Hiking the PCT: Where to Start, Where to End, and How the Pacific Crest Trail Came to Be

First proposed by Clinton C. Clarke in 1932, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) was envisioned as a continuous wilderness trail linking the high crests of the West Coast mountain ranges.

Stretching 2,650 miles from the sun-scorched Mexican border up to the rugged edge of Canada, the PCT is much more than a trail—it is a crucible of endurance, an epic passage through the spine of the American West, and a life-changing journey for anyone adventureous enough to step onto its path.

A Dream Built Over Decades

The PCT wasn’t carved overnight. Clarke advocated for linking existing paths—like California's John Muir Trail and Oregon's Skyline Trail—into one grand highway for foot and horse travel.

Thirty-six years later, In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Trails System Act, officially designating the PCT as a National Scenic Trail.

After decades of grueling trail building, land acquisition, and volunteer labor across federal, state, and private lands, a Golden Spike ceremony in Southern California marked the trail’s official completion in 1993.

Should you NOBO or SOBO?

Where your journey begins depends entirely on your strategy, timing, and tolerance for extreme conditions.

Northbound (NOBO): The Classic Passage

• Start: Southern Terminus — Campo, California (US–Mexico border)

• End: Northern Terminus — Monument 78 / Manning Park, British Columbia (US–Canada border)

• Roughly 90% of thru-hikers head NOBO. Setting off from the desert in early spring (April to early May) allows you to push through Southern California before summer heat peaks, while giving snow time to melt in the high-altitude Sierra Nevada.

Southbound (SOBO): The Solitary Pursuit

• Start: Northern Terminus (Harts Pass / Monument 78)

• End: Southern Terminus (Campo, CA)

• SOBO hikers trade big crowds for a tight schedule. You must wait for Washington's heavy snowpack to melt (usually late June or early July) and hike fast enough to beat early winter blizzards in the High Sierra.

Best Section-Hike Starting Points

If you don't have five months to spare, these alternative starting and ending spots capture the absolute best of the trail:

• The High Sierra Sweep: Start at Horseshoe Meadow (near Lone Pine, CA) and head north to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. You’ll tackle iconic passes, pristine alpine lakes, and the highest point on the PCT.

• The Pacific Northwest Magic: Start at Cascade Locks (Oregon border) and hike north into Washington's Goat Rocks Wilderness, ending at White Pass. Expect knife-edge ridges and jaw-dropping views of Mount Rainier.

• The John Muir Trail Overlap (California): Start at Horseshoe Meadow / Cottonwood Pass and end at Tuolumne Meadows (Yosemite). Offers the highest, most iconic peaks in the Sierra Nevada.

• Cascade Locks to White Pass (Oregon/Washington): Start at the Bridge of the Gods on the Oregon–Washington border and end near Mount Rainier.

• Goat Rocks Wilderness (Washington): A stunning high-ridge section perfect for a week-long backpack trip.

Conquering the PCT: Essential Trail Wisdom

• Secure Your Permits Early: Long-distance permits (for hikes over 500 miles) are distributed via a competitive, computer-randomized lottery managed by the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA). Read on for more details on this.

• Respect the Desert: Don't let the term "desert" fool you. Southern California involves brutal 20+ mile stretches between water sources, freezing night temperatures, and steep climbs.

• Pack Light, Pack Smart: Heavy packs destroy knees. Prioritize light gear, carry an approved bear canister for the Sierra, and download offline navigation maps.

Navigating the bureaucracy and supply chain of a 2,650-mile wilderness trek is just as challenging as climbing the mountain passes.

Permits: The "Golden Ticket"

While hiking on public land sounds simple, the PCT crosses 25 national forests, 6 national parks, and dozens of state parks and wilderness areas. Rather than managing 20+ individual local backcountry permits, the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) issues a single, free PCT Long-Distance Permit for anyone traveling 500+ continuous miles in a single trip.

• The Quota System: To protect fragile desert and alpine ecosystems, the PCTA caps northbound departures from the Mexican border at 50 permits per day between March 1 and May 31.

• The Lottery System: Applicants must register online before the lottery windows open. The PCTA releases permits in two rounds:

  • Round 1 (Late Fall): Releases 35 permits per day.

  • Round 2 (Mid-Winter): Releases the remaining 15 permits per day.

• Secondary Permits:

  • California Campfire Permit: Required to operate a camp stove anywhere in California (available online after taking a short fire safety quiz).

  • Canada Entry Permit: Allows hikers to legally cross the US–Canada border on foot at the northern terminus.

Resupply Logistics: How Hikers Eat for 5 Months

Thru-hikers burn between 4,000 and 6,000 calories per day, meaning food planning is critical. Hikers generally use a hybrid strategy of buying in town and mailing resupply boxes.

Strategy	Best Used For...	How It Works
Buying in Town	Major trail towns (e.g., Bishop, Ashland, Leavenworth)	Stop at local supermarkets or outfitters every 3 to 7 days to restock. Offers flexibility to adjust food cravings.
Mailing Boxes	Remote outposts & dietary restrictions	Mail pre-packed priority boxes via USPS to local post offices, lodges, or general stores (e.g., Stehekin, WA or Warner Springs, CA).

Trail Angels & Water Caches

• Trail Angels: Generous volunteers who host hikers, provide rides to town for groceries, or run "trail magic" stations stocked with cold drinks and hot meals.

• Water Logistics: In the first 700 miles through Southern California, natural water sources are scarce. While community water caches exist, hikers must rely primarily on real-time crowd-sourced updates (such as FarOut / Guthook apps) to carry 4 to 6 liters of water per stretch.

International Hikers: Save Money on Gear & Gear Shipping

In addition to shipping food along the trail, it can save $$ for international hikers traveling to the US, to purchase gear locally as shipping supplies across borders often comes with massive customs fees, heavy import taxes, and high international shipping rates.

Hikers can save hundreds of dollars by ordering gear, specialized dehydrated meals, and American-made trail gear online through US retailers (like REI or Garage Grown Gear) and shipping those packages directly to your first lodging spot in San Diego.

• How to Do It: When placing online orders, use your accommodation’s physical street address as the delivery location. Format the recipient line as "HOLD FOR ARRIVAL: [Your Name] – ETA: [Your Check-In Date]" so front-desk staff can easily identify and hold your boxes until you land.

• San Diego Lodging: The Gaslamp Hostel in downtown San Diego is a hiker-friendly launchpad for international PCT thru-hikers. They are accustomed to PCT logistics and will accept and hold packages for guests prior to their arrival—sparing you from renting expensive PO boxes or dealing with complex postal holds before you even step foot on trail.

The Pacific Crest Trail is a test of spirit as much as muscle. Step onto the path, respect the wilderness, and take it one mile at a time.