Pilot Rock Trail (#321)
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Route map of the Pilot Rock Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Route map of the Pilot Rock Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Pilot Rock Trailhead (Yellow Gap Road) -- 3,340'
The Pilot Rock Trailhead is located along Yellow Gap Road, with the trail seen leaving the road on the outside of the curve in this shot. There's a decent amount of parking on the inside of the same curve...
Pilot Rock Trailhead (Yellow Gap Road) -- 3,340'
The Pilot Rock Trail as it departs uphill from Yellow Gap Road...
Barely a hundred feet in, the trail reaches an apparent Y-intersection. Orange blazes on the path to the right will keep you headed in the right direction...
Just beyond the split in the previous photo the trail makes this bridged crossing of tiny Bradley Creek...
Looking up a very calm Bradley Creek from the bridge...
Beyond Bradley Creek the climb begins in earnest...
About 2/10 mile above Yellow Gap Road the Pilot Rock Trail passes a wide unofficial path heading east. This shot looks back downhill at the junction with the Pilot Rock Trail on the right and the path on the left...
There's no switchbacks to be found along this early part of the climb, the trail just heads straight uphill...
This trail is typically a popular one, with both hikers and bikers, so don't come here expecting to have it to yourself...
Finally, a welcome switchback appears...
Pilot Rock/Pilot Rock Extension Trail Junction -- 3,720'
Just beyond the switchback in the previous shot a carsonite stake marks where the Pilot Rock Extension Trail breaks right, heading to the base of Pilot Rock...
From the Extension Trail the path climbs a bit and then curves to pass through a large boulder field...
Some of the boulders strewn throughout the woods here are impressive in size...
The trail as it makes its steep climb up out of the boulder field...
Back into the trees and still climbing steeply...
The trail swings through another steep switchback just before arriving at the top of Pilot Rock...
Ascending the green tunnel...
Pilot Rock Trail @ Pilot Rock -- 3,960'
Suddenly the terrain levels out and the upper ledges of Pilot Rock appear just off the trail to the right...
Stepping out onto Pilot Rock...
You have to carefully inch your way down the face of the rock to get the best views. This can only be done if the rock surface is completely dry, as the incline here is far to steep to be done in wet conditions...
The grandstand view of the Pink Beds valley from the top of Pilot Rock...
The full panorama from atop Pilot Rock. The valley of the Pink Beds lies below. The Black Mountain Ridge rises along the horizon on the left half of the shot while the Pisgah Ridge rises to the right...
