A surgical dilator (16; 116), comprising: an elongated, non-cannulated cylindrical body (30; 130) extending on a longitudinal axis between a first end (34; 134) and an opposite second end (36; 136), wherein said body (30; 130) includes a length extending from said first end (34; 134) to said second end (36; 136) and said length is sized so that one of said first and second ends (34, 36; 134, 136) is located outside a skin level of a patient when the other of said first and second ends (34, 36; 134, 136) is positioned in contact with bony structure along the spinal column, wherein said first end (34; 134) includes a beveled configuration forming a first end-most tip (34a; 134a) offset from said longitudinal axis on one side of said body (30; 130) and an end surface (34c; 134c) extending obliquely to said longitudinal axis from said first end-most tip (34a; 134a) to a transition (34b; 134b) at an opposite second side of said body (30; 130) where said end surface (34c; 134c) joins said second side of said body and wherein said second end (36; 136) includes a double-beveled configuration with a second end-most tip (36a; 136a) located on said longitudinal axis and which double-beveled configuration defines a pair of end surfaces (36d, 36e) extending from said second end-most tip to respective ones of opposite sides of said body, each of said end surfaces (36d, 36e) extending in an oblique orientation to said longitudinal axis, wherein said first and said second ends (34, 36) include engagement features that enhance engagement and provide secure docking of the dilator to bone, wherein said first end defines a roughened surface zone extending along the sides of said body and the end surface, and wherein said second end defines a roughened zone that extends from the end-most tip along said end surfaces (36d, 36e). an elongated, non-cannulated cylindrical body (30; 130) extending on a longitudinal axis between a first end (34; 134) and an opposite second end (36; 136), wherein said body (30; 130) includes a length extending from said first end (34; 134) to said second end (36; 136) and said length is sized so that one of said first and second ends (34, 36; 134, 136) is located outside a skin level of a patient when the other of said first and second ends (34, 36; 134, 136) is positioned in contact with bony structure along the spinal column, wherein said first end (34; 134) includes a beveled configuration forming a first end-most tip (34a; 134a) offset from said longitudinal axis on one side of said body (30; 130) and an end surface (34c; 134c) extending obliquely to said longitudinal axis from said first end-most tip (34a; 134a) to a transition (34b; 134b) at an opposite second side of said body (30; 130) where said end surface (34c; 134c) joins said second side of said body and wherein said second end (36; 136) includes a double-beveled configuration with a second end-most tip (36a; 136a) located on said longitudinal axis and which double-beveled configuration defines a pair of end surfaces (36d, 36e) extending from said second end-most tip to respective ones of opposite sides of said body, each of said end surfaces (36d, 36e) extending in an oblique orientation to said longitudinal axis, wherein said first and said second ends (34, 36) include engagement features that enhance engagement and provide secure docking of the dilator to bone, wherein said first end defines a roughened surface zone extending along the sides of said body and the end surface, and wherein said second end defines a roughened zone that extends from the end-most tip along said end surfaces (36d, 36e).