The hike is approximately 1.4 miles one-way, with an elevation gain of approximately 600 feet. Because of the boundaries of the newly-created Soda Mountain Wilderness, the first 0.8 mile climbs gradually along the road to the old Pilot Rock trailhead. At this point, you turn left on the Pacific Crest Trail. After another 0.4 miles, an unsigned right fork (which appears to be another old road) climbs steeply to the base of Pilot Rock.
The views from the base are wonderful, but I wanted the REAL views from the top. I continued uphill to the left, following a rocky boot path until I was face to face with the monolith. Looking up, I saw the chute on the left side and began my scramble. There were two very narrow notches which nearly caused me to turn back, but I forced myself to proceed. After the second notch, I ascended carefully to the right, staying well above the trees. When I reached the summit, my jaw dropped at the 270 degree view: Black Mountain, Mount Shasta, and Trinity Alps to the south, the Siskiyou Mountains and nearby Mount Ashland to the west, Emigrant Lake to the northeast, and Mount McLoughlin and Aspen Butte to the north.
Just before our trip I had purchased a used Nikon 18-200 mm lens, and I was very happy to have it in my camera bag so that I could zoom out to capture these photos of Mount Shasta (46 air miles to the south) and Mount McLoughlin (31 air miles to the north).
Mount Shasta
Mount McLoughlin
