Trails
Park Maps and Brochures:
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, March 2, 2019 - 2:00pm
Saturday, March 9, 2019 - 6:30pm
Saturday, March 16, 2019 - 10:00am
Summit Area Closed - Ice
Road to the summit of Pilot Mountain State Park will remained closed due to ice on the road and unsafe driving conditions.
Last updated on: Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Bridle Trails Closed
Bridle trails are closed to horses due to wet and unfavorable conditions. Trails will remain closed until sufficient drying has occurred. Hiking these trails is permitted.
Last updated on: Sunday, February 17, 2019Trails
Journey on foot, on horseback or in a canoe. No matter what your mode of travel, Pilot Mountain has miles of trails to explore. Little Pinnacle Overlook offers hikers a close-up view of Big Pinnacle and distant views of the valley below. Equestrians and hikers alike will relish the trails through the six-mile woodland corridor that connects the two sections of the park. Cliffs and crevices, ravens, and rhododendron are only a small part of the scenery to be discovered. For more information about the trails, see the park map. All visitors with horses must be able to provide proof of a negative equine infectious anemia (Coggins) test while visiting North Carolina State Parks. Horse rentals not available.
See the Equestrian Trails Closure Policy.
Bean Shoals Canal Trail
Location: River section – Bean Shoals access
Description:
A moderately sloped trail on the north shore of the Yadkin River that begins at the turnaround parking area. Turning right when you reach the river, this trail weaves a railroad trestle, as well as along the ruins of the unfinished Bean Shoals Canal. Note: The railroad track is active. Use extreme caution when crossing.
Point of Interest: unfinished Bean Shoals Canal
Length:
0.50 miles
One-way
0.50 miles
One-way
Difficulty:
Easy
Easy
Blaze:
red dots
red dots
Corridor Trail
Location: Mountain section – Pinnacle Hotel Road or river section – Hauser Road
Description:
This moderately sloped hiking and biking trail meanders through pine and hardwood forests connecting the mountain section and river section of Pilot Mountain State Park. Parking lots for this trail are located at Hauser Road and Pinnacle Hotel Road.
Note: Horse and rider must remain on marked bridle trail. No horses may cross the Yadkin Valley Railroad. Horses may only be unloaded and trailers parked in the lots located at each end of the Corridor Trail (Hauser Road and Pinnacle Hotel Road parking lots).
Point of Interest:
Length:
6.60 miles
One-way
6.60 miles
One-way
Difficulty:
Strenuous
Strenuous
Blaze:
white triangles
white triangles
Surface: Natural surface
Grindstone Trail
Location: Mountain section - park office or upper summit parking lot
Description:
A moderately sloped trail through the woods to the summit parking area. Trail starts across the road from the park office and is to the right. Trail continues up through the woods to a rock building, where you will cross the main park road and hike out past the campground, where trail climbs the mountain through the woods to the summit. Trail joins the Ledge Springs Trail in last half mile, past the picnic area to the summit parking area. Vegetation on this trail changes with elevation. Parking for this trail is at the park office.
Point of Interest:
Length:
3.00 miles
One-way
3.00 miles
One-way
Difficulty:
Strenuous
Strenuous
Blaze:
blue dots
blue dots
Surface: Natural surface
Horne Creek Trail
Location: River section – Bean Shoals access
Description:
This moderately sloped hiking trail begins at the picnic area and meanders along Horne Creek, where many varieties of spring wildflowers can be found. The trail then closely follows the Yadkin River until it meets up with the Bean Shoals Canal Trail. You can make a 3.5-mile loop by returning to the picnic area on the park road.
Point of Interest:
Length:
2.50 miles
One-way
2.50 miles
One-way
Difficulty:
Moderate
Moderate
Blaze:
blue dots
blue dots
Surface: Natural surface
Ivy Bluff Trail
Location: River section – Ivy Bluff access
Description:
This trail has moderate to steep slopes covered with mountain laurel and rhododendron along the south edge of the Yadkin River. Trail begins at the Ivy Bluff parking lot.
Point of Interest:
Length:
1.30 miles
One-way
1.30 miles
One-way
Difficulty:
Moderate
Moderate
Blaze:
red dots
red dots
Surface: Natural surface
Contact:
1792 Pilot Knob Park Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043
336-325-2355
pilot.mountain@ncparks.gov
GPS: 36.341276, -80.462930
*MOUNTAIN SECTION:
- December to February:
8:00am to 6:00pm
- March 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
*MOUNTAIN SECTION CAMPGROUND GATE:
- 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
*RIVER SECTION:
- 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
*PLEASE NOTE: The Bean Shoals and Ivy Bluff accesses at the river section are 10 and 20 miles, respectively, from the mountain section of the park and have different operating hours. Gates are locked promptly at closing. There is no gate entry before or after hours, including campgrounds, 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.
PARK OFFICE HOURS:
8:00am to 4:30pm – daily
Closed Christmas Day