Pilot Mountain

Pilot Mountain, a quartzite monadnock rising to a peak 2,421 feet above sea level, is one of the most distinctive natural features in the state of North Carolina. It is a remnant of the ancient chain of Sauratown Mountains. Its original Native American name is Jomeokee, for "great guide" or "pilot." The Saura were the earliest known inhabitants of the region. The distinctive formation guided the Native Americans as well as the early European hunters through the region.

The town of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina is situated near the mountain. The city of Mount Airy, North Carolina, known for its rock quarries and for being the birthplace of actor Andy Griffith, is just a few miles north. Mount Airy was the basis for the fictional town of Mayberry on the TV classic The Andy Griffith Show. The fictional city of Mount Pilot, which was often mentioned on The Andy Griffith Show, was named in honor of Pilot Mountain.