![]() | Pilot MountainFact Sheet |
Fact Sheet of Pilot Mountain State Park (SP) in North Carolina. Published by North Carolina State Parks.
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HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS
Pilot Mountain
Pilot Mountain is a remnant of the ancient Sauratown
Mountains. A quartzite monadnock, this rugged mountain
rock has survived for millions of years while the elements have
eroded surrounding peaks to a rolling plain.
State Park
ACTIVITIES
ON THE WATER
PARK INFORMATION
Pilot Mountain State Park
1792 Pilot Knob Park Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043
Office: 336-444-5100
GPS: 36.341276, -80.462930
pilot.mountain@ncparks.gov
Please visit the North Carolina State Parks website
or contact the park office for the most current
information about seasonal hours, activities, alerts,
camping fees, programs, rules and weather.
AT A GLANCE
Paddling: A 2-mile portion of the Yadkin River flows through the
park offering scenic views. The river flows past the Bean Shoals
Canal Wall, part of an ambitious project undertaken between
1820 and 1825. View these historic walls along Bean Shoals Canal
Trail. There is one canoe access located on Shoals Road.
Fishing: Cast your line to catch smallmouth and spotted bass
and catfish. A state fishing license is required and the regulations
of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are enforced.
Landmark: Pilot Knob, which has served as a
navigational landmark for centuries, dating back to
the native Saura Indians.
You can find...ravens, which can be spotted
soaring above Big Pinnacle.
Trails: 14 trails
›› 1 Kids TRACK trail
›› 28 miles of hiking
›› 9 miles of horseback riding
Accesses: Mountain Section, Pilot Creek, Bean
Shoals, Ivy Bluff.
The mountain was mapped in 1751 by Joshua Fry and Peter
Jefferson, father of President Thomas Jefferson. Pilot Mountain
became North Carolina's 14th state park in 1968. The Pilot
Mountain Preservation and Park Committee proposed the
establishment of Pilot Mountain as a state park in order
to protect it and the surrounding area from commercial
development. The group secured options on the land and
raised matching funds that made it possible to purchase with
federal grants.
ROCK CLIMBING
Rocky cliffs offer a challenge to experienced climbers. Climbing
is permitted only in designated areas. All climbers must register
before beginning a climb. Contact the park office for further
information.
CAMPING
42 family campsites
Established: 1968
Pilot Mountain is capped by two prominent pinnacles. Big
Pinnacle, with walls of bare rock and a rounded top covered
by vegetation, rises 1,400 feet above the valley floor, the knob
jutting skyward more than 200 feet from its base. Big Pinnacle
is connected to Little Pinnacle by a narrow saddle.
›› Each site has a tent pad, table and grill
›› Two washhouses with hot showers located nearby
›› Sites open: March 15 – November 30
2 paddle-in campsites
›› 0.75 mile downstream from paddle launch on Shoals Road
›› Pit toilet available
›› Reservation required
PICNICKING
The picnic areas at Pilot Mountain offer a choice of shady
dining spots. The picnic area in the mountain section of the
park is located near the summit parking lot. Drinking water and
restrooms are located nearby.
The covered picnic shelter will accommodate up to 35 people.
Use of the picnic shelter is free of charge.
FLORA AND FAUNA
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Rhododendron
Mountain Laurel
Wild blueberry
Huckleberry
American toad
Chorus frog
Spring peeper
Eastern bluebird
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Carolina wren
Brown thrasher
Raven
Red fox
White-tailed deer
Opossum
Raccoon
TRAILS
Mountain Section – 1792 Pilot Knob Park Rd., Pinnacle NC
▲ moderate
1.5 miles
Grassy Ridge Trail
This trail begins at the Visitor Center and can also be accessed
from Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler Road. It wanders through
lowland pine and hardwood forests crossing meandering
streams with ample seasonal wildflower displays. This trail can
be used to connect to the Corridor Trail or Mountain Trail
Grindstone Trail
●
strenuous
3.5 miles
This trail leads one-way to (and from) the Visitor Center. The trail
starts across the road from the Visitor Center, continues past
the old Park Office, the campground, and climbs the mountain
through the woods to the summit. The trail ends at the summit
picnic area. Vegetation on this trail changes with elevation.
Jomeokee Trail
moderate
0.8 mile
This trail travels around the base of the Big Pinnacle. It starts
at the upper side of the summit parking area. The trail crosses
the gap to the Big Pinnacle, then makes a loop around the base
and merges into the same trail to return across the gap. There
are rare and interesting plants along this trail, as well as the
tall, impressive cliff. Climbing on the Big Pinnacle is prohibited.
Please stay on the trail.
Ledge Spring Trail
●
advanced
1.0 mile
This very challenging trail with rock steps begins on the
Grindstone and ends on the Jomeokee Trail. Hiking round trip
to the Summit Parking Lot is approximately a 2.0 mile extremely
strenuous loop. The trail travels along the foot of the cliffs and
ledges to the west of the Little Pinnacle.
Little Pinnacle Overlook
easy
0.1 mile
This short trail leads to the Little Pinnacle Overlook, one of the
best views in the park. Follow the path located south of the
Jomeokee Trail up a moderate grade to the Little Pinnacle bluff
for a beautiful view of the Big Pinnacle, Sauratown Mountains
and Hanging Rock State Park to the east. On a clear day, one
can view 3,000 square miles from this point. A great place to
take pictures. Located above a stone wall on the upper side of
the summit parking area.
Mountain Trail
● strenuous
4.3 miles
This trail skirts the bottom of the mountain and connects to the
Grindstone to complete a 6-mile loop. The Mountain Trail can
be accessed from the Pinnacle Hotel Road parking lot, found
0.25 miles uphill of the Visitor Center, or above the campground
off the Grindstone Trail.
TRACK Trail
moderate
0.3 mile
This trail offers scenic views of Pilot Mountain’s Big Pinnacle and
vistas of the surrounding mountains, leading hikers through a
unique fire-adapted forest ecosystem. Located to the left of the
summit restroom. This trail offers activities for children.
Pilot Creek Access – 382 Boyd Nelson Rd., Pinnacle NC
Pilot Creek Trail
●
moderate
3.3 miles
This trail starts at Boyd Nelson Road and ends at the family
campground. You can connect to the Grindstone and Mountain
Trail to make a long loop around the mountain or take the
Grindstone to the summit. The trail crosses tributaries of
Pilot Creek and ascends through pine oak/heath forest to the
campground. This trail was built by the Friends of Sauratown
Mountains, at no cost to the park.
Pilot Creek Meadow Walk
Explore and observe birds, butterflies, dragonflies and more as
you walk through the meadows above Pilot Creek. This mown
path leads through restored warm season grass meadows to a
small farm pond where you can try your luck to catch catfish,
bass, sunfish, and more (Valid NC Fishing License required).
This path is a registered part of the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly
Trail and has been established to benefit native pollinators and
grassland birds.
Bean Shoals Access – 103 Yadkin River Park Trail
622 Hauser Rd. Pinnacle NC
Bean Shoals Canal Trail
●
easy
0.5 mile
A 0.5 mile one-way trail that travels alongside the Yadkin River
and passes the remnants of the Bean Shoals Canal. As you
walk along this trail you will see what remains of an attempt in
the 1820s to build a canal around the shallow and rocky Bean
Shoals . To reach the start of this trail by vehicle you will have
to drive through Horne Creek three times, vehicles with high
clearance are recommended. At the end of the park road the
trail starts next to the kiosk, crosses the railroad tracks and
turns right at the river. Use caution crossing the railroad tracks,
they are active
Corridor Trail
▲
strenuous
6.6 miles
This sloped hiking and bridle trail meanders through pine and
hardwood forests connecting the Mountain Section and River
Section of Pilot Mountain State Park. Parking lots for this trail
are located at Hauser Road and Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler
Road. Note: Horse and rider must remain on marked bridle trail.
No horses may cross the Yadkin Valley Railroad. Horses may only
be unloaded and trailers parked in the lots located at each end of
the Corridor Trail (Hauser Road and Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler
Road parking lots).
Horne Creek Trail
●
moderate
2.5 miles
This hiking trail begins at the picnic area and meanders along
Horne Creek with many varieties of spring wildflower. The trail
then closely follows the Yadkin River until it meets up with
the Bean Shoals Canal Trail. You can make a 3.5-mile loop by
returning to the picnic area on the park road.
Mountains-to-Sea State Trail
●
The MST passes through the park on the Corridor, Mountain
and Grindstone Trails. The trail enters the park on the southern
end of the Corridor Trail from the west and exits the park to the
east. For more information please visit: trails.nc.gov.
Yadkin Islands Trail
▲
moderate
1.5 miles
This hiking and bridle trail begins at the Hauser Road Parking Lot.
Bridle trail ends at Yadkin River Park trail where you can make a 2
mile loop. Hiking trail is 1.5 miles one-way ending at Bean Shoals
Canal Trail. Hikers may cross the river at your own risk to explore
the Islands in the river, which are unmarked/unblazed. Do not
attempt to the cross river if you cannot see the bottom.
Yadkin River Park Trail
moderate
1.3 miles
This multi-use road begins at Hauser Road and ends at the turn
around parking area. High clearance vehicle is recommended.
Ivy Bluff Access – 4240 Shoals Rd., East Bend NC
Ivy Bluff Trail
●
moderate
1.3 miles
his trail has moderate to steep slopes covered with mountain
laurel and rhododendron along the south edge of the Yadkin
River. Trail begins at the Ivy Bluff Parking Lot.