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You've heard of the Appalachian Trail, right? Spanning nearly 2,200 miles and passing through 14 states, from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine, this trail is a whopper. But we're here today to talk about a different trail. This one's on the western coast and it beats the Appalachian in total length by a few hundred miles.
That's right, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is massive (2,659 miles to be exact). It covers quite a few states, plus it stretches even a bit farther: all the way from bottom of British Columbia, Canada to the top of Mexico (just south of Campo, California). If you're anywhere near the western United States on locum tenens assignment this summer, be sure to take a bite out of this trail. It's truly unforgettable.
Officially designated a National Scenic Trail in 1968 and finally completed in 1993, the PCT runs through seven national parks, and 25 national forests. It's understandable if you can't tackle the PCT in its entirety. Doing so takes months of preparation as well as months of actual hiking. If you do plan to tackle a thru-hike someday you can be sure to spend at least four months on the trail.
We recommend day or section hiking the PCT for starters. It wouldn't be a bad idea to pick up a guidebook, either. One of these gems represents not only some sound safety advice but also thousands of hours of trail research.
Are you looking for a particularly notable section hike? Head to Crown Point in Washington State – it's a 7.5-mile loop with a steady elevation climb. You can find everything you need to know about the trailhead location as well as driving directions right here. Most importantly, it's full of mesmerizing views no camera known to man can recreate. Nope, these sights are for your eyes only.