Article
Our final sale of the year is now on! Get 20% off ALL guidebooks and eBooks. Offer ends 16th Nov.
Shop Now
Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
PCT - three-part guidebook and map books for thru and section hikers
ISBN
9781786312129
Availability
Published
Published
24 Feb 2025
Edition
First
Pages
424
Size
17.80 x 12.35 x 3.30cm
Weight
620g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
Three-book guidebook set to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), an epic 2650-mile hike from the Southern Terminus at California's Mexican border to the northern Terminus at the Canadian border. Designed to be compact and lightweight the set is separated into three books, an introduction to the trail and two map books.
Seasons
Primarily on the mountain crest, the PCT is a summer trail, best hiked when most snow has receded. Southern California is best in both spring and autumn, when not too hot. The High Sierra and Northern California from mid-June, Oregon and Washington from July to mid-October.Centres
The PCT can be accessed from most west coast US cities. San Diego is close to the Southern Terminus, while Vancouver, Canada provides an exit from the Northern Terminus. Reno is also convenient, closer to the midpoint and just 45 miles from the trail.Difficulty
The PCT is a wilderness trail, often a long way from road access, so familiarity with backpacking, navigating and camping is required. The trail itself is not difficult to follow but the effects of erosion, avalanche damage, flood, fire and tree fall mean there are challenges to overcome, including late-lying snow and numerous creek and river crossings.Must See
From scorching desert through snow-capped mountains and volcanic landscapes the PCT explores the American West at its wildest, visiting highlights such as Vasquez Rocks, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Yosemite National Park, the Devil’s Postpile, Desolation Wilderness, Crater Lake, the Three Sisters, Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge and Glacier Peak Wilderness.ISBN
9781786312129
Availability
Published
Published
24 Feb 2025
Edition
First
Pages
424
Size
17.80 x 12.35 x 3.30cm
Weight
620g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
-
Overview
-
A comprehensive three-book set providing all the information needed to prepare for and hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a 2650-mile hike through California, Oregon and Washington. Designed to be compact and lightweight the set is separated into three books, an introduction to the trail (130g) and two map books (200g and 170g).
The introductory book covers all at-home planning and preparation for hiking the PCT.
- Detailed explanation of the trail structure, timings and how to approach the PCT
- Suggested itineraries for 110-, 120-, 130- and 140-day thru-hikes and an easy-going start option to aid with planning
- Advice on equipment and permits required on trail
- A background of the trail’s history
- A look at the wildlife, flora and fauna encountered on the trail
The two map books are designed to be used on the trail, one covering the southern stages from the Mexico border to northern California at Interstate 5, the other detailing the northern stages in Oregon and Washington to the Canadian border.
- Presented as 100 1–3-day stages for easy planning of either day, section or thru-hikes
- Where possible stages begin/end at trailheads for easy access to the route
- 1:100,000 topographic maps for the whole trail that can be used to supplement or replace digital mapping apps
- Each stage contains a waymarked route description with mileages, mapping, profiles, and locations of water sources and campsites
- Resupply tables are included detailing where food, mail drops and laundrettes are available close to the trail
For every copy of Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail sold, Cicerone will donate $1.50 to the PCTA.
-
Table of Contents
-
Map key
Overview map
Preface
INTRODUCTION
A geologist’s delight
Weather patterns
Plant and wildlife
What the walking’s like
Planning
Preparation
Wilderness hiking
Equipment
Using this guideTHE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
Southern California
1 Campo to Van Dusen Canyon (Big Bear City)
2 Big Bear City to Agua Dulce
3 Agua Dulce to Kennedy Meadows
The High Sierra
4 Kennedy Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows
5 Tuolumne Meadows to Interstate 80 (Donner Pass)
Northern California
6 Donner Pass to Interstate 5 (Castella)
7 Castella to Interstate 5 (Ashland)
Oregon
8 Ashland to McKenzie Pass
9 McKenzie Pass to Cascade Locks
Washington
10 Cascade Locks to Snoqualmie Pass
11 Snoqualmie Pass to Manning ParkAppendix A Local information and conversions
Appendix B Useful addresses
Appendix C Other publications
Appendix D Schedules for 110 to 180-day thru’-hikes
Appendix E Summaries of Ancient Brit‘s schedules
Appendix F Ancient Brit’s 2002 (160-day) schedule
Appendix G Schedule for a 180-day thru’-hike
Appendix H Schedule for a super-slow start -
Updates
-
April 2025
Canadian border update
The Canadian Border Services Agency announced in January (2025) that it was discontinuing the issuance of permits to enter Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail. They argue that the change will enhance security at the border, and aligns with the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which does not allow travellers to enter the US from Canada on the trail.
It is disappointing but perhaps not surprising. The US has never allowed southbound hikers to cross the other way to access the start of the trail.
The primary route to and from the northern terminus for hikers therefore now becomes the trail itself from Harts Pass. Northbound hikers completing the trail will need to hike back the 30 miles to Harts Pass and then descend the gravel road to Mazama. Alternatively, a further 30 miles back is the main highway at Rainy Pass where a pick up could be arranged.
-
Downloads
By David Jordan
David's earliest memories of walking adventures were family holidays, let loose among trees and fields with a Kodak 'instamatic' camera and notebook. Many years on, little has changed (except perhaps the size of the boots). David has hiked and camped extensively across much of the higher ground of the UK, Europe and Norway, as well as the US. A first taste of long-distance walking started with a circuit of the Tour du Mont Blanc in 1992 and led through sections of the Appalachian Trail to a full thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016. Returning to the Alps David spent four years researching and exploring the Grande Traversata Delle Alpe. In 2023 David hiked the PCT for a second time and became one of fewer than 200 people ever to thru-hike the trail more than once.
View author profile
