Pilot Rock (Oregon)

Pilot Rock is a prominent volcanic plug located in the western Cascade Range near the east end of the Siskiyou Mountains, just east of the Siskiyou Summit near Ashland, Oregon. Rising thousands of feet above the Shasta and Rogue valleys, it is a landmark distinguishable from over 40 miles (64 km) away. At 25.6 million years old, it is one of the oldest formations of the Cascade Range. The rock is protected by the Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument and the Soda Mountain Wilderness. Several trails pass near Pilot Rock, including the Pacific Crest Trail.

Geology

Rising above the surrounding hills and thousands of feet above the Shasta and Rogue valleys, Pilot Rock is one of the most prominent features of the Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument. but much younger than the 425 million-year-old Siskiyou Mountains nearby. The surrounding soil is primarily the sticky, eroded remnants of volcaniclastic breccia. ==History==

History

The Takelma tribe of Native Americans originally called the rock ''Tan-ts'at-seniphtha'' (stone standing up), but to early settlers Pilot Rock was known as Boundary Mountain. The United States Exploring Expedition passed through the area on September 28, 1841, renaming the rock Emmons Peak after Lieutenant George F. Emmons, a U.S. naval officer and member of the group. Nine planes have crashed into Pilot Rock since 1942, mainly due to poor visibility. Pilot Rock is protected by the Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument, created in 2000, and the Soda Mountain Wilderness, created in 2009. ==Flora==

Flora

Pilot Rock is located in the eastern Klamath Mountains ecoregion and is surrounded by dense mixed coniferous forest. Wildflowers such as wild strawberries, larkspur, columbine, lupine, and paintbrush grow in the spring and summer. ==Trails==

Trails

There are several trails near Pilot Rock which can be accessed via a forest road that ends at a parking lot approximately northwest of the rock. The main trail, part of the Pacific Crest Trail, travels southeast towards the rock for about , before branching into two trails. The left branch is the northbound continuation of the Pacific Crest Trail, while the right fork is the summit trail. ==See also==

Source: Wikipedia ↗

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