California’s Pacific Crest Trail
California is 770 miles long from Mexico to the Oregon border but also boasts a 1,200 mile long coastline and covers 156,000 square miles.
This offers a vast area for all kinds of landscape. The California segment of the Pacific Crest Trail is a total of 1,720 miles long as it zigzags across the land.
Because of its length, it is best divided into three sections. They are Southern, Central and Northern. Each offers its own ecology, terrain and weather issues.
Elevations in the State stretch from 282 feet below sea level (lowest point in the US) to 14,491 foot high Mount Whitney (the highest point in the lower 48 states). You will also encounter Mt. Shasta (elev. 14, 162). Fortunately the trail does not cross all of these extremes. However, the trail within California does vary from its lowest point at 1,190 feet to the highest point on the entire trail at 13,180 feet.
Below you will find some detail on the California section of the PCT. There are highways that you cross along with other easily identified places where you can have access without great difficulty for either starting or ending points. These places can also be used for resupply points for continuing on if you have support people that will meet you there.
Plot them out on a map and you can plan your own journey. I will try to indicate some of the various trail issues (altitude, water needs or environmental) that could cause you to adjust for your own hiking speeds.
Each of the California sections has its own unique test and type of wilderness to trek through. Decide where you want to start and how far you want to hike.
Sothern Section: From near the Mexican border to Walker Pass the trail is 648 miles. This is one of the better segments for short trips. Is very hot and dry in the peak summer time but offers a great example of the Mojave Desert as well as wooded mountain areas.
Central Section: From Walker Pass through Yosemite National Park to Donner Summit. It is approximately 505 miles long and includes a 200 mile section that never crosses a road. You will encounter the highest elevation on the entire trail, Forester Pass at 13,180 feet.
Northern Section: From Donner Summit to the Oregon border is another 578 miles and you will transition from the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the Cascades. You will first find Mount Whitney and you will next come on to the majestic Mount Shasta. This section ends at the Oregon border at Siskiyou Summit.
| The Pacific Crest Trail |