![]() | Cascade-SiskiyouPilot Rock Trail |
Brochure of Pilot Rock Trail at Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (NM) in Oregon. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
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BLM
Cascade-Siskiyou
Pilot Rock
BLM archives
Rising 570 ft to an elevation of 5910 ft., Pilot Rock is perhaps the most striking feature of CascadeSiskyou National Monument. Visible from much of the Shasta Valley in northern California and parts
of Oregon’s Rogue Valley, the Rock serves as a friendly beacon to some five million vehicles and their
passengers that travel the I-5 corridor annually.
Competing Theories
Pilot Rock is part of the Cascade Range, a mountain
range notable for its string of volcanic peaks stretching
from British Columbia to northern California’s Lassen
Peak. The Monument’s proclamation refers to Pilot Rock
as “a volcanic plug,” describing it as “a remnant of a
feeder vent left after a volcano eroded away, leaving an
outstanding example of the inside of a volcano.” Pilot
Rock is composed mostly of volcanic andesite and has
sheer, vertical faces with classic columnar jointing created
by the cooling of its andesite composition.
Plug or a Neck or both?
Many geologists use the terms “neck” and “plug” interchangeably, while others believe the terms apply to
different types of volcanic structures. Some geologists
use the different definitions of lava and magma to make
the distinction between a volcanic “neck” and a volcanic
“plug.” Magma is molten or partially molten rock beneath
the earth’s surface. Magma collects inside a volcano’s
magma chamber before it erupts. When magma
breaches the earth’s surface, the magma becomes lava
and a volcano is formed.
Geologists who make the distinction between volcanic
necks and plugs consider a volcanic “neck” indicative of
an actual volcano – a column of igneous rock formed by
congelation of lava in the conduit or vent of a volcano and
later exposed by the erosion of surrounding rocks.
In contrast, these geologists consider a volcanic “plug”
to be a structure formed by a body of magma that never
reached the earth’s surface. Over time, the softer exterior
rocks eroded away, leaving behind the now-cooled
magma.
Monument
Boundary
Interstate 5
Siskiyou Summit Elev. 4310 ft
Highest elev. on I-5
Pilot Rock
Elev. 5910 ft
Put simply, a “plug” is an intrusive body formed by magma which cooled underground and was later exposed by
erosion.
Recent Research
Recent research regarding Pilot Rock suggests that 25
million years ago, magma oozed through a weak spot
in the earth’s crust, but did not reach the surface. As a
result, some geologists refer to Pilot Rock as technically
a “volcanic plug,” but NOT as defined in the Monument’s
proclamation. (The proclamation evidently uses “plug”
and “neck” interchangeably.) However “plugs”and
“necks” are defined, what they both have in common is
erosion. After the softer rock is eroded, the remaining
harder volcanic structure stands up in bold relief to
the surrounding landscape as the blockish, irregular,
columnar structure you see today.
Cousins
Ship Rock in New Mexico and Devil’s Tower in
Wyoming are considered to be volcanic necks or plugs,
which were exposed after the surrounding
sedimentary rocks eroded and fell away.
Human History
The Takelma people called it Tan-ts’at-seniptha,
“Stone Standing Up.” In 1841, an enterprising U.S.
Navy lieutenant scouting a route from the Columbia
River to San Francisco Bay named it for himself:
Emmons’ Peak. Today we know it as Pilot Rock,
a welcome landmark for weary migrants on the
Applegate Trail in the 1850s, and for travelers on I-5
today.
Soda Mountain
Elev. 6089 ft
Did you know?
According to local newspaper reports, nine aircraft
have crashed into Pilot Rock since 1942, usually due
to poor visibility and low clouds.
CASCADE
SISKIYOU
National Monument
E
G
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Climbing to the top of Pilot Rock can be dangerous
and is not for the faint of heart. Warning: this climb is
steep. Scrambling, care and dexterity are required.
Going with someone who has scaled the rock before is
recommended.
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CASCADE –
SISKIYOU
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Info
Station
4491
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Parking
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CSNM
Pilot
Rock
5908
LO
SL
Be prepared and be safe!
Do not be fooled by Oregon’s stereotypical cool and
cloudy weather. Summer time in the Rogue Valley sees
little rain, with temperatures frequently reaching 100
degrees fahrenheit.
Wear a hat and sunblock to protect yourself from sun
exposure. Wear good hiking shoes and carry water and
snacks. Hike with a buddy or let someone know where
you are going and when you will return.
Always bring a flashlight to give yourself the option of
hiking out after dark in the event that illness, injury, or
enjoyment slow you down.
ID
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Cathedral
Cliffs
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Mtn
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North
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2 Kilometers
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39-3E-
6056
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Table
Mtn
39
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bl
e
t
E H ya t
Little
Prairie
T l
S
Ashland St
From
Ashland,
Oregon
w
ad
il l o
2772
Gibson
Reservoir
EXIT
14
A
W
2439
C
or
ee
em
Cr
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4.1
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38-2
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Cascade-Siskiyou
Trail Information
The trail begins on an old road located behind a boulder
barrier. The trail intersects the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
after about 0.9 miles. Follow the PCT for about 300 yards
until you reach a sign and trail junction for the Pilot Rock
trail. From there it is a fairly steep 3/4 mile hike to the
base of Pilot Rock.
BLM
Trail Head Directions
From Medford-Ashland, take I-5 south to Exit 6
- Mt Ashland exit. Heading south, follow Old Highway
99 for 2 miles. Turn left onto Pilot Rock Road 40-2E33. Stay left. At mile 1 you will cross the PCT; at 2
miles you will see an old quarry to your right. The old
quarry serves as trail head parking. Caution: rough
road, please drive slowly; some vehicles with
lower ground clearance may not be suitable.
E
Ro
Check weather conditions before your hike. In cold
and/or wet weather, avoid hypothermia by wearing
layered clothing and being prepared for bad weather.
Do not exceed your normal level of physical activity or
training.
Taking care of your Monument
Please follow these simple steps and help us
preserve and protect this special place. Leave what
you find, practice leave no trace principles and
honor private property boundaries. Harassing wildlife
and cross country travel by bicycle or vehicle are
prohibited.
Sources for this bulletin courtesy of the Medford Mail Tribune, Bureau of
Land Management (BLM), United States Geological Survey (USGS), and
the National Park Service (NPS). Update: 04.08.2013
NAT I O NAL C O N S E R VAT I O N LAN D S
Bureau of Land Management, Medford District Office, 3040 Biddle Road Medford, Oregon 97504
541-618-2200 . http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/csnm/
CASCADE
SISKIYOU
National Monument