COVID-19 information for parks under Modified Stay at Home Order
Posted on: Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 11:54am |
Photos and Videos

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
Gallery
UNC-TV: Pilot Mountain has a deer problem. Drones can help.
February 21, 2019
Drones help researchers and park officials get an accurate count of the deer population on Pilot Mountain.
From the UNC School of Media and Journalism
Producer: Trent Brown
Associate Producers: Olivia Corriere and Lauren Glaze
Scriptwriter and Narrator: Haley France
Camera/Video Editor: Bob Gunter
Additional Cameras: Trent Brown and Haley France
Executive Producer: Dr. Tom Linden
North Carolina State Parks Centennial: Pilot Mountain State Park
North Carolina's most recognizable mountain became its 12th state park in 1968, due to the efforts of local citizens who formed the Pilot Mountain Preservation and Park Committee and raised matching money to secure federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grants to purchase the mountain and connecting land to the Yadkin River.
Trail tour: Jomeokee/Ledge Springs Trail Loop
January 12, 2011
A short hike along the Jomeokee/Ledge Springs Trail loop at Pilot Mountain State Park
Park Maps and Brochures: