Sassafras and Skinks