PCT hangtags are distributed to PCT Long-distance Permit holders as a keepsake and a way to encourage people to be personally engaged in protecting the trail and fragile places the trail passes through. They’re a tool for getting people to talk to rangers and discuss how they can Leave No ... Read more
We’re well into March, which can only mean one thing… the Pacific Crest Trail hiking season has officially begun! Although sections of the PCT are used year-round, the long-distance hiking season opened on March 1st. While hikers are gearing up for their adventures along the PCT, the returning crest runners ... Read more
For more than a decade, I’ve been traveling with a Pacific Crest Trail Association delegation every February to the nation’s capital to advocate for trails, robust agency budgets and legislation affecting public lands. This annual sojourn is called “Hike the Hill” and it’s been happening for more than 20 years. ... Read more
By Sandra Marra, Appalachian Trail Conservancy CEO & Megan Wargo, Pacific Crest Trail Association CEO
The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) and Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) stretch over a collective 4,800 miles. They are some of the longest and most iconic hiking trails in the world. Our dynamic bicoastal footpaths connect some ... Read more
For the third installment of Love on the Trail, our journey through the heart of the Pacific Crest Trail concludes with a final reminder of what we all know to be true: that the trail is more than just a path—it’s a place of transformation, connection, and deep emotion. ... Read more
If you haven’t had the chance to read the first installment of Love on the Trail—our month-long series celebrating stories of connection, adventure, and the deep bond we all share with the Pacific Crest Trail, we invite you to start here.
In this second installment of Love on the Trail, ... Read more
Though we use 2,650 as shorthand for the length of the PCT, it actually shifts a bit year-to-year due to new construction, reroutes, and the like. To dig into this topic, see our previous blog post How long is the PCT really? – Pacific Crest Trail Association. Every January of ... Read more
As we face financial and operational challenges because of uncertainty around federal funding for the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), I want to be transparent with our community about the impact this may have on our mission. The U.S. Forest Service has let us know that our future federal grant funding ... Read more