Pilot Mountain State Park

Pilot Mountain rises more than 1,400 feet above the surrounding plateau.

Capped by two prominent rocky pinnacles, Pilot Mountain, a National Natural Landmark, rises 1,400 feet above rolling countryside.

It is the centerpiece of this state park, whose two sections are connected by a five-mile woodland corridor crisscrossed with hiking and bridle trails.

Miles of paths await exploration. The 11 hiking trails range from an easy half-mile walk to the Yadkin River to the strenuous 2.5-mile Mountain Trail that loops around Little Pinnacle Overlook and Big Pinnacle, a sheer, rocky knob with a crown of trees. In spring, Catawba rhododendrons on Big Pinnacle open their bright pink blooms.

A road to the top of Stone Mountain makes these stunning views accessible to people of all abilities. Bicyclists also like the challenge of this roadway, and racers often using it for training.

Hikers and equestrians alike wade through the broad and shallow Yadkin River to explore two small islands.

Canoeists also enjoy this lazy river, paddling under the overhanging birch and sycamore trees that grow on its banks. There are two wildereness campsites on the islands.

Anglers cast from the banks for sunfish, crappie and catfish.

Rock climbing is permitted on some of the park's cliffs.

Birders watch for pileated woodpeckers and ravens, and the woods are alive with the songs of warblers, bluebirds and wrens. White-tailed deer, woodchuck, opossum and red and gray fox also dwell in the forest.

Of historic interest is Horne Creek Farm, located in the Yadkin River section of the park. On weekends from April to October, there are programs at the farm that explore North Carolina's agricultural past.

The campground has 49 sites for tents and trailers. There are no hook-ups and sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.