Pacific Crest Trail hikers pose for photos at the Southern Terminus near Campo, CA. Photo by Lon “Halfmile” Cooper
Driving directions to the Southern Terminus.
Google Maps’ driving directions to the Pacific Crest Trail Southern Terminus are accurate.
The Southern Terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail sits on a small hill along the Mexican border in the town of Campo, California. From Highway 94 in Campo, you’ll drive 1.6 miles south on a good quality, passenger vehicle accessible dirt road. The way is generally unsigned, but easy to navigate. The terminus is marked by a large monument.
From Highway 94, drive south on Forest Gate Road, which is paved where it meets Highway 94. After about half a mile, the road is no longer paved but you should continue south on the unpaved road. After the road curves left around Castle Rock Ranch, turn right at the fork of unpaved roads to follow the fence line uphill. As you continue south, you will pass under a high voltage line and the U.S. border wall and PCT monument will be visible in the distance.
As a courtesy, please park at the bottom of the small hill that the monument sits atop. Leaving an unattended vehicle at the Southern Terminus is not advised. If you’re going to park in the area, Border Patrol recommends parking on the county land where the PCT crosses Highway 94.
Interactive map showing the trail (red) and roads (purple) to the Southern Terminus
PCT Southern Terminus Shuttle
The PCT Southern Terminus Shuttle runs seasonally between San Diego and the Southern Terminus.
Taking public transit to the Southern Terminus.
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System bus #894 runs from the El Cajon Transit Center in San Diego to Campo four times every weekday. To get to the El Cajon Transit Center from the San Diego International Airport, hire a taxi or take a bus downtown and then take the orange or green trolley.
The schedule for the #894 bus to Campo can be found here – note that it does not run on weekends or holidays. The trip to Campo takes about two hours and the bus stops less than two miles from the Southern Terminus. Once in Campo, you can walk to the Southern Terminus by either following the driving directions above or following the driving directions until you can turn onto the PCT about a mile from the terminus, then hike south on the PCT rather than the dirt road. By the way, have you seen our extensive PCT public transit page?
A group of eight southbound thru-hikers at the Southern Terminus of the PCT. Photo courtesy of Alex Contryman