Pilot Rock
Short and sweet, the trail leading to the top of Pilot Rock is worth the effort. The scramble to the summit offers a stunning 360° view of Southern Oregon and Northern California.
Distance/Elevation
1.25 miles one way/1000ft elevation gain
Terrain
The trail starts at an old quarry and follows a blocked-off forest service road for the first 3/4 mile, gaining about 200ft in elevation. It then takes a left onto the Pacific Crest Trail. The path stays with the PCT for about a 1/5 mile and 50ft of elevation. At this point, the well-marked and well-worn trail diverges and starts to gain all its elevation. This steep dirt trail leads to the base of Pilot Rock. The last bit of the trail is a scramble up a gully on the West side. A couple exposed, 6-8 ft, near vertical rock steps must be climbed to obtain the summit. While not overly difficult, care should be taken during this last section. Remember: what goes up must come back down! Also, loose rocks are abundant here. Make sure not to knock anything down onto other hikers!!!
Skill Level:
Intermidiate
Directions & Map:
- From the Ashland Outdoor Store, head SE on Siskiyou Blvd/99. Stay on this road through town.
- Merge onto I-5, heading South, just South of town.
- Take exit 6 towards Mt Ashland. Follow this past Mt Ashland and under the interstate.
- Turn left on Pilot Rock Road/BLM 40-2E-33.
- Follow this till a parking lot/old quary appears on the right. This is the trailhead.
Recommended Equipment
- Day Pack
- 1-2L of water/person
- Windbreaker
- Fleece, Down, Primaloft (depending on season/weather)
- Sunscreen
- Sun glasses
- Sun Hat
- Collapsible Hiking Poles (optional, but helpful!)
- Energy Snacks
- Lunch
Food & Water
For water, 2L-3L per person for a day trip is recommended. As for food, several small snacks throughout the day are recommended. Big meals are fun but bog you down. Small snacks allow for a continual flow of energy to your body. For your snacks, try to balance sugars, fats, proteins, and carbs so your body is continually fueled. This helps reduce crashes in energy during the day.
Additional Info
- Topo Map: Siskiyou Pass, OR-CA
- Trailhead Lat/Long: 42° 2' 11.15" N x 122° 34' 13.86" W
- Trailhead elevation: 4909ft
- Summit Lat/Long: 42° 1' 50.23" N x 122° 33' 39.29" W
- Summit Elevation: 5908ft
Weather
Click Here for the NOAA weather forcast for this area.
