Description
Pilot Rock Truck Trail is a long off-road mountain trail that runs from Silverwood Lake to Lake Arrowhead.
This is an easy dirt road, though there are multiple opportunities to jump on the harder, alternate route that parallels the trail and intersects the main Pilot Rock Truck Trail.
For the most part, the main trail is a wide dirt road, but there is a narrow section of shelf road between Waypoints 18 and 19.
If Pilot Rock is not long enough for you, combine it with any or all of
Cleghorn Trail,
Willow Creek Jeep Trail , and even
Dishpan Springs and
Holcomb Valley.
Under normal conditions, 2WD, high ground clearance vehicles can make it through Pilot Rock, but 4WD is recomended for any of the alternate routes.
Waypoints
1. Pilot Rock OHV Staging Area (2N33)
(0 mi)
The Pilot Rock OHV Staging Area is a great place to air down and check out the view from the Cedar Spring Dam.
The Trailhead is about 75 yards east of this location.
2. Pilot Rock Trailhead
(0.05 mi)
The Pilot Rock Trailhead is on the south side of the road and marked as Forest Road 2N33.
3. 2N17X North Intersection
(0.54 mi)
Continue to the right to stay on Pilot Rock.
2N17X is a more difficult trail with steep climbs and narrow saddles. 2N17X intersects with Pilot Rock again at Waypoint 13.
4. Turnout
(2.53 mi)
Continue straight to stay on Pilot Rock. The turnout here leads to a few other trails, but these are marked as restricted.
5. Water Tank
(2.9 mi)
Continue straight to stay on Pilot Rock. A watering system sits on the east of the side trail here.
6. Overlook
(3.67 mi)
Be careful around this turn.The trail loops around the edge of the ridge at this point. There is a serious cliff and an amazing view of the lake here.
7. Alternate Route Intersection 1
(3.81 mi)
This is the first intersection with the more difficult, parallel route. Continue left ( the northern trail ) to stay on Pilot Rock. If you need some more action, go right ( the southern trail ), up the harder router.
8. Alternate Route Intersection 2
(4.15 mi)
This is the second intersection with the more difficult, parallel route. Continue straight to stay on Pilot Rock.
9. Alternate Route Intersection 3
(4.9 mi)
Here is another intersection with the more difficult, parallel route. Continue left ( the northern trail ) to stay on Pilot Rock.
10. Alternate Route Intersection 4
(5.61 mi)
Here is another intersection with the more difficult, parallel route. Continue left ( the northern trail ) to stay on Pilot Rock.
11. 2N36 Intersection
(6.05 mi)
Continue straight to stay on Pilot Rock. A right / south will take you on 2N36 which leads down the hill.
12. Alternate Route Intersection 5
(6.35 mi)
Here is another intersection with the more difficult, parallel route. Continue straight to stay on Pilot Rock.
13. 2N17X South Intersection
(7.27 mi)
Continue straight to stay on Pilot Rock. 2N17X connects to Pilot Rock again on the left / north.
14. Alternate Route Intersection 6
(7.37 mi)
Here is another intersection with the more difficult, parallel route. Continue left ( the northern trail ) to stay on Pilot Rock.
15. Rocks / Alternate Route Intersection 7
(7.88 mi)
Here is another intersection with the more difficult, parallel route. Continue left ( the northern trail ) to stay on Pilot Rock.
The rock path shown here is easily bypassed.
16. Path to the Pilot Rock
(8.46 mi)
If you're running the easy route as mapped here, this short detour on the more difficult route is a must to get to Pilot Rock ( the actual rock ). Turn right / west on the alternate route.
If you want to skip the path to Pilot rock, Continue to the left and skip to Waypoint 19.
17. Pilot Rock Turn
(8.56 mi)
Turn right / north here to reach the rock.
18. Pilot Rock
(8.62 mi)
This is it. The rock that is big enough, high enough and noticeable enough to claim the name of this entire trail.
This is a good spot to stop for lunch or just take in the view.
Back track to Waypoint 17, then 16 to get back on the main trail and continue east. You will pass through a narrow shelf road before the next waypoint.
19. 2N34 Tunnell Road / Sawmill Road
(10.07 mi)
Continue straight to stay on Pilot Rock. 2N34 / Tunnel Road / Sawmill Road is on the right / south.
20. Grass Valley Creek
(11.09 mi)
Continue straight, across Grass Valley Creek.
21. 3W14 Intersection
(11.41 mi)
Continue straight to stay on Pilot Rock. 3W14 is limited to bikes and quads only. No jeeps or 4x4 vehicles.
22. Pavement
(11.47 mi)
Continue straight. This is where the dirt ends / pavement begins.
23. End / Highway 173
(11.9 mi)
Pilot Rock ends here at Highway 173. If you still want more, turn left and head north for 1.2 miles to connect to
Willow Creek Jeep Trail.
24. The View From Pilot Rock
(8.62 mi)
Here are some more pictures to remind you of the view from Pilot Rock.
