Pacific Crest Trail (Campo → Manning Park)

The place

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is one of the three great American long-distance 'Triple Crown' trails, linking the Mexican border at Campo (California) to the Canadian border at Manning Park (British Columbia) over approximately 4,270 km. The route follows the crest line of the western United States mountain ranges: the deserts of southern California, the high Sierra Nevada (including the pass at the foot of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states), the Cascade volcanoes of Oregon (Crater Lake, Three Sisters, Mount Hood) and the glaciers of Washington's North Cascades. A complete thru-hike takes 4 to 6 months of continuous walking; the trail is also heavily used for section hikes of a few days to a few weeks.

Why go

Pass at the foot of Mount Whitney (4,421 m, highest peak in the contiguous United States) via a side trail. Forester Pass (4,009 m), the PCT's highest point. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon), the deepest volcanic lake in the United States. Three Sisters Wilderness. North Cascades and its glaciers, the wildest section of the trail. Kennedy Meadows, the symbolic gateway to the Sierra Nevada for thru-hikers.

A bit of history

The idea of a continuous trail along the west coast mountains emerged in the 1930s, championed by figures such as Clinton C. Clarke and the Young Men's Christian Association. The PCT was granted National Scenic Trail status in 1968 (National Trails System Act), but its full, continuous construction was not completed until 1993. It is now managed by the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) in partnership with the US Forest Service and the National Park Service.

Getting there

Campo (southern terminus): accessible by car or shuttle from San Diego (1h30). Manning Park (northern terminus, Canada): accessible by bus from Vancouver (3h) or Hope (BC). Many intermediate access points (Kennedy Meadows, South Lake Tahoe, Cascade Locks, Snoqualmie Pass) are served by bus or trail-angel shuttles.

Recommended gear

Lightweight hiking boots or trail runners (favored by most thru-hikers for their reduced weight over distance). Water filtration system (arid sections of the southern California desert). PCT Long-distance Permit required for a thru-hike, plus a California fire permit. Bear canister mandatory in the Sierra Nevada. Resupply strategy via mail drops to trail towns (Halfmile's Resupply Notes).

Best season

Late April to late September for a northbound (NOBO) thru-hike, timed to avoid residual snowpack in the Sierra Nevada in spring and early snow in the North Cascades late in the season. The southern desert sections are hikable from March; the Washington sections often close by mid-October.

Day by day

1. 1
   1 · Campo → Warner Springs176.22 km
2. 2
   2 · Warner Springs → Idyllwild112.49 km
3. 3
   3 · Idyllwild → Big Bear Lake139.53 km
4. 4
   4 · Big Bear Lake → Wrightwood166.24 km
5. 5
   5 · Wrightwood → Tehachapi317.04 km
6. 6
   6 · Tehachapi → Kennedy Meadows South220.48 km
7. 7
   7 · Kennedy Meadows South → Independence / Bishop (via Kearsarge Pass)139.85 km
8. 8
   8 · Independence → Mammoth Lakes189.10 km
9. 9
   9 · Mammoth Lakes → South Lake Tahoe296.44 km
10. 10
    10 · South Lake Tahoe → Sierra City168.34 km
11. 11
    11 · Sierra City → Chester218.39 km
12. 12
    12 · Chester → Etna / Ashland (Oregon border)623.46 km
13. 13
    13 · Ashland → Cascade Locks (Bridge of the Gods)691.37 km
14. 14
    14 · Cascade Locks → Snoqualmie Pass396.54 km
15. 15
    15 · Snoqualmie Pass → Manning Park (Canada)431.79 km