Are PCT permits hard to get?

Getting a Pacific Crest Trail permit is the first step of any PCT thru-hike. A lot of future thru-hikers stress out over this process since it's essentially a lottery. That said, your odds of getting a permit are excellent. However, your odds of getting a permit for one specific date are less excellent.



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The PCT is harder logistically than the AT which has ample trail towns or a water supply nearly every five to eight miles. In the PCT desert, water is scarce. You need to fill up at water caches and carry more water through long, waterless stretches of the desert.

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The PCT has great views from day one. You're guaranteed a pretty panorama every day, and not just at viewpoints. Think about some of the PCT highlights. San Jacinto, Forester Pass, Kings Canyon, Crater Lake, and Goat Rocks, among others.

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As hard as hiking the PCT will be, it's 100% worth it. The Pacific Crest Trail is notorious for having the lowest completion rate of any long-distance trail and you'll see why when you're on it. If you're planning to hike the PCT, it takes commitment. Don't give up on yourself too quickly when the going gets tough.

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You'll want to note that the AT takes five to seven months to complete its 2,190 miles, while the PCT take four to six months to complete 2,650 miles of trail. That shows, when evaluating the most obvious factor, terrain, the AT is without question the more difficult of the two trails.

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The climb out of Hauser Canyon is cited by many hikers as one of the hardest sections of the PCT because it is typically the first day. It is common not make the 20 miles in one day, be prepared with a tent as Hauser Canyon is a popular backcountry camping spot.

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From near Siskiyou Summit (elev. 4,310') in southern Oregon to the Washington border, this section is both the shortest and the easiest to hike or ride. Oregon's Cascade Range is a subdued volcanic landscape, with a gentle crest that is fairly constant in elevation.

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Considered by many to be “the easiest section of the Pacific Crest Trail”, crossing the Oregon border from California represents more than just the point in the trail where marijuana becomes legal for recreational use .

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