Trails
Park Maps and Brochures:
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 11:00am
Friday, November 23, 2018 - 9:30am
Saturday, November 24, 2018 - 10:00am
North River Section
Horse trails and associated parking areas closed due to excessive rain. Trails will remain closed until significant drying has occurred. Vehicles blocking gates are subject to being towed.
Posted on: Tuesday, November 13, 2018Trails
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.
JOMEOKEE TRAIL
Location: Upper side of Summit Parking Area behind restroom building.
Description:
A moderate trail with rock steps. It crosses the gap to the
Big Pinnacle, then makes a loop around the base and
merges into the same trail, to return across the gap.
There are rare and interesting plants along this trail, as
well as the tall, impressive cliff.
Point of Interest: Rare plants & tall, impressive cliff
Length:
0.80 miles
Round Trip
0.80 miles
Round Trip
Difficulty:
Moderate
Moderate
Blaze:
None
None
LEDGE SPRINGS TRAIL
Location: Below Summit Picnic Area or below Little Pinnacle at Jomeokee Trail
Description:
A challenging walk with rocks and varying slope. It travels along the foot of the cliffs and ledges to
the west of the Little Pinnacle. The ledge springs is just a trickle of water, but the walk below the
cliffs are beautiful. HINT: The walk is easier to begin below the picnic area and to end below Little
Pinnacle at the Jomeokee Trail.
Point of Interest: Cliffs and ledges
Length:
2.00 miles
One-way
2.00 miles
One-way
Difficulty:
Strenuous
Strenuous
Blaze:
Yellow Dots
Yellow Dots
Surface: Natural surface
LITTLE PINNACLE OVERLOOK TRAIL
Location: Upper side of Summit Parking Area (behind Restroom Building)
Description:
A moderate grade to the Little Pinnacle bluff for a beautiful view of the Big Pinnacle, Sauratown Mountain and
Hanging Rock State Park to the east. On a clear day, one can View 3,000 square miles from this point.
A great place to take pictures!!!
Point of Interest: View of Big Pinnacle
Length:
0.10 miles
One-way
0.10 miles
One-way
Difficulty:
Easy
Easy
Blaze:
None
None
MOUNTAIN TRAIL
Location: Surry Line Road or connects to Grindstone Trail
Description:
This trail heads in a southeast direction down the mountain with very noticeable vegetation
change as the elevation changes. It ends at the start of the Corridor Trail (Surry Line Road).
It connects to the Grindstone Trail to complete a 6 mile loop.
Point of Interest:
Length:
4.50 miles
One-way
4.50 miles
One-way
Difficulty:
Strenuous
Strenuous
Blaze:
Red Dots
Red Dots
Surface: Natural surface
MOUNTAINS TO SEA TRAIL
Location: North River Section - south end of Corridor Trail
Description:
The Mountains to Sea Trail passes through the park on the Corridor, Mountain, Grindstone and
Grassy Ridge Trails. The Mountains to Sea Trail enters the park on the southern end of the
Corridor Trail in the west and leaves via the privately owned Sauratown Trail to the east.
You may find current information about the Mountains to the Sea Trail at www.ncmst.org
Point of Interest:
Length:
One-way
One-way
Difficulty:
Blaze:
White Circles
White Circles
Surface: Natural surface
Contact:
Pilot Mountain State Park
1792 Pilot Knob Park Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043Phone336-325-2355
pilot.mountain@ncparks.gov
Latitude: 36.341276
Longitude: -80.462930
The Mountain Section:
March 15 to November 30 : Opens at 7am. Closes at Sunset.
December to February : Opens at 8am. Closes at 6pm.
Campers only may enter the mountain section until the following times:
March,April, October- 9pm
May-September- 10pm
November- 8pm
Yadkin River Section:
November to February: 8:30am - 5pm
March, April: 8:30am - 7pm
May, June, July, August, September: 8:30am - 8pm
October: 8:30am - 7pm
Please note the North and South River Sections are 10 and 20 miles 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 case of medical or law enforcement emergency. No vehicles other than those registered to campers may be left in the park overnight.
Park Office
8am - 4:30pm 7 days a week
The park is closed Christmas Day