Hancock County High Point Trip Report

Pilot Knob (1,450 ft)

Date: May 2000
Author: Ron Tagliapietra

This is a beautiful and easy summit in a state park. From I-35 (exit 203) go west on IA 9 for over 10 miles until you see the sign for the state park. Turn left and drive about a mile to the stone gate entrance. Continue about 2 miles to the parking area on the ridge signed for the lookout tower (I think this is the third small parking area on the left). It is at most a walk of 0.1 mile to the summit. The tower offers a good view in all directions and the slab at the base contains the BM Pilot. A second benchmark is at the far side of the clearing (where the trail continues down the other side from the side you ascended). I was surprised that there was no fee collected by the park but am not sure if this is because I came on May 11, 2000 (before the tourist season begins on Memorial Day).