v2.webp){kind=logo}
- Southern California desert to mountain transition — The PCT starts by throwing you into the stark, beautiful Mojave/Colorado Desert: wide washes, ocotillo, and Joshua trees, then climbs out into pine-scented foothills. It’s special because of the extreme contrast in a short distance (and the constant, sobering reminder to plan water carefully). Expect desert wildlife, palm oases, and dramatic elevation gain that makes the rest of the hike feel earned.
- High Sierra / John Muir Wilderness (including Forester Pass) — Towering granite, mirror-flat alpine lakes, massive talus fields and snowfields dominate here. Forester Pass is the highest point on the PCT and gives that classic “you’re up in the roof of the world” feeling: knife-edge granite, glacial views and long, strenuous passes. This alpine
- Southern California desert to mountain transition — The PCT starts by throwing you into the stark, beautiful Mojave/Colorado Desert: wide washes, ocotillo, and Joshua trees, then climbs out into pine-scented foothills. It’s special because of the extreme contrast in a short distance (and the constant, sobering reminder to plan water carefully). Expect desert wildlife, palm oases, and dramatic elevation gain that makes the rest of the hike feel earned.
- High Sierra / John Muir Wilderness (including Forester Pass) — Towering granite, mirror-flat alpine lakes, massive talus fields and snowfields dominate here. Forester Pass is the highest point on the PCT and gives that classic “you’re up in the roof of the world” feeling: knife-edge granite, glacial views and long, strenuous passes. This alpine zone is why many people say the PCT is a pilgrimage—high drama scenery, abundant water (compared to the desert) and some of the trail’s most photogenic nights under the stars. (personal favorite)
- Mt. Shasta and Northern California volcanic landscape — Shasta’s perfect volcanic cone looms across the horizon for miles and the surrounding trails cross lava fields, meadows and old-growth forest. It stands out because of the raw volcanic scale—you can do short side trips for huge payoff views, and the sense of wilderness here feels wild and empty compared with the busy parts of the Sierra.
- Oregon Cascades: Three Sisters and Mt. Jefferson corridor — A chain of volcanoes, crater lakes, and wildflower-strewn meadows: the Cascades feel younger and greener than the Sierra. The volcanic peaks are dramatic, trail sections cut through lava and pumice, and summer brings insane wildflower displays and alpine lakes that’re perfect for a mid-hike soak or photography stop.
- Goat Rocks to the North Cascades (Washington) — Rugged volcanic ridgelines, glaciers in the distance, and wildflower-filled basins define this stretch. Goat Rocks is famous for actual goats (and close-to-the-trail sighting chances), panoramic views of Mount Rainier and Mount Adams, and a sense of remoteness that ramps up as you head north toward the Canadian border. It’s rocky, wild, and ridiculously scenic in a very different—more northern—way than the Sierra.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.
Best Backpacking
.jpg)
Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.