Ecology

WEEKEND/HOLIDAY SHUTTLE IN USE THRU END OF NOVEMBER DUE TO LIMITED PARKING AND RECORD VISITATION                                                                                                               
Saturday 11/21 - Sunday 11/22 SP+ Shuttle will begin at 9:00 am with uphill runs ending at 4:00 pm and downhill runs ending at 5:30 pm.   
Thursday 11/26 SP+ shuttle is scheduled to begin at 9:00 am and end at 4:00 pm.
Friday 11/27-Sunday 11/29 SP+ Shuttle is scheduled to begin at 9:00 am with uphill runs ending at 4:00 pm and downhill runs ending at 5:30 pm.                                                                   
The shuttle has a capacity of 22 people with one wheelchair lift. Passengers will be asked to wear masks and the vehicle will be disinfected after each trip. If visitors want to order tickets in advance, they may do so at https://promo.parking.com/charlotte-pilot-mountain-shuttle/ or they can order on-site at shuttle in front of visitor center via credit card or the Parking.com app. No cash transactions. Ordering tickets in advance guarantees a ride, not a specific time. The fare is $5.00 for adults, kids 13 and under ride free. The fare for a one-way trip down is $2.50 (if seats are available). 

THE ROAD TO THE SUMMIT (UPPER) PARKING LOT IS OPEN TO VISITOR TRAFFIC EVERY WEEKDAY DURING POSTED PARK HOURS (UNLESS THE PARKING LOT REACHES CAPACITY). OPEN PARKING AREAS HAVE LIMITED CAPACITY.  PARKING ON ROAD SHOULDERS IS PROHIBITED. IF YOU ARRIVE AND A PARKING LOT IS FULL, CONSIDER THAT AREA CLOSED.  WHEN PARKING LOTS FILL THERE WILL BE NO WAITING IN LINE TO GET IN.  When the road is closed all downhill traffic can leave freely, but no more uphill visitor traffic will occur past the new visitor center.  Visitors who arrive when the road to the summit is closed will have the option of either purchasing a shuttle ticket if seats are available and riding from the new visitor center (on weekends and holidays March-November), parking at the new visitor center to hike or visiting one of the other park accesses.

PARKING LOTS:
Mountain Section
Visitor Center parking – 200 cars – (Grindstone Trail, Grassy Ridge Trail, Mountain Trail)
Old Park Office parking  – 30 cars – (Grindstone Trail, Mountain Trail)
Summit (upper) parking  –  90 cars – (Jomeokee Trail, overlooks, Ledge Springs Trail)
Use the following lots to skip the crowds, take a longer hike, or visit the Yadkin River
Pinnacle Hotel Road – 50 cars  134 Culler Road, Pinnacle NC – (Access to the Mountain Trail and Corridor Trail, and Grassy Ridge Trail)
Pilot Creek Trailhead – 15 cars  382 Boyd Nelson Road, Pinnacle NC – (Access to the Pilot Creek Trail)
Bean Shoals/Hauser Road – 40 cars  622 Hauser Road, Pinnacle NC – (Access to the southern Corridor Trail, Horne Creek Trail, Canal Trail)
Ivy Bluffs Trailhead – 20 cars  4240 Shoals Road, East Bend, NC – (Access to the Ivy Bluffs Trail)
Ivy Bluffs canoe launch – 10 cars  4454 Shoals Road, East Bend NC – (Access to the Yadkin River paddle trail)

RESTROOMS, VISITOR CENTER:
Under COVID phase 3.0 the new visitor center gift shop and exhibit hall are open 8am-4pm  with a max capacity of 25 people. Bathrooms are open and available at the new visitor center in the breezeway and at the summit parking lot.

CAMPGROUND:
Campground is currenlty closed due to lightning damage to the sewer system. Campground season is March 15th-November 30th. 

FACE COVERINGS:
Face coverings are required to be worn when in public places, indoors or outdoors, where physical distancing of 6 feet from other people who aren’t in the same household or residence isn’t possible, unless an exception applies. Face coverings are required to utilize the shuttle, visit the gift shop or visitor center exhibit hall.
Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes. Generally, state parks are following the phased reopening statewide.

 Last updated on: Saturday, November 21, 2020