Established: October 2, 1968
Managing Nonprofit: Pacific Crest Trail Association
Managing Agency: USDA Forest Service
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCNST) was one of the first two trails, along with the Appalachian NST, to receive a National Trail designation as part of the passage of the 1968 National Trails System Act. The Trail passes through desert at its south end; winds through mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada, Klamath, and Cascades; traverses six national parks including Yosemite; and explores the old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. The PCNST is one of three trails that a person has to thru-hike to earn the title of “Triple Crowner”. The other two “Triple Crown” trails are the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.
Southern Terminus: US-Mexico border just south of Campo, California
Northern Terminus: US-Canada border near Ross Lake, Washington
The PCNST runs more than 2600 miles from the US-Mexico border to the Canadian border through three states: California, Oregon, and Washington.