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Pilot Rock
For travelers approaching from the Mojave River Trail, Pilot Rock was a key waypoint. The towering formation signaled that they were nearing the spot where the Old Mormon Wagon Road would leave the river and begin its descent into Cajon Pass. This descent marked a transition from the open desert to more accessible lands beyond the mountains, making Pilot Rock a critical navigational marker for anyone trekking through the often harsh Mojave region.
Its prominence helped those on the trail stay oriented, offering reassurance that they were on the right path as they ventured closer to the pass—a vital link for settlers and traders moving between the Mojave Desert and Southern California.
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A peak, 5,438 feet high in the San Bernardino National Forest, 18 miles south of Victorville, Ca.
'Pilot' was a favorite name with overland immigrants, prospectors, and surveyors, etc, for any landmark that would 'pilot' them in the right direction.
Pilot Rock would guide travelers toward the Mojave River and then to where the Old Morman Wagon Road left the river to descend the Cajon Pass.
Reference: Mojave Desert Dictionary - Mojave River Valley Museum
Cajon Pass
