PCT Pilot Rock Area to Babbit Gap 5-23-25

Photos by Kay

Ashland Hiking Home

Sixteen of us headed up Pilot Rock Road to hike to Pilot Rock. Twelve of us started hiking from where the PCT crosses Pilot Rock Road through white flowering serviceberry and rock gardens filled with wildflowers. Four of us started at the upper TH for Pilot Rock.

Some of the flower species that we identified included red flowering current, Polemonium, daggerpod, paintbrush, western buttercups, blue dick, pussy ears, milky vetch, larkspur, trillium, dwarf hesperochiron, yellow bells, calypso orchid, waterleaf, woodland star and Siskiyou onion. The mountain views were hidden in low clouds and fog. 

Long trail hikers became birders when we heard the low repeated tones of the Sooty grouse and saw one flush from the bushes.  The grouse were calling in the heavily forested area before the intersection with the trail up from the Pilot Rock parking area.  Hermit thrushes called along the trail along with golden-crowned sparrows, MacGilvray’s and Townsend’s warblers and purple finch. 

There are more than 5 downed trees across the trail but all small enough for us to climb over or under.  The two groups met at the Babbit Gap viewpoint for lunch. The Gap was dense in fog when the 4-some arrived, unable to see Pilot Rock or across to Mt. Shasta. By the time the longer hike group arrived, we all enjoyed lunch in the sun watching Pilot Rock emerge from the fog.

Over 20 hikers from a weekly hiking group from Shasta City arrived to share the rocks on this beautiful hiking trail. We hiked back to our cars, taking time to hear the Sooty grouse call again and admire scarlet fritillaries. Distance hiked roundtrip from the PCT crossing was 5.7 miles for the larger group, and 4 miles RT for the shorter hike.

Kay & Elisabeth