Should I hike the PCT or CDT?

To call it the Continental Divide Trail at this point is a bit of a stretch. It should really be called the Continental Divide Route. If you want to hike an actual trail, hike the PCT; if you want to walk a bunch of forest roads (and paved highways), hike the CDT.



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The Continental Divide Trail may not be as well-known as the Pacific Crest Trail on a large scale (and this is a good thing), but among hikers, the CDT is largely regarded as the more challenging of the two trails.

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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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The Pacific Crest Trail Association estimates that 700 to 800 people attempt to thru-hike it each year, and about 15% to 35% (versus the AT's 25%) actually succeed.

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Extreme Temperatures. Weather on the PCT can range from extreme heat to extreme cold, even on the same day. The desert can get upwards of 100 degrees during the day and below freezing at night. Don't let the snow fool ya in the Sierra, it can get pretty dang hot there too.

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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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Massive high mountain passes, raging rivers, remote backcountry granite peaks, and pristine wilderness mark the northernmost section of the CDT—and aids in the escape and immersion into some of the most remote areas of continental America. Around here, snow sticks late into June and begins to fall again in September.

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How well marked is the Continental Divide Trail? The CDT is the least well marked of the Triple Crown trails.

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