COVID-19 information for parks under Modified Stay at Home Order
Posted on: Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 11:54am |
Fees/FAQs/Permits

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. PARKING ON ROAD SHOULDERS IS PROHIBITED. IF POSSIBLE PLAN YOUR VISIT ON A WEEKDAY WHEN THE PARK IS LESS CROWDED.
When the summit (upper) parking lot fills the road past the new visitor center will close to all uphill visitor traffic. All downhill traffic can leave freely, but no uphill visitor traffic will occur. Visitors who arrive when the road to the summit is closed will have the option of parking at the new visitor center to hike, or visiting one of the other park accesses (if space is available).
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 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:
The Family Campground is currently closed. Campground season is March 15th-November 30th.
FACE COVERINGS
Masks are required to visit the gift shop and exhibit hall in 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: Tuesday, December 29, 2020Contact 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
Additional information
Fees
There are no entrance fees to enjoy the park.
FAQs: Park shuttle
The park shuttle is not in service during the off-season. Please check back in the spring for the 2021 schedule.
► Why do we run a shuttle?
Pilot Mountain is visited by 10 times more people than when it opened. In the park's first year of operation in 1968, annual attendance was 58,000. In fiscal year 2019, the park welcomed 930,000 visitors. In 2020, the park is on pace to welcome 1 million visitors.
► Will the shuttle program continue forever?
This is a three-year pilot program starting in August 2020. The program will be reviewed regularly to determine its long-term feasibility. The shuttle program was developed using similar programs at other crowded mountain parks with one-way roads, such as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (managed by the National Park Service), the Brasstown Bald Recreation Area in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests (managed by the U.S. Forest Service), and Hungry Mother State Park in Virginia.
► Why can't you let cars up after 10 a.m. if the lot has some spaces?
The fairest and safest way to operate the roadway is to manage access by all visitors with the same process.
On a slow weekend day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., around 80 cars per hour enter the park. On a busy weekend, 300 or more cars per hour enter the park's mountain section. There are 90 spaces at the summit. The average visitor stay is 1.5 hours, and this rate fills the summit lot in around 30 minutes. This amount of vehicle traffic can make it unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists who also use the roadways. With the addition of a visitor center and increased traffic with Interstate 74, we expect visitation to increase.
We realize many visitors only want a quick scenic drive. If this is your plan, you can visit outside the shuttle times or visit during the week, when there are no vehicle restrictions. There are many low-traffic roads around the mountain with scenic views and photo opportunities. You can also visit the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway (managed by the National Park Service), a scenic 400+ mile motor road and national park. It is best accessed by taking U.S. 52 north 25 miles to Fancy Gap, Va.
► What does crowding at the top have to do with protecting the natural resources?
The summit area of Pilot Mountain was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in the early 1970s. Since then, visitation has steadily increased. The steady foot traffic in the park takes a toll on the plants and wildlife that live atop of the mountain on thin, acidic soil that is slow to recover from trampling. This is why we ask visitors to stay on the trails at the summit, besides the obvious hazards of wandering near cliffs. This also limits what visitor facilities can be built at the top of the mountain, including septic systems to support public restrooms.
► Why do I have to pay?
The shuttle is run by a private contractor (SP+ of Winston-Salem/Charlotte) and is priced at the lowest possible market rate. After bids were solicited, the state parks team picked the contractor with the most reasonable rate for the public. The shuttle service does return 10 percent of its profits to the state parks system. These funds do not go specifically to Pilot Mountain State Park but benefit the state parks system's overall needs and pays for temporary employees' salaries. While Pilot Mountain's operating budget has not grown since before the 2008 recession, facilities and visitation have grown leaps and bounds.
Rules and facilities information
In addition to park-specific rules, please read the systemwide Park Rules for all North Carolina State Parks.
► Fishing
Anglers need a state fishing license and must obey the regulations of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
NCWRC links: Fishing licenses » | Regulations » | Access map »
► Climbing
The following state park climbing regulations apply at all times:
- All climbers must register with the park staff and must keep in their possession a valid rock climbing and rappelling permit.
- NC state parks do not install or maintain any climbing route or fixed anchors. New routes are not permitted.
- Climbers climb at their own risk and are responsible for obtaining proper equipment and training. Unroped climbing is discouraged.
- Route selection and the decision to rely on any fixed anchors are the climber's responsibility.
- Climbing activities are permitted in designated areas only and must coincide with the park's posted hours of operation.
- All accidents and injuries must be reported to park staff.
Note: All climbers and rappellers must schedule their activity in order to leave the park by the posted closing hour.
All commercial or organized/affiliated climbing groups must register with the park in advance via the Special Activity Permit. Commercial and climbing groups must pay a $45 fee for the permit.
► Equestrian Trail Closure Policy
- Closing of Pilot Mountain State Park bridle trails will be considered when it rains a minimum of 0.5 inch in 24 hours.
- Trail conditions will be inspected by park staff on the day of the closure.
- Once the trail conditions have been confirmed to not be suitable for riding, all horse trails, including the Corridor Trail and river section bridle trails will be closed to bridle use for a minimum of 3 days.
- After 3 days with no significant additional rain or precipitation, park staff will verify trail conditions for potential opening or continued closing.
- Trail closure status will be posted under "alerts" on the state park website and updated only when the status has changed. The phone number to call for trail closure information is 336-444-5100.
- Riding on wet trails creates low spots that hold water and widens the trail resulting in extensive damage. Keeping the trails closed when wet will allow the trails to recover and prevent further damage. Significant investment has been made in maintaining park bridle trails and these closures are made to preserve this resource for your continued enjoyment.
- Partnering with community support through trail reconstruction projects and ongoing trail maintenance, Pilot Mountain State Park's long term goal is to create sustainable, all-weather trails that are open year-round. If you are interested in volunteering to maintain the recreational resource you enjoy, email pilot.mountain@ncparks.gov or call 336-444-5100.
Permits
► Research and collection permits
A permit is required for any project involving the collection, removal or disturbance of any natural or cultural resource of any state park unit and for projects that require placing monitoring equipment in any state park unit. Learn more about research and collection permits or fill out a permit application online.
► Events and special activities
Hosting some events — such as weddings, athletic contests, company parties, etc. — may require a Special Activity Permit. If you are unsure whether such a permit is necessary for your event, please contact the park office beforehand.
Permit fees are listed in the table below. Please note that additional expenses incurred by the park may be charged in addition to the permit fee. A $25 fee will be charged for all returned checks.
Download a Special Activity Permit application »
Special Activity Permit type |
Permit fee |
Special use |
$45 |
Non-corporate event
|
$70 |
Non-corporate event
|
$130 |
Corporate event
|
$115 |
Corporate event
|
$225 |
Commercial event (nonprofit) |
$115 |
Commercial event (for-profit) |
$225 |
Commercial, organized or affiliated
|
$45 |
Park Maps and Brochures: