A whole article could be written on the subject as it has vexed many thru-hikers. Getting to and from the start and end of the trail is a major challenge of the PNT. © Marte Conradi Getting There: Transportation Stays higher along the ridgeline and stunning passes but involves more road walking and skips the scenic Elwha Valley. Grand Pass (section 9) - Shorter, more elevations gain/loss.It puts you closer to towns and is easier than the primary route, which involves bushwhacking through logging land. Cascade Cutoff (section 7) - Goes through the town of Concrete, WA along an old rail trail ending in Sedro-Woolley, the headquarters of the PNTA.This “climbers route” involves class 3 scrambling and route finding on an exposed ridge. Lion's Head Ridge (section 3) - Avoids some of the Lion’s Creek bushwhack.Nortwest Peak (section 2) - Involves class 3 scrambling and route finding but stays above the treeline longer than the primary route.It skips the town of Polebridge meaning a long section without resupply. Original High Route (section 1) - Often snow-covered through late July, this route involves more cross country travel, scrambling and high views.In some cases the PNTA recommends the “alternate” where the “official” federally approved route is unmaintained or undesirable. The distinction between alternate and official is less clear than more established trails. Peak fire season is August.īecause of the young nature of the PNT there are many alternative routes to choose from ranging from a few hours to a few days in length. The entire PNT is susceptible to fires, especially east of the Cascade Mountains. Hikers should be prepared for temperatures around freezing and above 100F in almost every section.įires have been increasingly common in the West. Hot, dry deserts in eastern Washington followed by immense cedar forests in the Cascades, ending with the temperate rainforests and tide pools on the Olympic Peninsula. From snowy mountains and alpine meadows in Montana to lush forests and lakes in Idaho. Hiking the PNT, you’ll encounter almost every type of climate. The PNT has a page dedicated to monitoring the snowpack which is an essential resource for planning your start date. Fall snows can start again as early as mid-September on both ends of the trail. The Rocky Mountains in the east and the Olympic Mountains in the west can both hold snow as late as mid-July. Snow is the limiting factor on both ends of the hiking season regardless of the direction of travel. The best time to hike the PNT is from late June to late September. PLANNING YOUR THRU-HIKE When to Go: Timing, Weather and Seasons Step 3) Click on the three white vertical dots and then "Print Map" from that drop-down menu. Step 2) Zoom in to your desired map section view. To Print PDF: Step 1) Expand to full-screen view (click box in top right-hand corner of the map). Because of this, long steep climbs and descents are hallmarks of the PNT. Unlike the Triple Crown trails, the PNT runs east-west going over many mountain ranges. Most hikers hike westbound starting in Glacier National Park in late June or early July and finishing on the Pacific coast in early September.ĭue to the young and evolving nature of the trail there are many alternative routes to choose from as well as large sections of roadwalking. Coupled with the fact that the trail passes through undeveloped, rugged and remote terrain and it’s no surprise that a thru-hike of the PNT can be a very solitary experience. Less than 100 hikers attempt a thru-hike each season. In 2009 it was designated a National Scenic Trail making it one of the youngest trails in the National Parks system. The trail was envisioned by Ron Strickland in the 1970s with the first recorded thru-hike completed in 1977. The Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT) runs from the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park to Cape Alava, the westernmost point of the lower 48, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Highest Elevation: Cathedral Pass, 7,569 feet Cape Alava, Olympic National Park (Western Terminus).Chief Mountain, Glacier National Park (Eastern Terminus).
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