Pilot Mountain Overlook

Pilot Mountain Overlook sits at 2,941 feet on the Blue Ridge Parkway, facing 150 degrees toward the south-southeast. The land drops 520 feet within 600 meters of the overlook, giving an unobstructed view across a series of lower peaks. Slate Mountain is the most distant peak in view, rising to 1,945 feet 7.1 miles to the south, while Simmons Mountain, Nunns Mountain, Long Branch Mountain, Archies Knob, and Bowens Knob are visible to the east-southeast and southeast at distances between 6.3 and 9.4 miles. Laurel Hill Farm and Flat Rock Ruritan Park are visible to the south-southwest at 5.5 and 9.3 miles. On the June solstice, sunrise is at 06:05 and sunset at 20:45, giving the longest light of the year at this stop; December solstice days are shorter, with sunrise at 07:31 and sunset at 17:11. The towns of Radford and Christiansburg lie about 34 miles to the north and north-northeast, with Kernersville roughly 44 miles southeast. Rock Castle Gorge is the previous lookout along the byway, and Scenic Overlook is the next stop ahead.