► Tent and trailer camping

The lower slopes of Pilot Mountain house the family camping area where 42 campsites for tents and trailers are scattered among oaks and hickories.

Each site has a tent pad, table, and fire pit/grill. Drinking water is available throughout the campground, and two bathhouses with hot showers are located nearby.

Some campsites can accommodate RVs. There are no hookups or dump station provided. Please visit the reservations website for more information about the driveway length of each campsite.

The campground host sells firewood. Gathering wood in the park is prohibited.

No more than six people are allowed to occupy a campsite. The camping area is open from March 15 to November 30.

Please review the important information below regarding check in.

 
► Paddle-in camping

Two paddle-in campsites are located at the Ivy Bluffs access on the south bank of Yadkin River. Reservations are required to use these campsites.

There is no water or toilet facilities at these campsites. You must bring your own water and pack out all trash and waste.

Camping is allowed only in designated areas. Camping is prohibited on the Yadkin River Islands. 

The nearest boat access upstream from the campsite is located at the Shoals fishing and boating access, at 4454 Shoals Road, East Bend, NC 27018. The paddle from this access is about 1 mile. As of March 15, 2021, the next downstream boat access at Donnaha Park is closed until Fall 2023. Please plan accordingly.

Pilot Mountain State Park Campground — Pilot Mountain State Park

This campground was a cozy drive-in but had few trees in summer which allowed for an exposed feeling. The campground itself was mediocre but the surrounding hikes and views were incredible. Amenities were great, but there was no challenge involved.

Cozy campground, easy access, drive in, open area

On highway 52 for 30 miles you can see the top of Pilot Mountain sticking out like a sore thumb.  When you enter into Pilot Mountain State Park you will find everything is on the side of the mountain.  The campsites are located on the bottom side of the mountain.  This campsite has two bath houses.  The campsites are rustic and have a nice grated fire pit and a concrete pad for pitching your tent.  With all of the big rocks and boulders scattered every few feet it is necessary to have a pad for your tent.  You are surrounded by trees and have as much shade as you need.  There are several hiking trails to get to the summit of Pilot Mtn.  Though you can drive to the summit parking lot where there are bathrooms and a handful of breathtaking views of Pilot mtn and the valleys below.  You can also hike a little farther and actually go on top of the butte of pilot mtn where there is a stone step carved trail.  The place is wild and breathtaking with a lot of history going back into the 1700's.  Most people will know the name Pilot mtn from the T.v show "Andy Griffith", though in the show the it was called mt. Pilot.   This place is a great place to go to for a day hike and overnight-er before venturing off to another campground destination.  Highly recommended!!! 

Pilot Mountain State Park

I've been here several times, and it's one of my favorite places for toprope climbing in the area. If you're not a climber, the views are still worth the drive. While here, be sure to visit nearby Mt. Airy for some old school Andy Griffith sightseeing.

Excellent climbing and sightseeing!

Living in Greensboro, Pilot Mountain State Park offers the perfect getaway from suburbia. Only a short drive away this is a perfect spot for a day trip or an overnight getaway. There is a small (49 spot) campground that offers tent pads, picnic tables and a grill. Most sites are shaded by tall hardwood trees and are nicely spaced out, however, the campground can get crowded in the summer and fall months. There are bathrooms, hot showers but no electrical hookups.

There is excellent hiking here and great climbing, too. Weather you're looking for some easy top rope climbing or more challenging lead climbing, you can find it here. Do exercise caution when on the cliffs above, as I have experienced on several occasions things being dropped from above with climbers below (always wear a helmet). Be sure to read all the posted information on the information board before climbing.

Great Climbing in the Piedmont

Stayed here while working in the area. Very quiet and beautiful right by the mountain top

Great quiet camp sites and very well spread out. 

Easy access we took our 3 and 4 year olds around the mountain where which were very kid friendly and the views were wonderful. Fun for the whole family

breath taking views

 Pilot Mountain is great small campround in Pinnacle NC.  It has great hiking trails and you can even hike around the knob its highest point.  there is only one electric site in the campground. the bathrooms are clean and the camp host are really nice.  the rangers also patrol the park every few hours. lf they had more electic site i’d give 5 stars but overall a great getaway


Great hiking amd camping

Monday, May 7, 2018- We were headed north and used PMSP as a overnight rest. We had a reservation that was not needed, the campground was 80% empty. Some of the driveways are not very flat and some are quite short so be careful which one you reserve. The views are awesome on a clear day. The leaves were just coming out, the campground would be very shady in a few more days. It is a very rocky area so be careful walking to the bathroom at night. The faciities were old but clean and shower was hot. Hope to visit again this fall.

Quick visit

We had a great visit at this campground.The host were great when we were there. The bathrooms could use a facelift but they were clean.Its a great place to go hiking!!

We loved Pilot Mountain State park!!

The park was beautiful and the campground is set back in the woods, with plenty of space between the sites. Nice tent pad, picnic table, and fire ring. Restrooms were okay, typical state park campground (shower was slightly warm). The camp host was so nice- I didn’t have any cash, but he gave us a small bundle of wood for free. Great camp ground! 

friendly camp host, good spot

This park is clean, convenient, and offers really good single pitch climbing routes. Most camping sites are well made with pads, table, and fire pit. They are well shaded as well.

Very well kept and climbing go to

Campground Review:

Pilot Mountain State Park is located in Pinnacle, NC, approximately 2.5 hours away from Asheville, NC and is known for it’s giant pinnacle, Pilot Mountain, that rises 2,000 feet into the clouds. At the base of a windy road leading up to Pilot Mountain lies the campground, approximately 2 miles from the top. This beautiful campground was centrally located within the state park and gave quick access to a wide variety of easy to strenuous hiking trails. Most of the trails leave directly from the campground. In addition to hiking, Pilot Mountain is known for it’s steep cliffs that give easy access to rock climbing and rappelling. There is a trail leading from the parking lot and traverses above the climbing area so you have quick access to set anchors from the top. Additional anchors are bolted at the top of most routes for easy top roping. The campground itself offered a fire ring, picnic table, and a man-made flat area to pitch a tent at each site. The sites were somewhat close together but we did not have any issues with noise during our stay. There were several clean bath houses throughout. Each one offered flushing toilets, and hot, running water for showers, all of which were free. There was potable water located next to the site and a separate area to clean dishes. Each site also had a ton of shade. Trees surround every inch of the park so there was plenty of space to hang a hammock and get relief from the burning sun. Most sites looked large enough for the average sized RV. The park’s host drove around checking in and offering $5 bundles of wood. The one negative draw back to this campground is that all the sites are on a slope so when it rains, most likely your campsite will too. The park does require a two-night minimum stay if camping over a holiday weekend. Also be aware that the campground entrance closes at 10 pm. You will not be able to enter or exit until the gate opens the next morning. The closest town is 10 miles away in case you forgot anything. Overall, would highly recommend this campground if you are looking for a great place to rock climb and camp for the weekend. We will be back!

Product Review:

As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. During my climbing adventures at Pilot Mountain State Park, I got to test out three different Meal2Go packets from Greenbelly: Cranberry/Almond, Peanut/Apricot and Dark Chocolate/Banana (https:// www.greenbelly.co/products/meal2go?variant=19912486532). Let me start by saying how amazingly delicious these meals are. I’m a super picky eater and when I first saw cranberry and apricot, I had second thoughts about trying. Thank goodness my sense of adventure overcame my lack of tastebud exploration. The Meal2Go products are full of mouth watering flavor that I could eat over and over again which is crucial if spending time in the back country. They contain all natural ingredients and 1/3 of your daily nutrients. It lacked that chemical flavor most hiking bars have giving way to a natural tasting bar. They also had the right balance of chewy yet crunchy. Greenbelly designed these products with backpacking in mind. While we didn’t get a chance to use backpacking, it did supply a ton of energy for a full day of climbing. The one draw back I will say is the weight of the product. Since it was designed for backpacking, I was expecting it to be much lighter for what you get. There are two bars in each packet and the weight is 5.5 ounces. And while that doesn’t sound like a lot, it seemed heavier than my average backpacking bar. I will say though, I’d much rather be carrying slightly more weight in my pack if it meant I get to have a healthier/tastier option while rock climbing or playing in the back country. I would highly suggest checking out this product!

Ranger Review: “GreenBelly’s Meal2Go at Pilot Mountain State Park, NC”


This campground is located just NW of Winston Salem. The campground is mostly wooded and shady with many rocks. Water and trash are readily available. The bath house is extraordinarily clean, with showers, changing area and clean toilets and sinks. Fire pit and picnic tables are at every site - yet many sites are close together and very rocky for tent camping.

We enjoy hiking to the top from the campground on well marked trails. The views are great and boulders are fun for the kids to play on!

Local favorite, easily accessible for families

Stayed here after visiting the Divine Llama Vineyard. Very convienient location. Unfortunatley I had an injured foot so I couldnt hike much but it was easy to drive up to see the overlook views of pilot mountain. I can’t wait to go back when I’m able to hike!

Easy access for the injured

My husband and I just returned from a May visit to this campground. It is fairly small, 43 camp sites. No water and electric hookups which we sort of prefer as it seems to be less attractive to mega sized RVs with noisy generators. It was a ratio of about 75%/25% tents to smaller RVs when we were there. Camp site has raised level tent sites not concrete, but hard packed dirt. Also, picnic table and fire pit. The grill on the fire pit was adjustable for height to the coals which was kind of cool. Bath house was a little rustic but plenty of hot water. Firewood is available from the camp host for $6 a bundle. Cash only. If you’re not in good shape get a site above the bath house. Below the bath house involves a good little climb every time you have to go!

Best part of this campground is that it is right on the trail to the summit. The first trail is Grindstone Trail which is a 2 1/2 mile up and back. It’s a moderate trail with equivalent inclines, declines, and level switchbacks. I’m 63 and healthy and it was an appropriate challenge for me. To get to the summit it’s about a half mile of strenuous climb on the Ledge Springs Trail. That part is strenuous in my opinion.

You can also drive up to the summit where you get views of the Yadkin Valley and the knob of Pilot Mountain. It’s crowded up there but accessible for a wide range of people so that’s good. If you don’t prefer crowds go at the beginning or end of the season. Season runs May through October I believe.

Enjoyable tent camping and hiking

First, campsites are the most unique I've ever seen. Feels like you're camping in the mountains. Trails are amazing and views are unreal. Two bathroom and shower locations are old but clean. Firewood is 6$ a bundle. Make sure you have cash cause that's all that works here. Great shade cover on most sites. Will come back for sure. 

Every site is unique! 2 bath houses which were older but well kept. I wish they would have had one on each end. Placement was a bit weird. Don't worry if you forget a garbage bag, they have some available by the dumpster. There are a few sites with 2 tent pads and a couple sites that basically have their fire pits next to each other so if you are planning to camp with others those would be good sites. If not, you might want to call in. We camped at site 3 and LOVED it. Bit of a hike to the bathroom but not a big deal, i mean, you are probably headed here to hike anyways! You are going to love these unique sites.

Great Park

**Campground Review:**  

Pilot Mountain campground is a smaller loop campground with 2 bathhouses (toilets and showers - with FREE hot water!).  Located not far from Winston Salem NC, Pilot Mountain has great hiking and beautiful views from the top.  We enjoy hiking, camping and enjoying the views, while others enjoy bouldering, rock climbing and mountain biking  - an outdoor adventure for all people!  

We camped at site #5 this time - on the inside of the loop, though we usually prefer perimeter sites.  We were excited to get out there and hike in the morning before it was too hot.  This campground is sloped, with rolling hills, which makes for a nice loop to walk dogs etc.  Our tent pad was perfectly flat, and dry and we slept with no fly - which made for a gorgeous morning sunrise!  

Our tent pad was also much lower than our campfire, which meant we could lay IN our sleeping bags and look out at the fire - which was awesome!  We did check out some other sites for next time - as we prefer flatter sites where we can walk more easily at night without tripping (so often) over rocks.   We also saw deer early in the morning!

We hiked to the top on the Grindstone Trail (about 2 miles) to the top and enjoyed an early morning view of the surrounding communities.  

**Product Review:**

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time.  Today I am reviewing Eclipse Sunshirts ( [https://eclipseglove.com/collections/all-eclipse-sun-products](https://eclipseglove.com/collections/all-eclipse-sun-products)).  I often dress my kids in long sleeve hiking shirts to protect their skin and was excited to try a unique sun shirt that I could wear - that wasn't skin tight!  I tested the Equinox hoodie and was pleasantly surprised with the results.  I was hesitant that their products were one size fits all - but we have a medium, large and an XL in our family and we all wore the shirt and one point or another and  LOVED it!  (See how it fits us all in the pictures below!) 

The design is like a large sweatshirt - only their are holes under your arms and on your sides to allow circulation (and a little breeze!).  I especially liked the shirt when we were at the top of Pilot Mountain because there is limited shade, depending where you are standing.  I could see this shirt being useful on other hikes when we hike on balds and cross many peaks.  

This shirt was especially beneficial in direct, HOT sun (and it was a 97 degree day - so perfect opportunity!).  In the shade, I prefered to take it off, to allow more breeze and have less fabric touching my skin.  Without a doubt, moving back into the sun, I was cooler WITH the shirt ON than with the shirt off.  I have since used the Equinox hoodie when gardening, walking the dog and even at my school's field day!  For sun protection that does not involve chemicals, I cannot recommend it enough.

Ranger Review:  Eclipse Sunshirt @ Pilot Mountain State Park  

Simple, small campground. Clean and quiet. Plenty of shade.  Nice trails. Hike up from campground or drive to summit and hike from there. Dogs welcome. 

Pleasant

We enjoyed staying at Pilot Mountain State Park campground. The sites are on a hill, some above and others below the road. We booked site 13 and it is basically on the hiking trail that goes to the Pinnacle. It didn't provide a lot of privacy, but we actually enjoyed watching the hikers walking by. The site provides plenty of shade and trees to hang a hammock. We had a great time at the campsite. The bathrooms and showers were ok, the level you would expect from a state campground - nothing fancy but clean.

  

We were there on June 30th and it wasn't hot, much better than spending a weekend in the city.

Great hike, nice campground

I have driven past geological knob numerous times in my NC travels, but this time I was able to visit. I usually travel 'by the seat of my pants' and hope to find an available site and being early week I was able to easily secure a site.

Of the 42 campsites, less than a dozen were filled, so I had my pick and chose site 25 just to set up and get on the trail before nightfall. Admittedly, I would likely not choose this site again because as a tent camper, the firepit was way too close to both the raised tent pad and the picnic table.

Each campsite has a raised timber, pea gravel tent pad, metal fire ring w/grill and a picnic table. Site 25 tent pad was 10.5' x 11.5' feet.  A water spigot was directly across the parking pad and one of the two showerhouse/restrooms were located a few yards beyond that. It was purely convenience that site 25 was chosen. Restrooms/showers were clean and maintained.

The trail up to the lookouts were dubbed easy to moderate, but they got pretty steep…although, well worth it.  You can avoid all the hiking if you wish and simply drive up to the lookouts. The views were worth the effort.

The new visitor's center is excellent and the displays were very interesting and informative. I mean, really, if it was good enough for Andy and Barney...its good enough for me!

Next visit I plan to stay more nights to explore the area.

Andy Griffith's favorite haunt with Helen Crump

We’re only about 30 minutes from Pilot Mountain and it’s always a great little weekend getaway. Camp host is always very helpful and keeps things in order.


Great Weekend Trip

Nice campground, no electric or water at the sites. Rocky, shaded sites, with nice bathrooms and showers.

Only stayed for one night, but will come back here when I have some more time.

Nice mountain campground

Pros, It’s a beautiful place. Easy access to car, good space for tents. Flat tent pads, great shade, super clean facilities. The host is absolutely amazing. Great. 


Cons, not great around our fire pit, you can’t really sit around the fire pit because it’s not leveled, chars just fall. Not  great if you don’t get a level spot if you have small children. It’s very rocky and small children will fall often. Not fun as a parent. A big con if you absolutely cannot deal with spiders. Ok. So this one might be a bit dramatic to some, however, if you don’t love bugs, be warned that there are hundreds of daddy long legs, just so so so many. And they get everywhere. We don’t mind bugs. We understand camping in tents will be bug heaven. We just didn’t expect to see hundreds. You have been warned.    Site 14



Pretty but 

Impressive small campground with clean and well appointed sites.  The elevated fire pits are level and easy to use for cooking or just a campfire. Bathrooms are clean and functional.  Personal highlights was the view in late fall and the close proximity to the hiking trails up Pilot Mtn. Tent pad was level and large. Good bouldering and climbing     Parking at Sites 23,25,26 is pretty level for a truck or camper van