You don't have to disappear from civilization for months to
enjoy the PCT. Located within driving distance of San Diego,
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland, and Seattle,
the PCT is both accessible and wild. So if you've only got a
day to spare, you can still get out there.
To help you make the most of the time you've got, Wilderness
Press permits us to post day hikes from the books Day
Hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail: California and Day Hikes
on the Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon & Washington by
George and Patricia Semb (published by Wilderness
Press). The following PCT hikes were posted in May, 2004.
These hikes have been chosen at random -- their month of posting
is not an indication of trail conditions.
California
Oregon
Washington
California:
Lake Morena County Park to Cibbets Flat CG
Map: A-3 (Cleveland NF)
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 13.4 miles (12.6 PCT miles)
Hike: We did this hike N>S because of the elevation
change, from 3065 feet at Lake Morena County Park to 4410
feet at Fred Canyon road. This is not a huge climb, but when
we have a choice, we sometimes prefer down to up. However,
to be consistent with the flow of trail, we describe the hike
S>N. From the entrance to Lake Morena County Park (3065),
hike north on Lake Shore Drive. PCT signs on the telephone
poles mark the way. In about 200 yards (0.1 mile) a sign directs
you to the PCT. In 4.0 miles you reach Cottonwood Creek (3065),
and in another 1.8 miles the Boulder Oaks CG (3170). Walk
another 0.4 mile through the CG to Boulder Oaks Store (3150).
Immediately across the road is the PCT TH. From here, you
hike 3.8 miles, passing under Highway I-8 and up to a crossing
of Kitchen Creek road (3990). (If you turn around, you can
see Highway I-8 and Lake Morena in the distance. It is nice
to be able to see where you have been, and where you are going.
Such vistas are common along the PCT.) Continue 2.5 miles
into Fred Canyon to Fred Canyon Road 16S08 (4410). Hike 0.8
mile down Fred Canyon Road 16S08 to the Cibbets Flat CG.
Drive to Lake Morena County Park: Take the Buckman
Springs exit off I-8. Go W 0.1 mile to Highway S1. Turn left
(S) and go 5.3 miles to Oak Drive. Bear right (SW) on Oak
Drive and go 1.5 mile to Lake Morena Drive. Turn right (NW)
on Lake Morena Drive and go 0.4 mile to the County Park.
Drive to Cibbets Flat CG: Travel on Highway I-8 to
Cameron Station/Kitchen Creek road exit. Go north on paved
Kitchen Creek road. You cross the PCT 2.5 miles north of the
exit. Continue another 2.2 miles to the Cibbets Flat CG access
road. Turn right (E) and follow the access road 0.2 mile to
the CG and Fred Canyon Road 16S08. You can park outside the
CG along Fred Canyon road. As you enter National Forest land
at the Cameron Fire Station, a sign greets you, PARKED VEHICLES
MUST DISPLAY A FOREST ADVENTURE PASS. It cost $5 a day, or
$30 for an annual pass. This pass covers, S>N, Cleveland,
San Bernardino, Angeles, and Los Padres National Forests.`
For an extra $5, you can get a permit for a second car, but
the second permit can be obtained only from a District Office.
Day and single-vehicle passes are available at ranger stations,
gas stations, and places that sell outdoor gear (e.g., REI
and Adventure 16). The fine for not displayed a pass in required
areas is $100. According to the brochure, 80% of the funds
obtained from the passes - and from the fines we assume -
go back to the National Forest where the fee was collected.
Oregon:
Summit TH on Highway 140 to Badger Lake TH in Fourmile
Lake CG
Map: C-1 (Rogue River NF)
Distance: 10.9 miles (8.4 PCT miles)
Difficulty: Easy
Hike: From the Summit TH off Highway 140 (4980), follow
the access trail to the PCT. Go N 4.3 miles on the PCT to
the Mt. McLoughlin Trail. Continue N 4.1 miles to Twin Ponds
Trail 3715 (5840), which you follow SE 2.5 miles past Squaw
Lake to the Badger Lake TH in Fourmile CG.
Drive to Summit TH on Highway 140 near Fish Lake:
The TH is off Highway 140 near Fish Lake. There is a parking
area off the Highway. There is an access trail to the PCT
from the TH parking area. The PCT crosses the highway 0.4
mile west of the Summit TH.
Drive to Badger Lake TH in Fourmile Lake CG: From
the Summit TH parking area, go E 3.2 miles on Highway 140
to dirt FR 3661. Turn left (N) on FR 3661 - follow the FOURMILE
LAKE sign - and go 6.1 miles to the Fourmile CG and Badger
Lake TH. (When we were there in late May, the lake was so
high that it covered picnic tables and campsites. Fortunately,
the lake recedes in the summer.)
Washington:
FR 65 near Panther Creek CG to FR 60 at Crest CG
Map: H-4 (Gifford Pinchot NF)
Distance: 15.5 miles (all on PCT)
Difficulty: Moderate
Hike: Because there is a 2000+ elevation change in
this hike, some may prefer to do it N>S. From Panther Creek
Road 65 (930), climb NE 4.7 miles to FR 68. Go E 4.0 miles
to the Big Huckleberry Mountain trail (4070). Turn N 3.3 miles
to a saddle near FR 6801 (3220), then hike 3.5 miles to FR
60 at the Crest CG (3490).
Drive to FR 65 near Panther Creek CG: Take Highway
14 to Wind River Road - FR 30 on USFS maps. Turn NW and go
5.7 miles to Old State road. Go E on Old State Road for 0.1
mile (from the junction with Wind River road) to paved Panther
Creek road. Turn left (NW) - follow the signs for Panther
Creek CG - and go 0.9 mile to where Panther Creek road becomes
FR 65. Continue straight (N) on FR 65 and go 1.7 miles to
the PCT. The Panther Creek Horse Staging Area adjacent to
the PCT provides a place to park.
Drive to FR 60 near Crest CG: From Panther Creek Staging
Area, go N 8.2 miles on paved FR 65 to dirt FR 60. Turn right
(E) and go 2.1 miles to the Crest CG and the PCT. Your teeth
may chatter along FR 60 because it's more like a wash board
than a superhighway.
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