Changes to the Pilot Rock trail
Pilot Rock (Ashland, Oregon)
Just a mile over the California border lies Pilot Rock (in Oregon). I made it to the top today for the third time. However, I think this will be my last time. Today was my first time in almost eight years, and I don’t remember it being this difficult. I don’t think it has changed which means I must be the one who has. (I’m getting old.)
The trail to the top has changed and is currently changing. Recently the old part of the trail you can see in the lower-right portion of today’s photo has been covered over in branches. Instead of a straight up, wide ascent over loose gravel for this old part of the trail, a new switchback has been created. Nice. A big improvement.
The other new change to the trail is its length. Previously you could park near the intersection of the Pilot Rock trail head and the PCT. No more. They are currently turning the last mile or so of these directions into single track. I’m guessing that by the beginning of September 2015 the fire road that previously took you to the small parking lot will all be single track. The new parking lot is much bigger. The Pilot Rock hike is now a mile or so longer (each way).
If you want to see what turning a fire road into a single track hiking trail looks like, head up there in the next few days or weeks. The process is surprisingly interesting.
Also, the recently refreshed and marked Lone Pilot Trail can be accessed from the location of the old parking lot.
Lone Pilot Trail (Southern Oregon)
