Trails at Pilot Mountain State Park

Status of park trails

Mountain section map (PDF)

Yadkin River section map (PDF)

With numerous access points to choose from, Pilot Mountain State Park has plenty 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 trail through the 6-mile woodland corridor that connects the two sections of the park. Cliffs and crevices and ravens and rhododendron are only a small part of the scenery to be discovered. Journey around the mountain, by a creek, by the Yadkin River, or around a short loop by the visitor center.

Sharing the Trail

Horses are permitted on the Corridor and Yadkin Islands trails. They are not permitted on any other trails inside the state park.

No horses may cross the Yadkin Valley Railroad. Horses may be loaded and unloaded only in the lots located at each end of the Corridor Trail (the Hauser Road and the Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler Road parking lots). Horse trailers may park on these two lots only. All equestrians must be able to provide proof of a negative equine infectious anemia, or Coggins, test.

Hikers should yield to equestrians on the trail.

There are no mountain bike trails inside Pilot Mountain State Park.

Pets

Pets are permitted on park trails. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times. Please pick up after your pet when you are at the park. Pet waste is not fertilizer and can put plants, other animals, and visitors at risk for disease. Please dispose of pet waste in garbage bins and do not throw waste bags in the woods or leave them on the ground. When sharing a trail, hikers with pets must yield to all other trail users, including equestrians.

Don't Forget

  • Plenty of water: Know the signs of heat-related illness and how to respond.
  • Trail map: Avoid getting lost. Pay attention to trail markers. Download and print park maps at home, or stop by the visitor center to pick up a map.
  • Insect repellent and sunscreen
  • Sturdy walking or hiking shoes: Most trails have a natural surface with roots and rocks.

Please do not wander off the trail when hiking, horseback riding, or walking with your pet. Going off trail increases the chances of encountering ticks, venomous snakes, and poisonous plants.

List of Trails

Note: The table below can be sorted by length, difficulty, trail use, and accessibility. Click the corresponding header category to change the order of the trails. You can also use the search function to narrow down the list.

Trail Name Access Blaze Length Difficulty Trail Use ADA Accessible Description
Mountains-to-Sea State Trail Mountain Section, Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler Road parking area, Hauser Road parking area white circles 12.6-mile one way Strenuous Mostly hiking only, one section open to horseback riding No

Hiking the entirety of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail segment within Pilot Mountain State Park involves following the Corridor, Mountain, and Grindstone trails. The entire path is marked with the white circle blazes.

The trail enters the park from the west at the southern end of the Corridor Trail. Hikers can follow the Corridor Trail as it meanders north towards the mountain section of the park. At the junction with the Mountain Trail, hikers should make a left and follow the trail as it makes its way around the mountain clockwise, to the intersection of the Mountain and Grindstone trails. Make another left to follow the Grindstone Trail towards the campground and follow as it exits the park to the east on the Sauratown Trail, below the visitor center.

Within Pilot Mountain State Park, horses are permitted only on the Corridor Trail. Horse trailer parking is available only at the Hauser Road and the Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler Road parking lots.

These trails have a natural surface and creek crossings.

Hikers should yield to equestrians. Hikers with pets should yield to all other trail users. (Note: Dogs are not permitted on the Sauratown Trail outside the state park boundary).

Pilot Creek Meadow Walk Pilot Creek Access none n/a Easy Hiking only No

Explore and observe birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and more as you walk through the meadows above Pilot Creek. This mowed path leads through restored warm-season grass meadows and leads to a small farm pond, where you can try your luck to catch catfish, bass, sunfish, and more (valid North Carolina fishing license required).

This path is a registered part of the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail and has been established to benefit native pollinators and grassland birds.

This area is located at the Pilot Creek access, at 382 Boyd Nelson Road in Pinnacle.

This trail has a natural surface.

Pilot Creek Trail Pilot Creek Access orange circles 3.3-mile one way Moderate Hiking only No

This trail starts at Boyd Nelson Road and ends at the family campground, for a total of 3.3 miles one way. It crosses tributaries of Pilot Creek and ascends through pine-oak/heath forest to the campground.

This trail was built at no cost to the park by the Friends of Sauratown Mountains.

Parking for this trail is located at Pilot Creek access, at 382 Boyd Nelson Road in Pinnacle. There is no day-use parking near the end of the trail at the mountain section; the closest is the visitor center down the road.

The trail has a natural surface with rocks and roots, as well as creek crossings.

Fiddlehead Trail Mountain Section orange squares 0.4-mile one way Easy Hiking only No

This easy trail begins and ends on the Grassy Ridge Trail, creating a short loop — perfect for a short walk and accessible from the visitor center parking lot. Completing the loop is a little less than 1 mile.

This trail has a natural surface and gravel.

Grassy Ridge Trail Mountain Section yellow squares 1.5-mile one way Moderate Hiking only No

The trail wanders through lowland pine and hardwood forests, crossing meandering streams with ample seasonal wildflower displays.

This trail begins at the visitor center but can also be accessed from the parking area at Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler Road. It can be used to connect to the Corridor or Mountain trails.

The trail has a natural surface with rocks and roots. It also crosses creeks.

Grindstone Trail Mountain Section blue circles 3.5-mile one way Strenuous Hiking only No

This strenuous 3.5-mile trail leads one way to (and from) the visitor center. The trail starts across the road from the visitor center, runs above the campground, and climbs the mountain through the woods to the summit. The trail ends at the summit picnic area. Vegetation on this trail changes with elevation.

Parking is available at the visitor center or at the upper summit area. The trail climbs uphill up the mountain when starting from the visitor center.

This trail has a natural surface with rocks and roots. It also crosses creeks.

Ledge Spring Trail Mountain Section yellow circles 1-mile one way Strenuous Hiking only No

This is a very challenging 1-mile trail. The trail begins on the Pilot Knob Trail and ends on the Grindstone Trail. It travels along the foot of the cliffs and ledges to the west of Little Pinnacle.

The trail can only be accessed by hiking part of the Pilot Knob Trail or part of the Grindstone Trail, beginning at the summit parking lot.

The trail has a natural surface with roots and rocks, as well as rock steps. It also has boulders.

Please note that the park's climbing area is located along the Ledge Spring Trail. Be mindful of sharing the trail with climbers.

Little Pinnacle Overlook Mountain Section none 0.1-mile one way Easy Hiking only No

This easy and short path leads to the Little Pinnacle Overlook, one of the best views in the park. Follow the path located south of the Pilot Knob Trail up a moderate grade to the overlook for a beautiful view of the Big Pinnacle, Sauratown Mountains, and Hanging Rock State Park to the east. On a clear day, visitors can view 3,000 square miles from this point. Located above a stone wall on the upper side of the summit parking area, the overlook is a great place to take pictures.

This path has a natural surface with roots and rocks. Stone steps lead up to the overlook.

There are two other overlooks on the opposite sides of the summit parking area that can accommodate visitors with strollers, wheelchairs, or limited mobility — one facing south and showing the Piedmont landscape, while the other faces the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Mountain Trail Mountain Section red circles 4.3-mile one way Strenuous Hiking only No

A moderate to strenuous rolling 4.3-mile trail that skirts the bottom of the mountain, the Mountain Trail connects to the Grindstone Trail to complete a 6-mile loop.

The Mountain Trail can be accessed from the Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler Road parking area; 0.25 miles uphill of the visitor center; or above the campground off the Grindstone Trail.

This trail has a natural surface with rocks and roots. It also crosses creeks.

Pilot Knob Trail Mountain Section red squares 0.8-mile loop Moderate Hiking only No

This trail travels 0.8 mile roundtrip around the base of the Big Pinnacle and is moderate in ability level. This trail starts at the upper side of the summit parking area. The trail 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.

Climbing on the Big Pinnacle is prohibited. Please stay on the trail.

This trail has a natural surface with rocks and roots, as well as rock steps and boulders.

Sassafras Trail Mountain Section none 0.15-mile one way Moderate Hiking only No

This trail offers scenic views of Pilot Mountain's Big Pinnacle and vistas of the surrounding mountains, leading hikers through a unique fire-adapted forest ecosystem. The trail is 0.15 mile one way.

The Sassafrass Trail is designated as a self-guided interpretive trail for kids, as part of the nationwide network of Kids in Parks Track Trails. Visitors can download activity brochures, track all of their adventures online, and get prizes on the Kids in Parks website.

The trailhead is located to the left of the summit restroom. A hike out and back from the parking area is 0.3 mile.

This trail has a natural surface.

Corridor Trail Mountain Section, Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler Road parking area, Hauser Road parking area white triangles 6.6-mile one way Strenuous Hiking, Horseback riding No

This sloped, strenuous 6.6-mile hiking and bridle trail meanders through pine and hardwood forests, connecting the mountain section and river section of Pilot Mountain State Park.

Parking, including horse trailer parking, for this trail is available at the Hauser Road lot and the Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler Road lot.

Please note that horses and equestrians must remain on the marked bridle trail only. No horses may cross the Yadkin Valley Railroad. Horses may be loaded and unloaded only in the lots located at each end of the Corridor Trail (the Hauser Road and the Pinnacle Hotel Road/Culler Road parking lots).

This trail has a natural surface.

Hikers should yield to equestrians. Hikers with pets should yield to all other trail users.

Yadkin Islands Trail (Closed through 2024) Hauser Road parking area, Bean Shoals Access orange squares 1.5-mile one way Moderate Hiking, Horseback riding No

This moderate hiking and bridle trail begins at the Hauser Road parking area and features two creek crossings.

The bridle portion of the trail ends at the 1.1-mile marker, where equestrians can make a 2-mile loop back to the Hauser Road parking lot by following the gravel road. The hiking portion of the trail is 1.5 miles one way, ending at the intersection with Bean Shoals Canal Trail.

Hikers may cross the river at their own risk to explore the islands in the river, which are unmarked and unblazed. Do not attempt to cross the river if you cannot see the bottom.

This trail has a natural surface with roots and rocks. It also crosses creeks.

Hikers should yield to equestrians. Hikers with pets should yield to all other trail users.

Bean Shoals Canal Trail (Closed through 2024) Bean Shoals Access red circles 0.5-mile one way Easy Hiking only No

This 0.5-mile one-way sloped trail travels alongside the Yadkin River and passes the remains of the Bean Shoals Canal. In the 1820s, there was an attempt to build a canal around the shallow and rocky Bean Shoals, but it was never finished.

To reach the start of this trail by vehicle, you will have to drive through Horne Creek three times. Vehicles with high clearance are recommended. At the end of the park road, the trail starts next to the kiosk, crosses the railroad tracks, and turns right at the river. Please use caution when crossing the railroad tracks, as they are active.

This trail has a natural surface with roots and rocks. It has a railroad crossing.

Horne Creek Trail (Closed through 2024) Bean Shoals Access blue circles 2.5-mile one way Moderate Hiking only No

This moderate, sloped 2.5-mile one-way hiking trail begins at the picnic area at Bean Shoals access and meanders along Horne Creek, where hikers can enjoy many varieties of wildflowers in the spring. The trail then closely follows the Yadkin River until it meets up with the Bean Shoals Canal Trail.

Hikers can make a 3.5-mile loop by returning to the picnic area on the park road.

This trail has a natural surface with roots and rocks. It also crosses creeks.

Ivy Bluff Trail Ivy Bluff Access red circles 1.3-mile one way Moderate Hiking only No

This 1.3-mile one-way trail has moderate to steep slopes, which are covered with mountain laurel and rhododendron, and follows the south edge of the Yadkin River.

This trail is located at the Ivy Bluff access, located at 4240 Shoals Road in East Bend.

This trail has a natural surface with roots and rocks. It also crosses creeks.

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