Pilot Mountain (North Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pilot Mountain |
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The Big Pinnacle of Pilot Mountain, as viewed from Little Pinnacle Overlook.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,421 ft (738 m) |
| Geography | |
 Pilot Mountain
Location in North Carolina
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| Location | Surry County, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Parent range | Sauratown Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Pinnacle |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Goldilocks, Grandpa's Belay. Big Pinnacle is closed to climbing. |
| Designated: | 1974 |
Pilot Mountain is a very special mountain in North Carolina, USA. It stands tall at about 2,421 feet (738 meters) above the sea. This mountain is a leftover from the very old Sauratown Mountains. It is a type of mountain called a monadnock. This means it's a single hill that stands out from the flat land around it.
Long ago, the Saura Native Americans lived here. They were the first people known to live in this area. They called the mountain "Jomeokee," which means "great guide." This name shows how important the mountain was to them.
You can find Pilot Mountain near the town of Pilot Mountain. The city of Mount Airy is also nearby, a bit farther north. The area around Pilot Mountain is known for its many wineries. It is part of the Yadkin Valley, which is a special wine-growing region.
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Exploring Pilot Mountain
Pilot Mountain has two main parts that make it special. These are called Big Pinnacle and Little Pinnacle.
Big Pinnacle: The Knob
Big Pinnacle is also known as "The Knob." It has tall, colorful rock walls that are bare. The very top of Big Pinnacle is rounded and covered with plants. This part of the mountain rises about 1,400 feet (427 meters) above the land around it.
Little Pinnacle: Great Views
Visitors can drive a paved road up to the park's visitor center. There are also campgrounds here. The road continues up to a parking lot on the mountain ridge. From there, you can walk on trails to reach the Little Pinnacle Overlook. This spot offers amazing views of the area. There are other viewing spots too, where you can see the beautiful landscape.
Pilot Mountain State Park
Pilot Mountain is part of Pilot Mountain State Park. This park stretches all the way to the Yadkin River through a special land corridor. The park is also connected to the nearby Horne Creek Living Historical Farm. The way the mountain curves between Little Pinnacle and the round Big Pinnacle makes it look very unique from far away. Other interesting rock formations can be seen to the east at Sauratown Mountain and Hanging Rock State Park.
Mountain Trails
Pilot Mountain State Park has many trails for hiking and exploring.
- Jomeokee Trail: This trail goes all the way around the base of Big Pinnacle. It's a great way to see the mountain up close.
- Ledge Spring Trail: This trail passes a large picnic area. It goes down along the top of the ridge. Its lower part loops back up past a small spring. This trail also goes along a long cliff. This cliff is a popular spot for rock climbing. However, Big Pinnacle itself is closed to climbing to protect it.
- Sassafras Trail: This is another trail you can explore in the park.
- Grindstone Trail: This trail connects the popular campground to the Ledge Spring Trail.
- Mountain Trail: This trail goes up the other side of the ridge. It also connects to the Ledge Spring Trail.
- Grassy Ridge Trail: This trail follows along the bottom of the mountain. It connects the lower ends of the Mountain and Grindstone Trails. The Grassy Ridge Trail also connects to the Corridor Trail. The Corridor Trail goes to the river section of the park. It also links to the Mountains-to-Sea and Sauratown Trails. These longer trails go all the way to Hanging Rock State Park.
Images for kids
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A view in fall of Big Pinnacle from Little Pinnacle Overlook, with Sauratown Mountain and Hanging Rock State Park seen beyond that.
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Pilot Mountain's distinctive "saddle" shape as seen from the north. Pilot can also be seen from mile marker 189.1 of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.
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A view south toward Winston-Salem, NC.
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View along the ridge with typical cliffs on the south side.
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Pilot Mountain from the south on U.S. Route 52
