The Pacific Crest Trail spans three states: California, Oregon and Washington. The trail is 2,650 miles long beginning in Mexico and ending in Canada. It's part of the National Trail System of America, which includes other trails such as the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Ice Age Trail.
In the 1930s, Clinton C. Clarke, a Boy Scout and Harvard graduate, came up with the idea of a trail that spread from one national border to the other. The route was explored and mapped by 40 YMCA groups during the 1935 to 1938 summer months. President Johnson put through the National Trail Systems Act on Oct. 2, 1968. Johnson signed the act, which stated that the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail would become America's first scenic trails. The trail was officially complete in 1993 after volunteers constructed the remainder of the trail.
The trail's trek through California begins near a small town by the Mexican border called Campo at about 2,600 feet. Hikers then travel through the Anza-Borrego State Park, near Big Bear Lake, the Mojave Desert and the Tehachapi Mountains. The trail then travels through central California, beginning in Walker Pass. Hikers travel to places such as Sequoia National Park, Sonora Pass and Echo Summit. Northern California's section begins north of Donner Summit. The trail takes travelers to other destinations such as Lassen Volcanic National Park, the Sacramento River and the Siskiyou Mountains. The Southern California section is recommended to be traveled during the months of April to May while the central and northern California sections are recommended to be traveled from July to September.
The Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail is 430 miles long and is recommended to be traveled during the months of July to September. The trail takes hikers around the slopes of Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson and Diamond Peak, giving travelers views of each peak. Hikers travel through Crater Lake National Park, the Diamond Peak wilderness and the Three Sisters Wilderness.
The Washington stretch of the trail is 500 miles and is recommended to be traveled in the months of August to September. It begins at the Columbia River gorge and goes through White Pass. Hikers then travel through places such as Glacier Peak wilderness, North Cascades National Park and Lakeview ridge. This section of trail has many high ridges and passes before ending on the Canadian border.
