Pilot Mountain

Pilot Mountain is a beautiful place to step into. As we got out of the car, we walked over to a look out spot. We could see the valley below us, with the beauty of the colored leaves on the trees' below.
Pilot Mountain is a part of the Saura Mountains. The mountain has two pinnacles. The Big Pinnacle emerges 1400 foot out of the valley below. The rounded knob is full of trees in every shade of color. The Big Pinnacle is attached to the small pinnacle by a narrow rock wall. From the small pinnacle you can see Winston-Salem 24 miles away. The Little Pinnacle overlook lets you view the Big Pinnacle up close. There is a trail that takes you around the base of the Big Pinnacle. The trail lets you get a close up look at its size.
The Historic Horne Creek Farm is located on the Yadkin River section of the park. On Saturdays and Sundays hands on projects are held. Visitors to the park can experience the historic agriculture of North Carolina. There are over 70 families of flowers in the park. Alot of the flowers you see at Pilot Mountain are also located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Catawba rhododendron, mountain laurel, evergreen leaves, and white flowers can be seen all along the trails. There is a large variety of animals at the park. Squirrels, birds, lizards, and deer are seen at times.
You can go through the trails on foot, horseback, or in a canoe.
Rock climbing is permitted in certain areas of the park. You need to check with the office before rock climbing. Rock climbing and rappeling are not allowed on the Big Pinnacle.
Rangers at the park schedule classes about the flowers and natural beauty of the Yadkin River. Educational booklets are geared toward 6-12th graders. They try to focus on how the mountains were formed, from a geological perspective.
There are 49 campsites at Pilot Mountain. Every campsite has a tent pad, table and a grill. Washhouses and drinking water are available. Firewood has to be from the park office. You cannot gather your own wood. There is a fee to camp from March 15 to November 30th.
If your the wilderness type and you like to camp, you can canoe over to one of the Yadkin Islands. There is not any running water or toilets.
The north side of the river is a great place for youth groups to camp. This is a wilderness type setting. Each campsite has tables, afire circle, pit toilets, and drinking water. Reservattions are required. Flooding can accure in certain areas.
There are three picnic shelters in the park. Each shelter has a grill and picnic tables. One of the shelters will hold 35 people. Ask at the office, if you would like to use the 35 person shelter. Two of these shelters have pit toilets.
You can canoe or go rafting down the Yadkin river. There are over 38 areas for canoes to cross the river. While you are enjoying your day on the river, explore the Bean Shoals Canal Wall. The canal is 1/2 mile up stream from the Islands.
Pilot Mountain State Park 1792 Pilot Knob Rd.
Pinnacle, NC 27043 (336) 325-2355
Email: pilot.mountain@ncmail.net
Web: www.ncsparks.net/pimo.html