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Pacific Crest Trail

Miles to Date

347.3	Continuous PCT Trail Miles from Southern Terminus (to Date)
373.6 (+26.3)	Total Pacific Crest Trail Miles (to Date)

Introduction

Intro 1	Influence of Appalachian Trail
Intro 2	Introduction to Pacific Crest Trail
Links	PCT Resources

My PCT Experience

Stats	Track Progress
Relive	Relive GPS Videos
Pics	Picture Timeline
YouTube	YouTube Videos

Google Map of Brian's PCT Progress

[2020] Section A: Campo to Warner Springs (109.5 Miles) Map

Day 1	Sept 13	Pacific Crest Trail Southern Terminus to Lake Morena County Park (Mile 0-20)
	Sept 27	Fire ~ Trail Closed
Day 2	Oct 11	Lake Morena County Park to Desert View Picnic Site (Mile 20-42.6)
Day 3	Oct 27	Desert View Picnic Site to Sunrise Trailhead Connector (Mile 42.6-59.5)
	Nov 8	Cold, Rain/Snow, Wind
Day 4	Nov 22	Sunrise Trailhead Connector to Scissors Crossing (Mile 59.5-77.3)
Days 5-6	Dec 5-6	Scissors Crossing to Montezuma Valley Road (Mile 77.3-101.2)
Day 7a	Dec 20	Montezuma Valley Road to Warner Springs (Mile 101.2-109.5)

[2020-2021] Section B: Warner Springs to San Gorgonio Pass (97.5 Miles) Map

Day 7b	Dec 20	Warner Springs Bypass (Mile 109.5-111.5)
Day 8	Jan 17	Warner Springs to Chihuahua Valley Road (Mile 111.5-127.3)
	Jan 31	Winter Storm
Day 9	Feb 28	Chihuahua Valley Road to Angel Mary's Oasis (Mile 127.3-145.4)
Day 10	March 14	Angel Mary's Oasis to State Highway 74 (Mile 145.4-151.9)
Day 11	March 28	State Highway 74 to Cedar Springs Trail (Mile 151.9-162.6)
Day 12	April 25	Cedar Springs Trail to Saddle Junction (Mile 162.6-179.4)
Day 13	Oct 9	Saddle Junction to Fuller Ridge Trailhead (Mile 179.4-190.5)
Day 14	Oct 10	Fuller Ridge Trailhead to Snow Creek Trailhead (Mile 190.5-207)

[2021-2025] Section C: San Gorgonio Pass to Cajon Pass (134.9 Miles) Map

Day 15	Dec 12, 2021	Snow Creek Trailhead to Whitewater Canyon (Mile 207-218.6)
Days 16-18	Mar 25-27, 2022	Onyx Summit to Whitewater Canyon (Mile 252-218.6) [Southbound]
Day 19	June 4, 2022	Onyx Summit to State Hwy-18 (Mile 252-266)
Day 20	Aug 13, 2022	State Hwy-18 to Polique Canyon Road (Mile 266-278.5)
Day 21	May 10, 2025	Splinters Cabin Day Use Area to Polique Canyon Road (Mile 298.5-278.5) [Southbound]
Day 22	July 12, 2025	Splinters Cabin Day Use Area to Deep Creek Hot Springs (Mile 298.5-307.9)
Day 23	Nov 24, 2024	Deep Creek Hot Springs to Silverwood Lake (Cleghorn Road) (Mile 307.9-328.9)
Day 24	Oct 8, 2022	Silverwood Lake (Cleghorn Road) to Cajon Pass (Mile 328.9-341.8)

[2021-2025] Section D: Cajon Pass to Agua Dulce (112.6 Miles) Map

Day 25	April 16, 2023	Cajun Pass to Swarthout Canyon Rd - (Mile 341.8-347.3)
Leg 2	TBD	Swarthout Canyon Rd to Gobblers Knob Camp - 9.8 miles
Leg 3	TBD	Gobblers Knob Camp to Jackson Flat Group Campground - 14.3 miles
Leg 4	TBD	Jackson Flat Group Campground to Little Jimmy Trial Camp - 12.4 miles
Leg 5	TBD	Little Jimmy Trail Camp to Holcomb Canyon Camp - 9.8 miles
Leg 6	TBD	Holcomb Canyon Camp to Cooper Canyon Trail Camp - 14.2 miles
Leg 7	TBD	Cooper Canyon Trail Camp to Camp 8 - 16.5 miles
Leg 8	TBD	Camp 8 to Messenger Flats Campground - 18.7 miles
Leg 9	TBD	Messenger Flats Campground to Indian Canyon Trailhead 13.8 miles
Leg 10	Jan 31, 2021	Indian Canyon Trailhead (Acton) to Vasquez Rocks (Agua Dulce)  (444.2-454.5)

Section E: Agua Dulce to Tehachapi Pass (112 Miles) Map

Leg 1	TBD	Agua Dulce to Bouquet Canyon Road
Leg 2	TBD	Bouquet Canyon Road to San Francisquito Canyon Road
Leg 3	TBD	San Francisquito Canyon Road to Upper Shake Trail
Leg 4	TBD	Upper Shake Trail to Horse Camp Trail
Leg 5	TBD	Horse Trail Camp to State Highway 138
Leg 6	May 6, 2023	W. Rosamond Blvd (Cutoff) to State Hwy 138 (Hikertown USA) (531-517) [Southbound]
Leg 7	TBD	W. Rosamond Blvd (Cutoff) to Tylerhorse Canyon
Leg 8	TBD	Tylerhorse Canyon to Tehachapi Willow Springs Road
Leg 9	TBD	Tehachapi Willow Springs Road to Tehachapi Pass

Section F: Tehachapi Pass to Walker Pass (85.5 Miles)

Day	TBD	Coming Soon

Section G: Walker Pass to Kennedy Meadows (50.2 Miles)

Day	TBD	Coming Soon

Section H: Kennedy Meadows to Cottonwood Pass (48 Miles)

Day	TBD	Coming Soon

Section I: Cottonwood Pass to Florence Lake Trail (107.5 Miles)

Day	TBD	Coming Soon

Section J: Florence Lake Trail to Tuolumne Meadows (84.8 Miles)

Day	TBD	Coming Soon

Canada: Manning Park to PCT Northern Terminus (16.6 Miles)

June 26, 2023	Canada: Manning Park to PCT Northern Terminus (round trip)

PCT Day 22: Splinters Cabin Day Use Area to Deep Creek Hot Springs (Mile 298.5-307.9)

July 12, 2025	Splinters Cabin Day Use Area to Deep Creek Hot Springs
Mile 298.5-307.9	3:05 (moving) / 4:23 (total)
	Max 4,668 feet (+1,122 / -2,254)

Section A, B, C completed!

May 10th we just completed PCT Day 21 and already we were feeling the bug to get back on the trail and it was decided a few days later that our next PCT Day 22 would be July 12th.   That meant we had about 2 months of downtime, well not exactly because in June I ventured off and completed three more state highpoints #34 (Nebraska), #35 (Kansas) and #36 (Oklahoma).   

Section C is 134.9 miles and has taken us a few years to complete.  We started December 2021 and now finally completing the entire section in July 2025.   Breaking Section C in to daily hikes, it was 10 days including a 3 day (2 night) backpack section from mile 218.6-252.   We backpacked southbound for 3 days to take advantage of a little downhill, however one other southbound section was Day 21 which regretfully was an extremely long uphill day however the uphill challenge awarded us with getting to see more than 50 thru hikers heading north.    

Different from most PCT section hikes, because of the SOBO hike for Day 21 combined with skipping the Deep Creek section we had actually been to the trailheads of both the start and end of the hike. Once again we recruited Nick as our driver.  He would follow us to Bowen Ranch where we leave a car and drive us all the way back to Splinters Cabin Day Use Area trailhead.  It was already a long drive of a solid hour, so would pay off at the end of the day without having to drive back and pick up a 2nd car from where we started.   

The Silverwood Lake fire a week before our hike and scorched a large section of Silverwood Lake area including the PCT, fortunately we had already completed that section.   The fire was out but has lasting effects and for a week leading up to our hike and now already a week after our hike Rt-138 has been closed.  This required us driving all the way back to the I-15 and coming up to Lake Arrowhead up Rt 18 which about doubled the drive from where we dropped of our car in the morning requiring a solid 2 hours drive.  Ugh.

The actual section of the PCT is only about 9.5 miles, however, in addition to the long drive between trailheads, there was nearly 2 miles to access the PCT on each end of the hike.   The last two miles hiking out of Deep Creek Hot Springs was going to be steep not to mention hot in the middle of July.  An early start would be needed but logistically there was no easy way to get to the trailhead very early.  We set the alarm for 3:45 a.m. and drove 1 hour to our meeting place at McDonalds at the Cajon Pass.  We arrived 10 minutes before they opened and getting out of our car at about 3,700 feet cars it was noticeable colder than when we left home near sea level.  

One of my regular hiking buddies, Matt, had shown interest in joining me for a PCT section and this would be his first time doing a complete section together tho once or twice on other hikes we had been on small sections of the PCT.    Matt had a new AWD vehicle and wanted to break it in so he would drive himself separate to our ending location at Bowen Ranch.    Bowen Ranch was only 45 minutes away from McDonalds so all 3 vehicles drove to our drop off location.    We were surprised to see that most of the desert on both sides of the log dirt road had been scorched by yet another recent fire that had occurred since our last visit last fall.   We could clearly see signs of fire retardant dumped on the landscape trying to contain the fire's perimeter.

Arriving at Bowen Ranch now for our 2nd visit we knew a little more of what to expect.   Apparently "official" opening time isn't until 8 a.m. so we probably woke the locals that live in a trailer at the entrance.   Apparently entry fee is not optional and they charge $10 per person.   Since only 3 of us were hiking we put $30 in an envelope and about the time we were filling out our vehicle information a guy came out to check on us.   We shared with him our 4th person and 3rd vehicle was driving us out so we didn't have to pay for him.

We then hopped into Nick's truck and began the long drive around the mountain to our starting trailhead at Splinters Cabin Day Use area.   We eventually started our hike at 8:55 a.m. or nearly 4 hours after leaving home.   Once again we had done this first 2 miles two months ago so we knew exactly where to go this time.   It was already pretty warm early in the morning, so we knew we were going to have a hot day ahead of us.   There is good signage to get you to the PCT, nearly 2 miles from where we were dropped off.    I didn't expect to see any hikers on the PCT today, but to our surprise there was a young couple we passed on their way up from Splinters Day Use area that looks like they just did a short out and back.     The bridge is the obvious landmark and I think for the 2nd time we zigged when we should have zagged and were slightly off trail when we reached the river.   The bridge was visible off to our left so it was an easy route change to get us back on track. 

Now at the bridge I reset my Garmin watch to track our progress on the PCT section separately.   We knew only 1.5 miles into our hike we would reach the coveted 300 mile marker.   We anxiously looked around every corner hoping to see it and finally it came into view.   Every century on the PCT is a badge of accomplishment and something to look forward.   While 300 miles into our journey is a long ways, I had already done the next 3 sections so by then end of the day I would have connected 347.3 miles of contiguous trail.   Since we are section hiking there are also numerous since trails that would be in addition to that total.   For example, just today was an extra 4 miles of "extra credit" getting to the PCT and then off the PCT back to our vehicles at the other end.

We knew the 9.5 miles were going to be scenic as we just follow the river all the way to Desert Hot Springs.   Overall we would have 2,254 feet of downhill however the trail was very tricky in that hidden in the downhill was surprisingly 1,122 feet uphill so the easy "downhill" hike was actually a lot of work in the heat.   We took our time enjoying the views of the river below.   For some reason I was thinking we would mostly be hiking river level however most of the hike was on the highest part of the ridge alongside the river.   

 

Just when you think you are in the middle of nowhere, we heard voices coming from the river below.   It ends up there are some dirt trails that may only be accessible to off road motorcycles and a few riders braved the heat and were taking a break alongside the river.   We took at least two breaks, one shorter break on some benches that were conveniently located under a big shade tree and then a second break where there were some rocks that made great benches that lined a side waterway.  The waterway was dry but provided enough water earlier in the spring that there were some nice trees which again offered protection from the sun.     There was one more bridge crossing we had before the hot springs which was perfectly placed because it would have been a sketchy ravine crossing had there not been a bridge.  It's hard to imagine what went into building that bridge in the middle of nowhere.

 

The main river winds thru the mountains and each twist of the trail is a repeating pattern that the scenery doesn't really change.   Since we had once previously hiked down from Bowen Ranch to the PCT I had a vision in my head what it looked like and once or twice thought we were getting close, yet we were still too far away for the vision to make sense.   The first time when I thought we were approaching the hot springs area I was mistaken.   The second time with a similar view I didn't make the same mistake.  Finally the 3rd time I could see hikers heading from the Hot Springs back up to their car on the trail so I knew we were finally getting close.   

The last time we started from the Hot Springs it was a cold fall morning, and we had a long hike ahead, so we didn't jump in the springs.   This time we packed bathing suits and were planning on taking full advantage of the added perk along the PCT at the (near) end of our hike.   There was no mistaken the hot springs, there were dozens of people already there and lots of noise from talking and music.  We all decided it was so hot we really didn't need to change into our swim trucks as our cloths would dry out quickly on the final hike out.   The Hot Springs because of their remoteness and high volume of visitors unfortunately is kind of dirty with lots of trash that people have left behind.   Also, the water is known to have a high concentration of bacteria, so it's recommended not to put you head in the water.    

There was cold water coming in from one side and a couple different hot springs feeding the area.   The closer you got to a hot springs the warmer the water but no matter where you went in the spring the water was pleasantly warm.   A couple smaller pools captured the hot springs before it fed into the main watering hole, but those areas were too hot to enjoy, especially on a 95 degree day.    We all shared that it was probably one of the biggest rewards at the end of a hike to soak our weary feet.   We stayed about 30 minutes before putting our shoes back on and starting the climb upward toward our vehicles. 

There isn't an easy way to cross the river without going thru the springs, so we headed a little further north to the other side of the spring and found a way over a bunch of rocks to get safely to the other side of the river.   The hill back up is relentless.   There were a few people hiking down from Bowen Ranch carrying coolers, chairs, a big speaker, plus their packs.   I can only imagine their struggle hauling all that stuff back out up the hill.   Afternoon was total exposure of sun and not many places to find shade.  We slowly made our way back to our vehicles up the incline all the way back to the top of the ravine.  Another successful and very fun section is in the books!