Pilot Rock Cascade-Siskiyou BLM BLM archives Rising 570 ft to an elevation of 5910 ft., Pilot Rock is perhaps the most striking feature of Cascade- Siskyou National Monument. Visible from much of the Shasta Valley in northern California and parts of Oregon’s Rogue Valley, the Rock serves as a friendly beacon to some five million vehicles and their passengers that travel the I-5 corridor annually. Competing Theories Pilot Rock is part of the Cascade Range, a mountain Put simply, a “plug” is an intrusive body formed by mag- range notable for its string of volcanic peaks stretching ma which cooled underground and was later exposed by from British Columbia to northern California’s Lassen erosion. Peak. The Monument’s proclamation refers to Pilot Rock as “a volcanic plug,” describing it as “a remnant of a Recent Research feeder vent left after a volcano eroded away, leaving an Recent research regarding Pilot Rock suggests that 25 outstanding example of the inside of a volcano.” Pilot million years ago, magma oozed through a weak spot Rock is composed mostly of volcanic andesite and has in the earth’s crust, but did not reach the surface. As a sheer, vertical faces with classic columnar jointing created result, some geologists refer to Pilot Rock as technically by the cooling of its andesite composition. a “volcanic plug,” but NOT as defined in the Monument’s proclamation. (The proclamation evidently uses “plug” Plug or a Neck or both? and “neck” interchangeably.) However “plugs”and Many geologists use the terms “neck” and “plug” in- “necks” are defined, what they both have in common is terchangeably, while others believe the terms apply to erosion. After the softer rock is eroded, the remaining different types of volcanic structures. Some geologists harder volcanic structure stands up in bold relief to use the different definitions of lava and magma to make the surrounding landscape as the blockish, irregular, the distinction between a volcanic “neck” and a volcanic columnar structure you see today. “plug.” Magma is molten or partially molten rock beneath the earth’s surface. Magma collects inside a volcano’s Cousins magma chamber before it erupts. When magma Ship Rock in New Mexico and Devil’s Tower in breaches the earth’s surface, the magma becomes lava Wyoming are considered to be volcanic necks or plugs, and a volcano is formed. which were exposed after the surrounding sedimentary rocks eroded and fell away. Geologists who make the distinction between volcanic necks and plugs consider a volcanic “neck” indicative of Human History an actual volcano – a column of igneous rock formed by The Takelma people called it Tan-ts’at-seniptha, congelation of lava in the conduit or vent of a volcano and “Stone Standing Up.” In 1841, an enterprising U.S. later exposed by the erosion of surrounding rocks. Navy lieutenant scouting a route from the Columbia River to San Francisco Bay named it for himself: CASCADE In contrast, these geologists consider a volcanic “plug” Emmons’ Peak. Today we know it as Pilot Rock, SISKIYOU National Monument to be a structure formed by a body of magma that never a welcome landmark for weary migrants on the reached the earth’s surface. Over time, the softer exterior Applegate Trail in the 1850s, and for travelers on I-5 rocks eroded away, leaving behind the now-cooled today. magma. Interstate 5 Pilot Rock Soda Mountain Siskiyou Summit Elev. 4310 ft Elev. 5910 ft Elev. 6089 ft Monument Highest elev. on I-5 Boundary Did you know? According to local newspaper reports, nine aircraft have crashed into Pilot Rock since 1942, usually due to poor visibility and low clouds. Cascade-Siskiyou BLM Trail Head Directions Trail Information Cascade-Siskiyou From Medford-Ashland, take I-5 south to Exit 6 The trail begins on an old road located behind a boulder - Mt Ashland exit. Heading south, follow Old Highway barrier. The trail intersects the PacificE Crest Trail (PCT) 99 for 2 miles. Turn left onto Pilot Rock Road 40-2E- after about 0.9 miles. Follow the PCT for about 300 yards 33. Stay left. At mile 1 you will cross the PCT; at 2 until you reach a sign and trail junction for the Pilot Rock miles you will see an old quarry to your right. The old trail. From there it is a fairly steepG 3/4 mile hike to the quarry serves as trail head parking. Caution: rough base of Pilot Rock. road, please drive slowly; some vehicles with Climbing to the top of Pilot RockN can be dangerous lower ground clearance may not be suitable. d a o and is not for the faint of heart. Warning: this climb is R d R steep. Scrambling, care and dexterity are required. l ria o 3 k m 8 e e - e 2 r M E C A - 3 Going with someone who has scaled the rock before is W n 4 a . i 1 i l d l o In w d recommended.t C a n re e 2772 r e 2439 D u k d E B a R o d -3 H Table 39-3E R y Little Mtn a Gibson 3 t 9 Prairie - t .0 Reservoir 3 6056 E -6 - 9-4E-7.5 E k 3 R L 3 e T -4 e a 9 r a C b k 3 9-4E-5.0 Jenn Rd 3 y r l e e i o M EXIT t v n r R e d T i e S h 3 r Wildcat 14 From 0 2 Kilometers i s l e 9 39 - a Ashland St i -3 3E e .0 d E -3 r Glades -8 e -2 R P R E 1 oa -4 d 9 3 Ashland, 39 B - 0 2 Miles 3E u t Wildcat - r 39- 1 n t 4E-8 7 t a Crane .0 North Ye y w R d H S Oregon Prairie 1 . C p r t 8 r e t -1 s e a E Li k y 4 tt 5177 9- le H Hyatt 3 Ch Lake in R qu d 3 a 9 p Little 3 d -4 in 9 ie R E- -3 ir 1 Chinquapin 99 E 6 66 a -2 1 r Mtn d P R 5712 Round t t Mtn a y Tolman Creek Rd 4767 H R EXIT d d Green l O Emigrant Little Hyatt 273 6 0 1 Kilometer Reservoir 4 0 4 Lake - 0 3 - k E 3 -2 E e 6 - e E . 3 E 1 5 r 0 a 1 Mile C s t Hyatt Chinquapin EXIT 11 O l Mdws H 4 Mtn d 0 y 5 - a 3 S 3 6079 Green Springs - 3 E 9- H t North d E er - 3 t R 3 v Detail3 p E y - a Mtn - in 0 e p 3 a Chinqua B 2 4 5.2 3 t E- 5217 r t -3 d 0 40-3E-27 R 4 i P r n a L i n r i i a e g k p Buck Point H e a MapD u s i 4085 g q n h 66 i h w R C 800 5 d R FS a 2.4 d Siskiyou Mtn y Summit Keen Creek outh 4310 Pa ific Reservoir S c C 40-3E-34 O r 66 e l Green Springs .6 d s 40-3E-34 Round F Summit t A S Island 4 0 H 4618 0 w Info y d Green a Station r Siskiyou Ro Springs Tyle Creek unstaffed Tubb Springs 40 -4 Pass State Wayside E - 9 d 7 . 66 9 4491 Piloa t 1 o y R a w -5 G h r ig E e H e S 3 n - C Rd 0 kes S o a prings 4 p L Lincoln i Pinehurst u sn r -2 State E a 3 - 4 t P 0 Airport 4 0 Parsnip h - n 4 i RLakeso E - a c 7 t k 5 n T d Hobart u 2.1 R r 4 E-1 o 0 -3 - 40 Lake 2 a E k k M r e o - F d 3 re Baldy R i C 3 l h t 4852 u r o 273 a S C Bull Gap 4 S d 0 l B - 3 l 3 o . il a l l E S 2 d i 5531 East d -5 3 y E- Hobart Bluff M a 3 - 9 M RR Tunnel C 3 o r Overlook e e R Portal k 1.8 1.6 CASCADE – Hobart Peak k e 5502 e ld r O C Hobart 4 R 3 d Trailhead - h t E Bluffu 2 o SISKIYOU - S 9 9 Babbits 3 9 Parking A y 39 0.9 EXIT t -3E-32.3 Saddle d Rd 40- n Green Mtn w lan 2E-1 a H sh 9 r 4255 A 6 ig 4 t 0-3E M m -12 E Little Pilot 0.75 .1 Rock 4885 Pilot RandcoreRock 1 Detail . M Little 1 Pass t 4 2 0- NATIONAL- 5908 ft Ashland 3E Pilot E 4177 Joes Rock - 3 5 - 4590 Peak 0 C Rosebud Map 4 Sk Helipond 5630 ooku Siskiyou Mtn m PCT Soda Mtn MONUMENT 6093 Summit at right Access K e e n e C r go e e Ore n R k G 4310 o u a lch d R i d Boccard g e Pilot R EXIT 1 Former Point ilot ock Bean Cabin 5886 e P Tra 40 Ro Lon il -2E- a Porcupine 33 d Mtn 2.0 5266 H a r 5 t w e ll Old D CSNM Trailhead r a Hwy 99 Parking w South Pilot EXIT 1 Rock 5908 L O N Agate E P Cathedral I N Flat E S Cliffs L R I I D D E G E R I D y ck G o E R Be prepared and be safe! Do not be fooled by Oregon’s stereotypical cool and Check weather conditions before your hike.