Kentucky · Rock climbing · Dawson Springs

Pilot Rock

Pilot Rock in Kentucky has 6 climbing routes with 6 difficulty grades, offering bouldering, sport, and trad.

6 routes
5.0 – 5.10+
Trad · Bouldering · Mixed

Best time to visit Pilot Rock

Best months: March–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

  1. Jan

    46° / 27°

    10 wet

  2. Feb

    51° / 30°

    9 wet

  3. Mar

    61° / 38°

    11 wet

  4. Apr

    71° / 47°

    11 wet

  5. May

    79° / 56°

    11 wet

  6. Jun

    86° / 64°

    10 wet

  7. Jul

    89° / 68°

    9 wet

  8. Aug

    89° / 66°

    8 wet

  9. Sep

    83° / 59°

    7 wet

  10. Oct

    73° / 47°

    8 wet

  11. Nov

    60° / 37°

    9 wet

  12. Dec

    49° / 30°

    11 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Princeton 1 Se, KY, 11.7 mi away at 497 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Pilot Rock is a climbing area in Pennyrile State Forest in western Kentucky, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. It sits within the forest's network of trails and climbing spots, and the surrounding land is overseen by the same agency. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Princeton show October highs around 73°F with lows near 47°F, and April is similar at about 71°F by day and 47°F at night. Midsummer highs typically reach the upper 80s. Several other destinations lie within a few miles. The Pennyrile Nature Trail is about 1.6 miles away, and the Indian Bluff Trail and Lake Trail are both within about 2.5 miles. Climbers can also head to Hunter Bluff, roughly 6 miles off.

Routes (6)