When do pct permits open 2022?
It’s important that you read, understand and follow all the information outlined on our permit page. You’ll also find answers and important trip planning information in the Discover the Trail section of our website.
The PCT long-distance permit is only for people who are traveling 500 or more continuous miles in a single trip. If you are doing a series of section hikes, or not hiking 500 continuous miles in a single trip, you’ll need to apply for permits from the local land management agency where you will start your trip. We’re happy to explain how to do this if you need help.
The PCT long-distance permit is an interagency permit that allows people to travel through areas where local wilderness permits are required. Through our partnership with federal and state land management agencies, PCTA issues this permit on behalf of the government.
The USDA Forest Service authorizes PCTA to issue permits with the following restrictions:
You must start on the day and at the location listed on your permit. Your permit is only valid if you follow the terms of the permit, and all laws, rules, and regulations.
These permits are limited to 50 people per day. We will release these permits in two phases, so if you miss getting a permit in the first phase, you’ll have the opportunity to try again.
We’ll start accepting permit applications on January 11 at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.
On permit launch days, November 9 and January 11, you’ll see a waiting room system on our website. It’s there to improve the experience for everyone.
When you visit the permit application on one of those days, you’ll be automatically assigned a place in line. You’ll see how many people are in front of you and how long the expected wait time will be. When it’s your turn, you’ll have 10 minutes to enter the permit application and start applying. Then, you’ll have 20 minutes to fill out the application, and it typically takes less than 8 minutes.
Be advised that due to the high interest in these permits, it may take up to 3 hours for applicants to navigate the queue. Plan on that when scheduling your day.
Prior to 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time on November 9, the permit application will not be available. If you arrive early, you will be assigned a random place in line (alongside everyone else who also arrives before 10:30 a.m.). Anyone who arrives after 10:30 a.m. will get a place at the back of the line. We encourage you to arrive a couple of minutes before 10:30 a.m. but there is no benefit to arriving much earlier than that.
If you are not applying for a permit for a trip starting at the Mexican border, we request that you do not visit the permit application on November 9 to reduce the number of people attempting to access it at the same time.
To fill out the application, you’ll need your name, address, start and end date and start and end location. Not sure when or where to start? Check out our page with information about when to hike the PCT. Please carefully choose a start date that meets your level of experience and ability; many people who start too early or too late run in to challenges beyond their skill level. Just because a permit is available doesn’t mean that conditions are favorable for all skill levels.
The interagency PCT long-distance permits are free, and while applying, you can decide whether you want to make a donation to the trail.
Submitting an application secures your requested reservation date. We’ll review applications in the days and weeks following the permit opening. Do not submit more than one request. You are advised to wait until your application is reviewed and approved before making travel arrangements.
Because of the ongoing pandemic, catastrophic wildfires in 2020 and 2021, and reduced levels of trail maintenance, 2022 will be a challenging year for long-distance travel on the PCT. While you may apply for a permit, there could be travel restrictions or stay-at-home orders put in place at any time and you may need to cancel your trip and go home. There may also be sections of the PCT closed to travel from previous or ongoing wildfires.
Please read our Guidance for Visiting the PCT During the Covid-19 Pandemic for help with your decision to take a trip, and how your trip will be impacted if you go.
Please take a moment to check out our PCT specific Leave No Trace information. It’s up to all of us to take care of the trail and the surrounding landscape. Following LNT practices is important for protecting the environment along the trail and ensuring that the PCT provides a wild experience for all hikers and horseback riders for years to come.
To be eligible for a permit on the first release date on November 15th at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time, you must register ahead of time at permit.pcta.org. Registration opened on October 12th and will remain open until November 1st at five p.m. PT. When registering, you’ll enter your phone number, email address, date of birth, and other contact information. Note that registering doesn’t ensure that you’ll receive a permit—it only means that you are eligible to apply for one.
Also new is the ability to apply for the same permit date as your hiking partner. After registering, you’ll have the option to link the two applications so that both of you can get the same itinerary. You must set this up in the permit management portal at least 24 hours before the permit release. On permit day, only one of you will enter the queue. When it’s their turn, they will be able to select a date that has two or more spaces available. Once they’ve submitted the application, applications for both people will be created.
What won’t change is the number of permits available on each release date. The number of permits per day will remain at 35 for the first round on November 15th, as in past years.
Additional note: The first permit release specifically pertains to anyone planning a northbound thru-hike. It also applies to northbound trips 500 or more continuous miles in length that start south of Sonora Pass anytime between March 1st and May 31st.
As with the first release date, you will need to register ahead of time to be eligible to apply for a permit on Tuesday, January 10th at 10:30 a.m. PT. You may register up until January 5th at five p.m. PT.
Again, the number of permits for the second release date will stay the same as before at 15 per day.
Additional note: The second permit release pertains to those planning for a southbound trip or those who weren’t successful in obtaining a northbound permit in the first round.
If you still have questions about the new changes to the PCT permit process, visit permit.pcta.org. You can also check out How To Score a PCT Long-distance Permit to read a more detailed overview of the permit process. But more importantly, don’t fret. If anything, the changes to the permit application process should help things run more smoothly. Just make sure to register ahead of time!
Most northbound thru-hikers start the PCT in mid-April through early May. Southbound hikers generally start in late June through early July. Many people want to start early. Beware. Snow covers sections of the trail in the spring and early summer. In Southern California, dangerous stretches blanket the trail within the first 200 miles of the border. If you head into the Sierra too early, you’ll face significant snow and stream crossing obstacles. In Washington, steep, risky snow slopes turn PCT travel into mountaineering well into early July. Learn more about when to hike the PCT.
Late starts also present problems. Southern California can be dangerously hot and your safety may be at risk. If you’re starting late and plan to do the whole trail as a thru-hike, you’ll face other problems. Are you fit and lucky enough to be able to sustain endurance power-hiking? Will winter shut down travel before you are done?
We recommend studying the conditions and starting around the “usual window” of opportunity.
The trail is 2,650 miles and it generally takes the entire snow-free season to walk. That’s about 5 months. Elite athletes who are experienced on the PCT have finished the trail in as little as two months. The few who achieve sub-100 day hikes average well over 30 miles per day. That’s an incredible achievement. More average hikers take the entire season. Whether they’re out for 4.5 months or 5.5 depends on small differences in daily mileage and time off in towns. Rarely, people successfully stay on the trail for six or more months. Beware that extended itineraries generally include snow travel or extensive time waiting for it to melt. Frequently, people that are on the trail during the wrong season have to quit due to dangerous snow conditions. Being on the trail during early winter snows can be deadly.
Head on over to our permit page for all of the details.
Read how on our PCT transportation page.
This depends on season, snowpack and your personal risk tolerance. Many northbound hikers carry an ice axe and hiking crampons starting at Kennedy Meadows. Falls on steep, potentially icy snow can be a real danger. PCT hikers have been saved by these safety tools and their knowledge on how to use them. If you’re carrying an ice axe through the Sierra, you’ll probably want to keep it until you are north of Sonora Pass (which can be dangerous). Read our page on snow information.
Some seasons, they may be required in the mountains of Southern California. San Jacinto and Mt. Baden Powell are generally the problem spots in Socal. Learn more.
Yes, and the view is fantastic! You’re welcome to day hike to the summit. PCT long-distance permit holders are not allowed to camp east of the Crabtree Ranger Station – that includes no camping at Guitar Lake or on the mountain itself.
Have you read about the critical importance of leaving a trip plan and having a communications plan? Share that page with your family as well.
Generally, it’s not hard to stay connected for those who carry modern technology. Cell phone reception is sometimes available on the trail. You can also carry an emergency locator beacon such as a PLB or a satellite messenger that works when you’re away from cell towers. You may be able to supplement occasional phone calls and letters home with messages relayed by hikers, riders, or others you meet along the trail. Finally, the more your loved ones know about the trail, the better.
The PCT is fairly well marked and described on maps and in guidebooks. The trail tread is also well defined. If you have decent backcountry fundamentals, you should be able to find the trail easily when it’s not covered in snow.
Mark them on your map and send in a report on our trail conditions webpage. If it’s a really important and pressing update, call the PCTA at 916-285-1846 and the local ranger station (or if it’s a true emergency, call 911) to report the problem. We’ll share the information with our crews, partners and the trail community in general. Please be as specific as possible.
A typical hiker spends between $4000-8000+ on a thru-hike. Do you like fancy hotels and nice dinners? Are you eating baloney sandwiches and skipping showers? Did you have to visit a doctor or take a week off in town? Are you including the cost of insurance in your cost calculation? Transportation?
As in life, people spend wildly different amounts of money. Beware of starting with too little. The trail can be expensive. Many people under-estimate how much the experience will cost. Running out of money is one of the most commonly cited reasons for why people quit the trail.
For many, it’s longer than it takes to hike it – maybe 6 to 8 months. Some people are ready within a few weeks of deciding to go. It depends a lot on your life situation. Do you need to sell a house? Are you already free ranging and jobless and have plenty of money? Sorting out resupply strategies and securing permits can be a quick process compared to getting your life in order for a five month adventure. At the minimum, you should have a few weeks to secure transportation to the border and permits to hike.
Depends on the individual, but most hikers find that a down or synthetic bag rated at +15-20° F is a good compromise between warmth and weight/bulk. You will need to protect your bag and clothes from rain and immersion during river crossings.
We really don’t know. Take a look at our visitor use statistics page and 2600 miler list for our best guess.
Sorry, the PCTA does not validate, nor verify, records. They’re fraught with arguable points and are difficult to authenticate. We limit ourselves to stewarding the list of people who reported finishing the trail and instead focus on the important work of preserving, protecting and promoting the PCT.
Partially, it’s culture. PCT hikers go north because that’s what most people do. It also allows for more water in the desert and an easier start compared to a snowbound North Cascades. We think that more people could consider southbound hikes. Read more on our Northbound vs. Southbound page.
Have you read our advice for international hikers yet?
Generally, long distance hikers should look to obtain a six month multiple entry B-2 visa from their local U.S. embassy. International visitors on a six month B-2 visa should plan to complete their hike (including time before and after the trail) within their six month window. You may, or may not, be able to extend it while in the United States. If you will be in the United States for less than 90 days, some international visitors do not require a visa. We recommend reading travel.state.gov for official information.
A multiple entry visa should allow you to re-enter the United States if you hike into Canada. All other permits apply.
Please consult the U.S. Department of State or your visa adviser for official information about U.S. visas.
The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) has – again – updated the process for obtaining a Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) permit.
The permit process has evolved over the years and has never been perfect, but with the huge demand for the limited number of permits available each year (especially during the most popular departure windows) the PCTA has been forced to adapt the procedure for getting a permit.
Will the changes finally mean that everyone is happy with the PCT permit application process? Probably not. But hopefully, they’re an improvement upon the current system.
TL;DR: You now need to register before you apply for a permit. Register at 2023.permit.pcta.org beginning at 10:30 AM Pacific on October 12, 2022. Register before 5 PM Pacific on November 1, 2022, to apply for a permit on November 15, 2022, or register before 5 PM Pacific on January 5, 2023, to apply for a permit on January 10, 2023.It’s also now easier to apply for a permit on the same date as someone else.
Pacific Crest Trail permits for northbound hikes are released in two phases. Hikers will now need to register beforehand to participate on the first day of each phase (i.e. the days when nearly every available will be claimed).
Registration opens at 2023.permit.pcta.org at 10:30 AM Pacific on October 12, 2022. You must register before 5 PM Pacific on November 1, 2022, if you wish to apply for a permit on November 15, 2022. You must register before 5 PM Pacific on January 5, 2023, if you wish to apply for a permit on January 10, 2023.
During the first phase, beginning November 15, 2022, at 10:30 AM Pacific, 70% of northbound permits (35 per day) are made available. During the second phase, beginning January 10, 2023, at 10:30 AM Pacific, the remaining 30% of northbound permits (15 per day) are made available.
All southbound permits will be available at 10:30 AM Pacific on January 10, 2023.
You’ll need to provide your phone name, number, email, date of birth, and contact information when registering.
Registering does not mean you are guaranteed a permit. – only the opportunity to apply.
Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers with the hopes of beginning on the same date as someone else (friend, relative, lover, stranger, etc.) have long suffered with the issue of, “HOW DO WE GET THE SAME PERMIT DATE?!”
This has been particularly stressful for those with fixed timeframes for being on the trail or those traveling great distances to reach the trail.
Apparently, the Pacific Crest Trail Association is attempting to resolve the issue this year. They’ve stated, “you will be able to link yourselves together so that one person enters the queue and submits applications for both of you at the same time.”
But so many questions remain. Will this affect the other person’s spot in the queue? Can both people be in the queue at once? What if there’s only one more spot on the hoped-for date but one person decides they want it more than they want to begin with someone else? Will there be two different permits issued? Will each permit have both names?
Hopefully, the introduction of this new variable goes smoothly, but I can also see it bringing more confusion and/or complications to the process.
Source: Pacific Crest Trail Association
You must register before 5 PM Pacific on November 1, 2022, if you wish to apply for a permit on November 15, 2022. You must register before 5 PM Pacific on January 5, 2023, if you wish to apply for a permit on January 10, 2023.
