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Beautiful place to explore, and they have the option of if you want the view you can drive all the way to the top and enjoy. And they also have so trails around. They also have a shuttle that goes from the visitor center to the summit, in case you're not a fan of driving towards the heights...
I drove past the visitor center to the scenic overlook! And then I hiked the short 0.8 mi loop around pilot mountain. Clearly marked trails, nicely maintained. Visitor center has clean bathrooms.
I was a little surprised to see I neglected to leave a review for this park! Long overdue, as I've been several times over the years. One of my absolute favorite mountains to hike! Not too far a drive, but if you want to park at the summit you should get there early on the weekend before it fills up. I don't think you'll have that trouble on the weekdays. This most recent visit, we hiked up and down the grindstone path, which is rated strenuous. I'm used to hiking so I would say it seemed more moderate than strenuous, though there were some tougher spots. If you're in hiking shape, though, it was a wonderful way to spend a few hours and getting several miles (7-8) in. There is one trail that is rated more difficult than the grindstone, so I'll have to try that one out next time!
Only did the drive up to the summit prkg lot and the hikes to the various outkooks...but wowsa! Driving up to the Park from the prkwy is beautiful as is the harrowing winding mtn drive up (and down) hoping people in the other lane are paying as much attention as you are! But once up top it really is as if the air is just different! Gloriously clean & gusty w/views until u literally can't see any further cuz of the curvature of the Earth (sorry Flat Earthers u'd probs hate it up here)...all joking aside on a clear day like today you feel like you've summited something much higher than Jomeokee's (Saura native's name meaning "great guide or 'pilot'") actual 2421ft height. The views of the geological landmark are breathtaking and impressive from any angle and it was a treat to see many of the native raptor birds of prey circling. There were also monarchs and eastern tiger swallowtails flitting across the summit trail overlooks. Absolutely a must and worth any detours if you're in the area! A guiding landmark for millennia just a short detour off the roads most traveled!
Had a great time at Pilot Mountain recently. Camped overnight there and went hiking the next day. The campground was clean and well maintained. The hiking trailers were great. We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed hiking as a family. We certainly will be back.
Been on health journey the last couple of months trying to change things up! But yesterday decided to do something totally out of my comfort zone and go on a hike. I choose Pilot Mountain because I do hear a lot of things about it living here in Winston and decided to check it out. Being one with nature and being able to experience it for what it's worth is nothing short of spectacular considering it's so close to home. I hiked about 3 miles up to the top and was able to enjoy the incredible scenery. Everyone around was very nice and helpful if you get to the top and realize you might not have enough time or just a bit to tired to go back down there is a shuttle that runs until about 5pm which can be very helpful as well. If you're not a nature person I would still say check it out atleast once! It's very peaceful out there and in a life of chaos that brief amount of time where you can find some peace is definitely much needed. Highly recommended!
My daughter and her friend are both in wheelchsits. They had access to so much of the park it was very well maintained and we were all pleased with our experience!!!!
Pilot Mountain State Park is a great park to visit. I drove to the top viewing area then walked up to the top. Admission is free to the park and restrooms were available close to the parking lot. There are trails you can take but I wasn't going to do that in the heat. The nice thing about this park is you can still enjoy nature if you don't want to take a trail to the top. The views are beautiful here.
Great job by the rangers and state for the up keeping. There are different lengths of trails and they are well maintained. Not a lot of trash at the parking lot, which is good. Usually at the peak, there are a lot of human traffic. At the top you can see as far as Winston Salem and grandfather mountain. Just a great view to see the greens of NC. There are a lot of stairs for some of the trails so your pets might have a hard time.
If beautiful views from a few thousand feet up interest you, Pilot Mtn. State Park, is a very accessible destination. Located just 35 minutes (or so) from Winston-Salem just off of Highway 52, Pilot Mtn. boasts views by either hiking or driving, depending on your mode of travel. On the day of my visit, my daughter and I hiked up and down, we were passed by a few runners! The views are amazing, even from a little over 2,200 feet up! Our clear day enabled us to see the tall buildings of Winston-Salem, the Blue Ridge Mountain range to the west and running northeast, Virginia, and the Yadkin valley to the south. Take the 0.8 mile out-and-back trail that loops around the "mountain" itself to get the full effect. Parking is located at both the base and the top of the state park along with bathrooms. The Visitors Center is located at the bottom and is a great location to take a Yelp or Insta photo of the mountain peak. If you do hike, be sure to prepare with proper hiking shoes and hydration for a challenging but doable climb up (and easier one on the way down). The trail is clearly marked, but it is advised to check out the map first. Cell service was available the entire way.
This park in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is well kept and maintained. Nice trails and facilities. The view from the top is far reaching and sunsets are beautiful. Keep pets on leashes and all is pet friendly. There's a great kids trail program to follow here for little ones. Protip: put this address in your GPS and don't rely on Apple Maps (2024) 2799 Pilot Knob Park Rd Pinnacle, NC 27043 United States
When I visited here for the first time a couple months ago, my friend and I really enjoyed ourselves! I enjoy hiking. I typically go to Hanging Rock but wanted to try a new place. I got there pretty late in the day as it was about 4pm. They have a shuttle to take you straight to the top but it was over my the time we started. The shuttle cost $5 as well. The visitor center was open and was a little busy. They also have an area for the restroom. I did a mix of three trails. It was a route that I found via All Trials. I made the mistake by choosing the rock path for one trail... my advice: don't do it lol. Boy was it exhausting! However, the views were AMAZING once I got to the top. I can't wait to return and try another trail.
6 years ago
Had always seen this place from the interstate but never had the opportunity to check it out. I was shocked how interesting this place was. Was glad I brought my camera with me and it would've been nice to hear brought my lunch out there with me. Although I went in the winter, I look forward to visiting in the summer when there is more green out. read more
7 years ago
Rock climbing. Camping. Picnicking. Hiking. Family time. PMSP is awesome! Meant for all levels of capability. Go online and camp here! The views are amazing. We enjoyed hiking the upper trails where we saw many rock climbers and Boy Scouts alike. The trails have enough people and traffic that we felt safe the entire visit. The park is well maintained and clean. Bring your furry friend a long! They'll love the park as much as us humans do. There are rest rooms available and motorcycle pull offs too. Come early in the day as parking can get full and you'll have to wait! PMSP is one of our NC favs. read more
Gorgeous views and close enough to home for a relaxing day trip when needing the mountains. I am a fall girl. As in autumn. Likewise, i am a mountains girl. And nothing goes together like mountains and fall. So ok, we're not there yet, but by August of each year, I'm jonesing for both. This helped tide me over. The park was beautiful and clean with a new visitors center containing interactive exhibits that my 5 year old and husband both enjoyed playing with. As this was a laid back, last minute idea, day trip, we caught the bus to the top for $10 ($5 per adult, kiddo was free). This was also nice because you get to take in the views on your way up, instead of worrying about driving (though, if you get there early enough in the day you can drive up yourself). At the top, there were trails to overlooks and also through the woods. There was a specific kiddy trail with flyers of things to find, etc. that my kiddo loved. It was good to get out of town and away from screens for a while. If you haven't been, give it a go! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
6 years ago
Pilot Mountain (and surrounds) is an absolutely magical place and one that heaps of people still don't know about - which means more silent, Nature-driven rejuvenation for you and me . If the park campground is booked or closed (as was the case with me), stay at Jomeokee Campground. I loved it so much I wrote a blog article about it (with large, high-resolution photos): http://www.melissarooneywriting.com/blog/2020/10/going-to-pilot-mountain-stay-at-jomeokee-campground/. I am going back to Jomeokee with my two sons SOON. read more
We had a great time exploring Pilot Mountain this morning. Although it was a little hazy for the distant views, it's still a great place to admire the rolling hills and farmlands of the Piedmont region. Even less ambitious visitors shouldn't have too much trouble taking on the trails up top around the Pinnancle. I prefer Hanging Rock Park to Pilot Mountain Park but both are worth checking out if you have time. I wish they had a more updated Visitor Center. All the exhibits are very old. Also, be aware there is limited parking up top. We arrived at 10am on this beautiful Fall Saturday and grabbed one of the last parking spots. When we left around 11:30, there was a line of about 15 cars waiting to park as people left. If you are someone who likes wine, there is a lovely winery, Jolo, right down the road with food, wines and beautiful views of Pilot Mountain! read more
9 years ago
Unfortunately we didn't get to hike on the trails since we came 2 hours before close but we drove to the summit and it was quite nice. Definitely kid friendly because the summit is completely fenced. We decided to be rebels and hop the fence to get a better view of the pilot top. Although there were many people, the summit wasn't congested because there were different outlooks to explore. If you're looking for a family friendly state park then this is the place to visit! However, if you're looking for more thrill, I'd suggest the Hanging Rock State Park. (Disclaimer- I didn't hike so maybe I would've felt otherwise if I would've done so) Oh and also, there were two random llamas at the summit....very comical read more
An easily accessible day trip from the Raleigh area, pilot mountain is located in Mount Airy, aka Mayberry RFD. As we spent the day in downtown, we arrived here close to sundown, so we were able to drive up to the summit do a short visit, the gates close at 5:45 this time of year. There's a short hike up to view the mountain on a rocky but easy climb. The views are spectacular. You can hike, rock climb, bike, canoe, raft, fish or picnic at the park. Next time will arrive earlier to hike up the trails. You never know what you will encounter up on a mountain. Llamas were not what I was expecting! The owner was walking 2 of his and they were adorable! As one of the llamas turned his head staring past us, his owner told us that's usually a sure sign of deer. First time I can say that I've ever been kissed by a llama! read more
7 years ago
Pilot Mountain was the first site that stood out to me as I drove into the Triad from NY, moving to my new home in Winston-Salem. Shortly after settling in, I had picked up hiking as a new hobby and began hiking in the local area often, eventually making my way here. There are a lot of ways to hike, or not hike, this mountain. If you want to catch the view, you can simply drive all the way to the top, park, and get photos. Or you can really hike it! My husband and I took our two pups for a workout on a strenuous 6-mile hike and it kicked our butts! It made all the views along the way up especially worth it feeling like we worked hard for it. And due to the variety of trails, we like to take visiting friends from out of state here to hike so that they feel like they got a good look around for the local scenery and fit in a moderate workout along the way. This place is a staple local hiking spot! read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
Loved it ! We will definitely go back ! Awesome trails and great views ! Worth the ride & walk. read more
8 years ago
This was my first Mountain Hike on my 44th Birthday. It didn't disappoint!!! Loved the views. Creeks, waterfall and beautiful summit. Definitely a great Hike... can't wait to do it again. Funny - we started from the lower Parking lot and went to the falls. Once there I figured we must be near the submit , let's continue the loop. The upper loop from the falls to submit was pretty challenging but again- well worth it! read more
Awesome and free state park with hiking, camping, and rock climbing. The routes for climbing are varied and challenging and the views from the summit are incredible. The main office is small but the lady there is very nice and helpful and I saw numerous Rangers out and about in the park, too. All upkeep seems tip tap top and you can't beat the views. What is more, aspects such as access for climbers is made clear and straightforward. Very impressive, a gem of a park. read more
5 years ago
It's gone from a state park to an amusement park. $5 to get to the top on a Saturday via a shuttle with no option to park in the main lot. What a racket? I would suggest hanging rock or something else if you want and awesome view and easily accessible hiking. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
9 years ago
A beautiful state park in NC that is famous for it's scenic knob! Popular with bikers in warmer weather, but extremely popular with families for casual hikes! From moderate to strenuous hiking trails, this scenic mountain hike will lend you views into VA to the north and city life that's 60 miles to the south. Bring picnic food as there's tons of opportunities!! read more
5 years ago
I loved Pilot Mountain State Park. I still do with it being a beautiful place of nature, hiking and camping. I have been hiking all over that mountain. Although, I have been angry about this shuttle access that has started on weekends and holidays. The only time I get to go to any kind of state park is on the weekend. If I want to go to Pilot Mountain State Park, I have to wait in line for a dang shuttle, deal with sitting on a shuttle with a load of strangers and then make sure that I watch my time so I can get a shuttle back down the mountain. OR....do a heavy hike UP the mountain and then go hike a trail I want to hike. Do you honestly think I want to trek it up the mountain and then go on the hiking trail I actually want to go on and then hikeall the way down??!! I think not! By the time I get up the mountain, I will be too exhausted to go hike! Also, paying people to ride the shuttle when it all used to be free! I don't mind giving money to the park to help with the habitats, wildlife and the park. Although, I think it should be a CHOICE if you want to ride the shuttle or drive up there on the weekends! Whoever thought this would be the BEST idea ever was WRONG! I don't even use these things when I go to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN, let alone in my neck of the woods! (UPDATE) I went to Pilot Mountain State Park on a Sunday because I had to take pictures for a friend at our local newspaper. We get there and saw the trolleys weren't even running at all. We kept seeing a bunch of cars getting to go up. We asked the guy blocking the way up the mountain if we could go up as some cars were passing him that was leaving from the top of the mountain. He lied to us and said we couldn't go up there because the parking lot was full of 50 cars. Well the people that just passed us leaving from up there should have been 47, so yeah a bold face lie was told to us! read more
8 years ago
5 years ago
Great State Park nice visitor center with interactive information about the site. Easy short walk to a beautiful view of Pilot Mountain. Also offers you an easy hike around the base of the mountain with views of the other mountains and valleys. On a clear day you can see Winston-Salem. Note: there is a upper parking lot that's where we hiked from. Not the lower parking lots. read more
6 years ago
Pilot Mountain State Park is a must-see for anyone traveling through the Piedmont Triad. Pilot Mountain, formerly named "Jomeoke" (meaning "Great Guide" or "Pilot") by native Saura Americans, is a metamorphic quartzite monadnock that was formerly part of the ancient Saura Mountain chain. Rising 2421 feet above sea level, the mountain features two peaks, called pinnacles. The larger of the two, called "Big Pinnacle," is the iconic knob featured at the top of the mountain. The state park is well preserved and features numerous hiking trails to enjoy, along with a large area to enjoy a picnic. Jomeoke Trail is a moderate level trail that will escort the hiker to the foot of the Big Pinnacle. No one is permitted to climb the Big Pinnacle without proper permission from the rangers. Be warned that some of the trails require the hiker to step up and down rocks which can be slippery under certain weather conditions. Even though I am a native of the Pilot Mountain area and frequented the park on many occasions, Pilot Mountain State Park remains one of my favorite state parks. It provides a necessary get-away and can be even a spiritual place at times. read more
6 years ago
Great getaway from the city. Do the Jomeoke Trail. Best trail to see the base of the pinnacle Pilot mountain! read more
5 years ago
8 years ago
This is probably so far my favorite state park. The hike from the park office to the top of the pilot mountain was just an amazing experience. We took the grindstone trail which the paths were just different in the sense you will come alone a muddy portion of the trail, rocky portion, and then STAIRS (was definitely the death of me), in other words it was an adventurous trail. Once we reached the summit view you get an amazing view of the pilot mountain but we learned that it doesn't end at the summit you can go down to a trail that leads to the pilot mountain which isn't a long walk and you view / walk all around the pilot mountain. It's worth the walk especially if you want to get a great view of the city and photos of the mountain. This was definitely worth a hike, it was approx. 10 miles from going up and down the mountain. So, take the morning or afternoon (probably 5 hours or less) you won't regret . Take lots of water ! read more
This is a beautiful park with several trails to hike. When the description says strenuous they mean it. Moderate is actually very moderate. On the strenuous trails I recommend a hiking stick of some kind or poles. Take in the scenery because the views are amazing. Access to the park are easy and if you don't want to hike up to the top of the mountain then luckily you can drive to the summit and take a short walk to several overlooks. There are several loop trails from this parking lots that Yep make it very easy to pick a trail to hike. If rock climbing is your thing there is a dedicated section to do that as well. read more
5 years ago
9 years ago
Love this park! My boyfriend and I enjoyed a 2/5 mile strenuous hike, and it was strenuous! But everything was clearly marked, and at the end we got to see a view of the pinnacle. Be warned-on beautiful days it gets packed quickly, so get there early in the morning or you might have to wait for a parking spot! read more
6 years ago
6 years ago
67 degree spring sunshine? Of course I'm heading off to the trails! Well worth the one hour drive to Pilot. I got lucky and parked at the small bottom lot and started on the Grindstone trail. It's a 3 mile hike up to the pinnacle. It definitely isn't a beginners course. A lot of rocks and inclines. I would advise hiking shoes and not running shoes for this trail. It took me a little over an hour to get to the top, which was a parking lot FULL of people. Given it was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, that should be expected. Along the Grindstone trail, there is definitely less traffic because it's one of the harder trails. A lot of areas to go rock climbing. Which I am definitely going to be trying, once I find a group of people willing to let me tag along lol. I saw ONE runner along this trail. Of course he was an elitist (training for a full marathon). If you're just getting into running, don't do this trail. Like I said it is very rocky and you will probably end up rolling your ankle. If you are like me and use hiking as a form of decompression, you may be disappointed once you get to the top and there are hoards of people. It was difficult to sit and enjoy the views in the midst of families and pets. Don't get me wrong..I LOVE children and animals, but after a difficult hike I like to sit in silence for a bit. There is a 0.8 mile loop around the pinnacle, Jomeokee trail. I suggest you do it. How the Rock eroded is gorgeous, and you can only appreciate it's magnificence by walking that trail. The upper parking lot is much larger. For those of you seeking a more leisurely hike, park up there and just do the Jomeokee trail. They have other rigorous trails that I will definitely be back for. I'll let you know how it goes! Happy hiking! read more
10 years ago
9 years ago
Tons of trails, even kid friendly ones that keep the little ones entertained with game maps they have for them. Can't wait to come back and camp and hike further! read more
8 years ago
10 years ago
I have passed Pilot Mountain many times in highway 52 and you can't miss the Stonehead Mountain. We were in Winston-Salem and it was only about 20 miles away and very easy to find. The state park is located in the town of Pinnacle and the park signs on the highway guide you to the entrance. You drive about two miles up windy roads to the summit and there is a park office on the way up with restrooms and maps. You can also park here and hike. Once we reached the summit by car, there are beautiful overlooks to see the sprawling green valley below. We then took the Jomeokee trail that wraps around big pinnacle and it is .8 miles and moderate. Parking was easy and I would come back next time with a picnic and do a more strenuous hike like the Grindstone trail. There was something for all ages and just sitting atop the mountain and soaking in the view and nature are a great escape. The pilot mountain is also featured on the Foothills Pilot Mountain Pale Ale seasonal beer label :-) read more
More info about Pilot Mountain State Park
1792 Pilot Knob Park Rd
Pinnacle, NC 27043
Directions
(336) 325-2355
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.ncparks.gov
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Ask the Community - Pilot Mountain State Park
Can tent camp here?
mostly yes but with some restrictions. for further information on camping see https://www.ncparks.gov/pilot-mountain-state-park/camping
Review Highlights - Pilot Mountain State Park
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