SAURATOWN RIDGE
Hanging Rock State Park
P.O. Box 278, Danbury, NC 27016
(336) 593-8480
The Sauratown Mountains are an isolated mountain range located within Stokes and Surry counties in the State of North Carolina. Although the range occupies only 5% of the county’s area, they dominate the county’s scenery from almost every direction, rising sharply 800 to 1,700 feet (244 to 518 meters) above the surrounding terrain. The Sauratown Mountains were named after the “Sauras”, a Native American tribe which lived in the county before European settlers arrived in the early 1700s. The range consists of rugged, heavily forested ridges frequently broken by large quartzite rock cliffs which can be seen for miles. The Sauratown Mountains are known for offering some of the best rock climbing in North Carolina. The highest point in the Sauratown Mountains is Moore’s Knob, which rises to 2,579 feet (786 m). The range is home to Hanging Rock State Park, which was formed in 1936 and contains Moore’s Knob and other prominent peaks in the Sauratown Mountains. Uniquely shaped Pilot Mountain is also located in the range. From 1935 to 1942 the Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal agency, built a dam and 12-acre (49,000 m2) lake in the park, as well as hiking and climbing trails and picnic and campground areas.
Sauratown Ridge is located about 20 miles north of Winston-Salem, North Carolina by Hanging Rock State Park, and it has excellent views of both Pilot and Sauratown Mountain. Sauratown (2,450 feet) is a radio and television transmitting facility with two 700′ towers, but the private property has been closed to public access in recent years due to liability issues.
- click to see trail photos from this backpacking trip to Sauratown: March 23, 1996; September 1989
- click to view a detailed trip report of this hike near Pilot Mountain: March 23, 1996*; May 27, 1991* (password required)
- click to view maps of this trail nearing Hanging Rock: area map, detailed map, profile map*
- click to see a recap of our annual cold weather Klondike Hikes into the wilderness which began in the early 90’s
- click for the Southeastern Destinations discussion forum
- click to access the guidebook North Carolina Hiking Trails which has details on this destination
- click for other North Carolina hiking and backpacking books
- click here to add your hike, trip report, or feedback for this destination
- note, the * indicates these items are not linked but coming soon
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