COVID-19 information for parks (Updated 2/26/2021)
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Directions

PARKING
If you arrive and a parking lot is full, that area is closed to further traffic. Waiting in line is not permitted. Parking on road shoulders is prohibited. To avoid crowds, please plan your visit on a weekday.
If the road to the summit is closed to uphill traffic, you may park at the new visitor center or visit another park access area. Learn more information about parking areas and alternate locations nearby that you can visit when the park is full »
SHUTTLE
March- November on weekends and holidays you may drive the road to the summit when the park opens until the road closes to uphill traffic. A shuttle service will be on site to transport visitors to the summit lot and back. https://ncparks.gov/pilot-mountain-state-park/home#notices
VISITOR CENTER:
The visitor center gift shop and exhibit hall are open with a max capacity of 25 people. Restrooms are open at the new visitor center in the breezeway and at the summit parking lot.
CAMPGROUND:
Family Campground season is March 15th-November 30th. Reservations may be made by calling ReserveAmerica at 1-877-722-6762 during call center hours or online through ReserveAmerica until 9 pm on the day of arrival.
FACE COVERINGS
Masks are required to visit the gift shop and exhibit hall in the visitor center. Masks are required on trails if you are within 6 feet of anyone not from your household. Please wear a mask over nose and mouth when required. Park Rangers may write citations for failure to follow an executive order if individuals refuse to wear a mask when required.
Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes. Generally, state parks are following the phased reopening statewide.
Last updated on: Thursday, March 4, 2021March - November on weekends and holidays you may drive the road to the summit when the park opens until the road closes to uphill traffic. A shuttle service will be on site to transport visitors from the visitor center to the summit lot and back. https://www.ncparks.gov/pilot-mountain-state-park/home#notices
Last updated on: Thursday, March 4, 2021Contact the park
336-444-5100
pilot.mountain@ncparks.gov
Addresses
Mountain section
and visitor center
1792 Pilot Knob Park Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043
GPS: 36.3412, -80.4629
Pinnacle Hotel Road/
Culler Road parking
134 Culler Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043
GPS: 36.3280, -80.4631
Hauser Road parking
622 Hauser Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043
GPS: 36.2675, -80.4958
Pilot Creek access
382 Boyd Nelson Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043
GPS: 36.3587, -80.4933
Bean Shoals access
103 Yadkin River Park Trail
Pinnacle, NC 27043
GPS: 36.2647, -80.4878
Ivy Bluff access
4240 Shoals Road
East Bend, NC 27018
GPS: 36.2537, -80.5087
Shoals fishing area
and paddle access
4454 Shoals Road
East Bend, NC 27018
GPS: 36.2574, -80.5171
Hours
►
- December to February:
8:00am to 6:00pm
- March 1 to March 14:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- March 15 to April:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- October:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- November:
7:00am to 6:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
►
- November to February:
8:30am to 5:00pm
- March to April:
8:30am to 7:00pm
- May to September:
8:30am to 8:00pm
- October:
8:30am to 7:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
►
- March to April:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- October:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- November:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
- Gates are locked promptly at closing. There is no gate entry before or after hours, except in the case of a medical or law enforcement emergency. No vehicles other than those registered to campers may be left in the park overnight.
►
- October to February:
Open daily:
8:00am to 4:00pm
- March to September:
Open daily:
9:00am to 5:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
Area information
Accesses and parking
- Mountain section and visitor center
1792 Pilot Knob Park Road, Pinnacle, NC 27043
- Pilot Creek access – Pilot Creek Trail
382 Boyd Nelson Road, Pinnacle, NC 27043
- Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler Road parking – Mountain and Corridor trails
134 Culler Road, Pinnacle, NC 27043
- Hauser Road parking – Corridor Trail and north river section
622 Hauser Road, Pinnacle, NC 27043
- Bean Shoals access – north river section
103 Yadkin River Park Trail, Pinnacle, NC 27043
- Ivy Bluff access – south river section
4240 Shoals Road, East Bend, NC 27018
- Shoals fishing area — south river section fishing and paddling access
4454 Shoals Road, East Bend, NC 27018
Directions
Pilot Mountain State Park is located in Surry and Yadkin Counties, 20 miles north of Winston-Salem, and 14 miles south of Mount Airy.
► To the mountain section and visitor center
From U.S. 52, take the Pilot Mountain State Park exit (#131) and travel west into the mountain section of the park, where the visitor center is located.
Onboard vehicle GPS units are not reliable in the vicinity of the mountain. The park exit is #131 and is a clearly visible brown sign. The mountain is also easily recognizable from as much as 20 miles away on the highway as it is 1,400 feet taller than the surrounding area and is located adjacent to U.S. 52. Follow the signs to the park entrance.
► To Pilot Creek Trailhead
Continue north on U.S. 52 to the town of Pilot Mountain exit. Turn left off the ramp. Turn west on N.C. 268 for 0.2 mile, then south on Shoals Road. After 0.5 mile, turn left on Boyd Nelson Road to reach the trailhead.
► To Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler Road parking
The Corridor Trail is 6 miles one way and is moderate in difficulty. Vehicles, including bikes, are not allowed on bridle trails.
From the park entrance, turn right on Pilot Knob Park Road. At the stop sign, turn right on Old Winston Road. Turn right on Old U.S. 52 South. At the post office, turn right on Surry Line Road. Follow this road for 2 miles to the intersection with Culler Road, and the parking area is on the left.
► To Hauser Road parking
Exit U.S. 52 at Pinnacle. Follow the signs for Horne Creek Living Historical Farm. Pass the farm entrance. Pass the entrance to the river section. This parking area is 0.7 mile past the Horne Creek Living Historical Farm.
► To Bean Shoals access
The north river section (Surry County) is 10 miles from the mountain section of the park.
From U.S. 52, take the Pinnacle exit and follow the signs to Horne Creek Farm. The access entrance is approximately 0.4 mile past the farm.
► To Ivy Bluff access
The south river section (Yadkin County) is 20 miles from the mountain section of the park.
Take N.C. 67 to the town of East Bend. From Main Street, turn right on Fairground Road. Turn right on Shady Grove Church Road, and then another right on Shoals Road. Follow it to the access entrance.
► To Shoals fishing area and paddle access
This access is 0.3 mile past Ivy Bluff access.
Nearby attractions
NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources sites:
- Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art »
This museum in Winston-Salem focuses on exhibiting the work of contemporary artists from across the South, the nation and the world. -
Horne Creek Historical Living Farm »
Once the Hauser family farm, Horne Creek enables visitors to experience farm life in North Carolina's northwestern Piedmont circa 1900.
Other parks:
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Mountains-to-Sea State Trail »
- Yadkin River State Trail »
- Blue Ridge Parkway – National Park Service »
- Surry County parks »
- Yadkin County parks »
Additional resources:
Park Maps and Brochures: