The Pilot

The Pilot: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this viewpoint: Open, good conditions · Very crowded · Approach road bad · Closed / not accessible.

Best time to visit The Pilot

Season: October to February for cool, clear air; July to September for mist and greenery.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach The Pilot — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 36.73262, -81.08398. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near The Pilot

• Devils Den · sanctuary · Grayson · ~8 km · Must-see
• Horse Heaven · viewpoint · Wythe · ~10 km · Must-see
• Blue Ridge Parkway · sanctuary · Grayson · ~10 km · Must-see
• Little Dry Run Wilderness · sanctuary · Wythe · ~16 km · Must-see
• Big Survey Wildlife Management Area · sanctuary · Wythe · ~23 km · Must-see
• Grayson Glades Natural Area Preserve · sanctuary · Grayson · ~28 km · Must-see
• Shot Tower State Park · park · Wythe · ~30 km · Must-see
• New River Trail State Park · sanctuary · Wythe · ~32 km · Must-see
• Mount Rogers National Recreation Area · sanctuary · Grayson · ~34 km · Must-see
• Stewarts Creek State Wildlife Management Area · sanctuary · Carroll · ~37 km · Must-see
• Raccoon Branch Wilderness · sanctuary · Smyth · ~42 km · Must-see
• Camp Raven Knob · sanctuary · Surry · ~43 km · Must-see
• Little Wilson Creek Wilderness · sanctuary · Grayson · ~43 km · Must-see
• Walker Mountain · viewpoint · Wythe · ~43 km · Must-see
• Doughton Park · sanctuary · Wilkes · ~46 km · Must-see
• Grayson Highlands State Park · sanctuary · Grayson · ~47 km · Must-see
• Stone Mt State Park Waterfalls · waterfall · Wilkes · ~47 km · Must-see
• Stone Mountain State Park · sanctuary · Wilkes · ~48 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of The Pilot

Other hill stations & viewpoints near The Pilot

• Horse Heaven · viewpoint · Wythe · ~10 km · Must-see
• Walker Mountain · viewpoint · Wythe · ~43 km · Must-see
• Pine Mountain · viewpoint · Grayson · ~50 km · Must-see
• Mount Rogers · viewpoint · Smyth · ~52 km · Must-see
• Whitetop Mountain · viewpoint · Smyth · ~60 km · Must-see
• Mount Jefferson State Natural Area · viewpoint · Ashe · ~62 km · Must-see
• Three Top Mountain · viewpoint · Ashe · ~70 km · Must-see
• Mulatto Mountain · viewpoint · Ashe · ~71 km · Must-see
• Tomkins Knob · viewpoint · Ashe · ~81 km · Must-see
• Fire Scale Mountain · viewpoint · Watauga · ~83 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Virginia

Frequently asked