Pilot Rock
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Traveling
south of Cherokee, Iowa, on Highway 59 one may see a large "haystack"
stone on top of a hill to the east of the road, over two miles south of
the city.
This is Pilot Rock, an enormous boulder of red Sioux
quartzite, often erroneously called Sioux granite. Now some 160 feet in
circumference and about 20 feet high, the mass of stone was probably
even more prominent when white men first saw it, as material is known
to have been blasted off by early builders.
The retreating ice
of the last continental glacier left this huge erratic boulder behind,
as well as heaps of smaller material, later sorted by running waters
into excellent gravel beds.
The Little Sioux River carved a
beautiful valley through these deposits; very productive soils
developed. Now the vista from the top of Pilot Rock is magnificent as
one looks across the river to the west, and up and down its rich
valley. From many other hills along this stream, there are exciting
views.
Such a prominent feature as Pilot Rock naturally became a
cross roads guide post. Very early tribes made their homes along the
Little Sioux and its tributaries. Later tribes came and went, and all
found the hunting good. There is evidence that the big rock was highly
revered by many of these peoples.
Also, this was a favorite
camping area, with natural springs at the base of the hill. Deep
trails were woven and interwoven around the Rock. Unfortunately, the
last evidence of these was erased by terracing of the hill some years
ago.
The township in which it lies in Cherokee County was named
Pilot after the famous rock, and adjoining township is called Rock.
There was even a Post Office called Pilot Rock in the early days when
transportation was slow.
Early explorers, trappers and traders
into the region knew this boulder and wrote of meeting others near it.
The deep ruts of pioneer wagons later crossed the old trails.
Now
we can pass through gates in fencing and clamber to its top, and wish
that the Rock of the Woven Trails cold speak. What tales it could tell
of brave men of two races, red and white, finding this bountiful valley.
SOURCE:
Former Cherokee County Historical Society working papers.
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