Moon Travel Guides - Moon Drive & Hike Pacific Crest Trail: The Best Trail Towns, Day Hikes, and Road Trips In Between

CAROLINE HINCHLIFF

I wish I could do that.

When I tell people I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, this is the response I get. I understand the sentimentI still reminisce about the summer of 2014 that I spent trekking through the wilderness of California, Oregon, and Washington with a 30-pound backpack strapped to my hips and near-destroyed sneakers laced around my aching feet. My thru-hike was an epic journey that forever changed my perspective on happiness and success.

Cheryl Strayeds bestselling book Wild (and the subsequent film) turned the PCT into a household name. The trail is now known as one of the best ways to experience the rugged, scenic West, but for many reasonsfamily, career, health, financesmost people are unable to venture into the wilderness for five months. Almost everyone, though, gets a few days of vacation every year and can squeeze a road trip into the plan.

This is your accessible, approachable route to the most beautiful places on the 2,650-mile trail. From Campo to Canada, this road trip parallels the PCT, offering many of the same spectacular opportunities (without the giant backpack or the gruesome blisters). Gaze out over the vast expanse of the desert ranges. Marvel at the rugged, towering High Sierra and the formidable Cascade volcanoes. Wander the misty, mossy rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. Theres much more to see than hiking trails: visit steaming natural hot springs, paddle wild and scenic rivers on a whitewater raft, cruise down rocky slopes on a mountain bike, or amble through thick woods on horseback. Historic and charming trail towns peppered along the route welcome weary hikers and cater to the adventurous spirit.

You dont have to quit your job or leave your life behind to have an authentic PCT experience. After exploring the trail as both a thru-hiker and a road-tripper, I can assure you that this version is just as spectacular (and considerably more comfortable).

This road trip is the answer to your wisha guide for hikers and road-trippers alike to experience the stunning beauty and wild splendor of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Hike an Alpine Landscape: Wade across glacier-fed streams and wander through wildflower-speckled meadows on the flanks of remote Mount

Soak in Hot Springs: Follow the PCT along the banks of the Mojave River and over a rainbow-painted bridge to reach , a desert oasis on the north side of the San Bernardino Mountains.

Drive a Scenic Byway: Zoom along a legendary stretch of the through the rugged San Gabriel Mountains, stopping for views of Los Angeles and the Mojave Desert more than a mile below.

Gaze at Mountain Peaks: Enjoy the views from Whitney Portal, the gateway to the highest peak in the lower 48 states, sky-piercing .

Explore Yosemites High Country: Experience the national parks high Sierra via Tioga Pass, with stops to admire alpine .

Wander Amid Waterfalls: Dip your toes into an ice-cold plunge pool below , where thousands of natural springs cascade over a basalt cliff.

Climb a Volcano: Journey through a volcanic wonderland to summit , the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Mountain range.

Cruise Around a Sunken Caldera: Descend into s ancient caldera and motor across the surface of the deepest, clearest lake in America.

Swim in Mountain Lakes: Splash into warm and fill your belly with fresh huckleberries in this unheralded wilderness area between three volcanoes.

Leave Civilization Behind: Escape to remote, secluded village in the North Cascades, accessible only by boat or hiking trail.

Where to Go

Southern California

East of San Diego, the Pacific Crest Trail begins its northbound journey from the border near Campo. The trail passes through mountains to visit the old mining town of Julian before grazing past austere Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to climb into the artsy town of Idyllwild.

Big Bear Lake is a hub for year-round sports and recreation. Near the Angeles Crest Scenic Byway,