Pilot Mountain

Pilot Mountain SP https://www.ncparks.gov/pilot-mountain-state-park/home https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_Mountain_State_Park Pilot Mountain State Park is located near Pinnacle, North Carolina. It includes the distinctive 2,241 foot (683 m) peak of Pilot Mountain. Pilot Mountain State Park is for year-round recreation. Activities at the park include, camping, canoeing, fishing, rock climbing, picnicking, hiking, and environmental education. Rock climbing is permitted in some designated sections of the park. All climbers must register with park staff. Climbing and rappelling are not permitted on the face of Pilot Mountain, Big Pinnacle.

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 • • • • • • • • Rhododendron Mountain Laurel Wild blueberry Huckleberry American toad Chorus frog Spring peeper Eastern bluebird • • • • • • • 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

Pettigrew State Park South Mountains State Park – 2018 Park of the Year Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation manages more than 234,000 acres of iconic landscape across our state in our parks, recreation areas and natural areas with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomed more than 19 million visitors in 2017. Discover More with a Ranger Across North Carolina, state park rangers are proud of our parks and eager to welcome you and your family. Come to our parks to marvel at our state’s most beautiful natural resources, enjoy your favorite outdoor activities and learn about the rich science, culture and history that make our parks great. Fun facts about North Carolina State Parks ■■ There are 41 places to visit, including 34 parks, four recreation areas and three staffed state natural areas. ■■ The Division manages four state rivers, seven state lakes and six state trails. ■■ There are about 581 miles of trail to explore in our parks. ■■ The first state park created was Mount Mitchell State Park on March 3, 1915. Fort Macon State Park was the second. ■■ The Division celebrated 100 years of being Naturally Wonderful in 2016. ■■ Parks that welcome over 1 million visitors annually include: Jockey’s Ridge, Fort Macon and William B. Umstead state parks and Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake state recreation areas. ■■ The Division employs over 1,000 people across the state. ■■ Some www.ncparks.gov M N P Q Roy Cooper Governor unique activities you can do in our parks include: wind surfing and hang gliding at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, cross country skiing and snow shoeing at Elk Knob State Park, driving on the four-wheel-drive beach at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and rock climbing at Chimney Rock, Crowders Mountain, Hanging Rock, Pilot Mountain and Stone Mountain state parks. Susi H. Hamilton Secretary 75,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $10,707.92 or $0.14 each. 03/18 Did you know that many plants atop Mount Mitchell are rare in North Carolina but common in Quebec? That the giant sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge are constantly moving? Do you know how to safely hold a crayfish? From fishing lessons to astronomy programs and tree identification hikes to guided paddles, parks offer programs for all ages. Visit our website for a list of upcoming programs at each park. Junior Rangers The Junior Ranger program offers educational and skill-based activities to encourage children to explore the outdoors. Children can complete activity guides, geared for ages 6-12, and attend ranger programs to earn a junior ranger patch unique to each park. Ask about the program at a park office or download the guide at: www.ncparks.gov/junior-rangers. Environmental Education Learning Experiences Parks have their own curriculum guides that are correlated to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Competency goals in science, social studies, mathematics and English/language arts are available. Each program includes pre-visit, on-site and post-visit student activities that have measurable objectives, background information, vocabulary, references and step-bystep activity instructions. Passport Program How many state parks can you visit? Use your passport as a guide and collect stamps, earn prizes and make “Naturally Wonderful” memories! Pick up your passport at a state park near you. North Carolina State Parks 100-Mile Challenge Can you hike, bike or paddle 100 miles in a year? Join the N.C. State Parks’ 100-Mile Challenge and log your miles online to earn digital badges and redeem prizes as you reach various milestones! This is a great way to get outside, get moving and keep track of your activity. Visit www.nc100miles.org to sign up. ■■ Several parks have educational trails, called TRACK trails, that include activities for children to complete along the way. William B. Umstead State Park Jockey’s Ridge State Park Friends Of State Parks Join the Friends of State Parks to help support, promote and advocate for the parks system as a whole, or join the friends group of your favorite park. The group helps provide funding for Junior Ranger and Youth in Parks – Environmental Education programs, as well as grants for state parks projects. You can also make a donation to help keep our parks around for future generations. Learn more at www.ncfsp.org or www.ncparks.gov/support-your-parks. Merchandise Want to show your N.C. State Parks pride? Visit the online webstore and purchase products such as coffee mugs, prints, t-shirts, pins, patches and Christmas ornaments. This exclusive merchandise makes a great gift for special state parks fans, including yourself. www.ncparkstore.com N.C. State Parks License Plate Show your support for state parks every time you drive your vehicle! Purchase an N.C. State Parks license plate through the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicl