Pilot Mountain State Park centers around geologic features with hiking and horseback riding trails, rock climbing, and camping. There are 11 hiking trails in the mountain section of the park and 5 more in the Yadkin River section. I focused on the mountain section on my February visit.
Geologic Features
Pilot Mountain is part of the Sauratown Mountains, sometimes called the “the mountains away from the mountains.” The mountain range is named after the Saura (or Cheraw), a Siouan-speaking Native American tribe that lived in the area. Other formations in the range include Sauratown Mountain and ridges within Hanging Rock State Park.
Pilot Mountain has two distinctive features – Big Pinnacle and Little Pinnacle. Big Pinnacle, also called the Knob, has a rounded, vegetation-covered top. There is a curved depression between the Knob and Little Pinnacle’s ridged slope, making it look like a saddle in the distance.
Hiking Trails
Of the 11 mountain trails, only 6 are listed as easy or moderate difficulty. I hiked 4 of them. In my opinion, the two “easy” trails are closer to moderate due to the terrain you have to traverse. Most of these paths are at the summit. You can drive the winding road up to the summit and park there to enjoy the views, hiking, and rock climbing.
Little Pinnacle Overlook
From the summit parking lot, this short 0.1-mile trail on Little Pinnacle leads to an overlook with views of Big Pinnacle. It is relatively easy, but you have to maneuver over boulders for most of the path.
Pilot Knob Trail
On some maps this is called the Jomeokee Trail. It circles Big Pinnacle.
This 0.8-mile moderate loop is marked with red square blazes. After heading down a set of large stone steps, the route wanders next to Little Pinnacle. Then it moves up more stone steps to loop around the Knob, which rises 200 feet above the forested base.
The quartzite capstone reminds me a bit of Chiricahua National Monument with its caves, cracks, and layers.
Around the back of the Knob, there are fantastic views of the Sauratown Mountains and surrounding landscape.
Pilot Knob connects to the Ledge Spring Trail which has sections open for rock climbing.
Sassafras Trail/TRACK
TRACK trails are designed for kids and families as part of the Kids in Parks program.
This moderate dirt trail is 0.3-miles round trip. Marked with orange circle blazes, the route has deep steps and boulders. It ends at a fenced overlook on a rocky bluff.
The trail offers views of Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Park in the distance.
Fiddlehead Trail
Two additional trails start at the visitor center – the Fiddlehead and Grassy Ridge Trails.
Fiddlehead is a storybook trail – each sign along the path offers two pages from The Stars Just Up the Street. It is perfect for families.
Blazed with orange squares, the 0.4-mile trail is listed as easy on the trail map. I would call it low moderate difficulty. It has elevation changes and crosses multiple streams and rocky sections.
Part of the Fiddlehead Trail runs in conjunction with the 1.5-mile Grassy Ridge Trail. Following the mountain’s base, Grassy Ridge connects to the Corridor Trail (which heads to the Yadkin River section) and the Mountains-to-Sea and Sauratown Trails (which lead to Hanging Rock State Park).
I think this is a beautiful park with tons to see. I recommend adding the waterfalls and trails in Hanging Rock State Park for a multi-day trip.
Another park within an easy distance and a not too difficult trail. Just what I was looking for.
The photos were great . Thanks Steph