Summary
The Pacific Crest Trail is one of the most famous thru hikes in the world. At 4300km, the trail traverses the West Coast of the USA, from the Mexico-US border to the Canada-US border. What makes the PCT so special is its incredible mix of scenery, remoteness, abundant wildlife, and impressively maintained single-track almost the entire way. For this reason, it’s one of the only thru-hikes we’ve completed that we would repeat without a second thought.
When to walk
Timing a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike is a critical balancing act dictated by mountain snowpack and desert heat. The vast majority of hikers go northbound (NOBO), starting at the Mexican border between April and early May. This window allows them to cross the Southern California desert before the intense heat of summer sets in, while also timing their arrival at the Sierra Nevada for around mid-June, when the high-elevation snowpack has begun to melt, making the passes and river crossings safer. The goal for NOBO hikers is to reach the Canadian border by mid-September, before the first winter storms blanket the North Cascades in snow.
Alternatively, a smaller number of hikers choose a southbound (SOBO) route. They typically begin at the Canadian border in late June or early July, as this is the earliest the snow usually melts in Washington’s high passes. Their primary challenge is a race against the clock: they must hike through the entire Sierra Nevada range before the first significant snows of winter, ideally clearing the high passes by late September or early October, before finishing at the Mexican border in the cooler temperatures of late autumn.
Getting to the start and finish
Getting to the start and from the finish of the PCT is quite involved. For the southern terminus in Campo, California, most northbound hikers fly into San Diego. From there, you can take public transit to the town of Campo and walk a few miles to the terminus. Another popular option is to use a dedicated hiker shuttle service.
The northern terminus, however, is more remote and logistically complex. As it is no longer legal to cross the border into Canada at the monument, the trail effectively ends with a 30-mile backtrack. Northbound hikers must reach the monument, touch the border, and then hike 30 miles south to Harts Pass, the nearest road access in the US. From Harts Pass, hikers must get a pre-arranged ride or hitchhike to the town of Mazama to begin their journey home.
Track difficulty (pros and cons)
Things that could make the track easier or more enjoyable
- Well-graded single track nearly the entire way.
- Well-established trail, with lots of hiking infrastructure and resupply opportunities (water caches, hiker-specific food in small towns etc.).
- Huge variety of scenery, from desert to mountains.
- Abundant wildlife, including birds, marmots, chipmunks, squirrels and bears.
- The trail passes through remote wilderness locations.
Things that could make the track more difficult or less enjoyable
- High bushfire risk, often resulting in closures or detours.
- Long water carries in Southern California.
- Crowded, especially in the main “bubble”.
- Resupply logistics in Washington, requiring posting parcels or long hitch hikes.
- Inescapable time pressure to complete high mountain passes before the snow falls.
- Winter/snow skills may be required to traverse the Sierras.
Permits
To manage the trail’s immense popularity and protect its fragile ecosystems, the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) issues a “PCT Long-Distance Permit” on behalf of federal and state agencies. This single, free permit is for anyone intending to hike 500 or more continuous miles and is the key logistical tool for a thru-hike, as it conveniently replaces the need to apply for dozens of individual backcountry permits from the various national parks and wilderness areas the trail passes through. Due to high demand, these permits are released through an online lottery system held in two phases, typically in November and January. This system enforces a daily quota, most notably limiting northbound thru-hikers starting at the Mexican border to 50 per day to spread out the environmental impact and preserve the hiker experience.
Gear
A 3-season gear list rated for -5C is sufficient for the PCT. With a -5C setup, you will likely be a little cold in some uncommon circumstances, and if you want to guarantee that you will be warm a -8C setup is advised. Of course, if you are entering the Sierras early you might need a warmer sleep setup. You can see our 3.5kg gear list from our trip here.
Wildlife
The wildlife on the PCT changes dramatically with the landscape. In the deserts of Southern California, hikers constantly see lizards, gopher snakes, and the occasional rattlesnake sunning on the trail, while coyotes and foxes are often spotted at dawn and dusk. As you climb into the Sierra Nevada, the fauna shifts to mountain-specific animals; marmots are famously bold, sunning themselves on granite slabs, and tiny pikas are often heard “eeping” from boulder fields. This region is also prime habitat for black bears and mule deer. Moving north into Oregon and Washington, the dense forests are home to grouse, beavers, elk, and a greater concentration of black bears, especially during huckleberry season.
Navigation
We primarily relied on our mobile phones to navigate on the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail is well marked and it is reasonably difficult to get lost. FarOut is an invaluable resource, with hikers commenting up-to-date information such as snow levels and water sources.
It’s worth noting that comments on FarOut can be unreliable, where different perceptions of what is safe can colour the comments that people leave. This is especially true for river crossings and snowpack conditions.
Useful resources
- Pacific Crest Trail Association – offical information about the trail, including closures.
- Halfway Anywhere Surveys – useful survey results collated from past hikers. Particularly helpful when creating a resupply strategy.
