How To Score a PCT Long-distance Permit
It’s that time of year again. The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) will open the PCT Long-distance Permit application on Wednesday, October 30th at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
In the olden days, thru- and section hikers had to apply for dozens of local permits to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. The 2,600-mile trail passes through lands managed by numerous local, state, and federal agencies, many with individual permit requirements.
In 2013, the PCTA and the US Forest Service came out with a PCT Long-distance Permit that takes the place of all those individual permits. While the Long-distance Permit isn’t technically required to thru-hike the PCT (you can still hike legally by obtaining the 20 or so local permits), it simplifies the logistics dramatically.
READ NEXT – Understanding the PCT Permit System, and Why it Matters
It also helps protect the trail corridor. Through the Long-distance Permit, a quota system is in place to limit foot traffic and protect fragile trailside ecosystems. The PCTA is authorized by the Forest Service to issue up to 8,000 permits each year.
Anyone planning to hike the PCT in 2024 will have to register before the actual permit release date. Basically, if you’re applying for a permit this year, you’re going to want to make sure you have your shit together.
How to Apply for a PCT Long-distance Permit
1. It’s important to understand how the permit system works.
The 8,000 permits will be issued with the following restrictions:
- 50 permits per day for northbound trips starting between the Mexican border and Sonora Pass between March 1st and May 31st (35 released on October 30th and the remaining 15 released during the second round of applications on January 8th). No permits are available for northbound trips starting south of Sonora Pass in June.
- 1,400 permits for section hikers crossing the John Muir Trail overlap and 600 permits for trips starting in the Southern Sierra at eligible trailheads.
- 15 permits per day for southbound thru- and section hikes starting between Canada and Stehekin, WA between June 15th and July 31st. (Note: SOBOS can’t apply for permits until the second round of applications opens on January 8th).
The majority of thru-hikers prefer to start at Campo in April. In that one-month window, only 1,500 permits will be available for the Southern Terminus.
You can see why permits are in such demand. That’s why it’s important to bring your A-game on October 30th. Here’s what you need to know to successfully apply for a PCT Long-distance Permit this year.
Get the Best from The Trail, Direct to Your Inbox2. You must register before your permit release date.
If you’re applying for a Long-distance Permit on the first release date on October 30th, you have up until October 15th at 5 p.m. PT to register. For the second release date on January 8th, you will need to register before December 19th at 3 p.m. PT. The PCTA added this pre-registration in past years to help things operate more smoothly on permit day.
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.
3. If you’re hiking with a partner, you’ll have the option to link your applications together.
Another feature to note in the application process is the ability to link your application with your hiking partner’s application in the management portal. This will enable both of you to get the same itinerary, but you must do this at least 24 hours before the permit release. On permit day, only one of you will receive an appointment time to try for a permit. When it’s this person’s turn, they will be able to select a date that has two or more spaces available. Once they’ve hit submit, applications for both people will be created.
4. You’ll be assigned a random application time on October 30th.
In past years, applying for a PCT permit meant entering a virtual waiting room for hours on end, battling against thousands of hopefuls utilizing multiple browsers to obtain a permit (many people even took the full day off from work). Fear not, this crapshoot has since been streamlined to ensure you’re not wasting hours waiting for permits that may not exist when it’s your turn.
On October 29th, each person who pre-registered will receive an email with an assigned, randomized — yes, random! — time to apply on October 30th. On permit release day, you can then log in to your Permit Management Portal at your assigned time to apply.
The PCTA distributes time slots between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Pacific Time. You’ll want to ensure you’re ready and logged on at your designated time slot. Assigned times are firm though, and the PCTA will not change your randomized time if you can’t make it work.
If you get a time slot later in the day, be prepared for the possibility that permits may be gone. You’ll automatically be assigned a new time for the second permit release date on January 8 if you don’t snag a permit the first time around.
5. You’ll be asked for your starting and ending locations.
When you reach the application, you’ll have 10 minutes to enter the portal (in case you were in the bathroom when your turn came up). Select a starting point between Campo and Sonora Pass and an endpoint at least 500 miles north. You’ll be choosing from a dropdown menu that displays the name of each trailhead, the road number, and the northbound PCT mile marker.
Most NOBOs want to start at the Mexican border and end at the Canadian border. As a result, the competition will be fiercest at Campo (although trailheads near the Sierra are also challenging).
If you’re worried about your odds of getting a permit date, selecting an entry point further north on the PCT will probably improve your odds. You can then apply for local permits and hike the miles between Campo and your permitted start date at any time. (Bear in mind that the southernmost sections of the trail are busiest between mid-March and mid-May.)
READ NEXT – A Complete List of Individual Permits Needed to Hike the PCT
Have a first-choice trailhead and a backup plan that you can enact if you end up way back in the queue and want to hedge your bets. If you have FarOut Guides or a paper guidebook for the PCT, have it handy for reference just in case you decide to change your entry point at the last minute.
6. You’ll be asked to choose a start and end date from the calendar.
Each date will be numbered from zero to 35, indicating how many people have selected it. Dates showing the number 35 are already full, and you can’t choose them. At this point, you need to make your decision quickly because dates can fill up even as you’re looking at the calendar.
Again, it’s important to be flexible with your start date, as there are no guarantees you’ll get the one you want. Think about the earliest and latest you’d be willing to start and have a few backup plans in mind. Planning for the worst-case scenario will save you time fretting about it in real-time.
Once you select a date, the system will reserve it for 20 minutes while you complete the application. PCTA says the whole process takes most people about eight minutes, so this should be plenty of time.
You can only select one start date (no option to specify second and third choices or a range of dates). Once you’ve chosen, hit continue. Then you’ll have a chance to pick an end date from another calendar.
It’s almost impossible to anticipate the exact day you’ll finish a long hike before you’ve even started it, but that’s OK. Your projected end date doesn’t have to be 100% accurate. PCTA is just looking for a ballpark estimate to make sure you’ve thought this through realistically.
You’ll be fine if you list something three to six months out from whichever start date you end up selecting (depending on your hiking speed). There’s no quota limit on end dates, so this part is easy.
7. You’ll be asked about stock animals, contact info, children, etc.
After selecting your dates, you’ll indicate whether you’ll travel on foot or with a stock animal. You don’t have to specify if you’ll be hiking with a dog, but you’re expected to abide by local rules and regulations. Some parts of the trail don’t allow pups or have explicit leash laws.
Go to the next page and fill out your full legal name, birth date, street address, email address, and phone number.
After that, you’ll have an opportunity to add one or two minor children to your application. You’ll need to input their full legal names and birth dates.
LISTEN NEXT – Backpacker Radio 62 | The Strawbridges: Thru-Hiking the PCT as a Family of Six
Note: if you’re a minor who will be hiking solo, you’ll need to send PCTA a signed letter from your legal guardian after applying. If you’re under 13 and will be walking alone, a parent or guardian has to fill out the application for you.
8. You’ll then review and agree to the terms of the permit.
If you’re caught breaking the rules on your hike, your permit can be invalidated. The PCT Long-distance Permit terms include:
- The permit allows you to hike and camp on the PCT only. If you’re taking an alternate/side route, you’ll have to get separate permits for that trail (if there are any).
- You can hike up to 15 miles off the PCT to get to a trailhead to resupply via the most direct (on-trail) route possible.
- You have to start the trail at your permitted trailhead on your designated start date.
- Thirty-five days to complete the Southern Sierra section (Kennedy Meadows to Sonora Pass), and you have to travel continuously with no skips or directional changes.
- The permit allows you to hike Mt. Whitney from the PCT, but you need special permits to visit Yosemite Valley and Half Dome.
- You have to carry a legible, unlaminated copy of your permit throughout your hike.
- You must comply with all local regulations during your hike. Examples:
- Restrictions on hiking with pets
- Fire/fireworks bans
- Bear canister requirements
- Federal, state, and local COVID-19 regulations
You’ll also review the seven Leave No Trace principles at this point. Here they are:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Next, you’ll have an opportunity to donate to PCTA and review the application before you hit submit.
Resist the urge to rush through and hit the “submit” button without first checking that your info is correct and typo-free. Technically, your application could be rejected if there are any mistakes.
Don’t take that risk.
9. After the PCT Long-distance Permit application is submitted…
You should receive a confirmation email from PCTA within 24 hours of submitting your application. It takes time for them to review the applications, so you won’t hear back with final approval for up to three weeks. Barring glaring errors, most successfully submitted applications are approved.
Even after approving your application, PCTA won’t issue the actual permit until three weeks before your start date. You’ll be notified via email when that happens. At that point, you can log in to the Permit Management Portal to download it.
Be sure to print a copy to take with you on the trail. A ranger will probably ask to see your PCT Long-distance Permit at least once on your hike, and digital copies are not acceptable. Also, you won’t be able to print your permit after your start date has passed, so make sure to print it before you start your trip.
10. What if I didn’t get the date I wanted?
If you didn’t get a start date or location on October 30th, you can try again on January 8th at your assigned application time. PCTA will issue another 15 permits per trailhead per day at that time. The January application typically sees significantly less traffic than the October date — again, just make sure you’re registered ahead of time.
Two things to note: If you’re hiking southbound or starting north of Sonora Pass, you must wait for the January permit date to apply. Secondly, if PCTA approves your permit in round one, you’re ineligible to reapply in January unless you cancel the existing one.
Also, after submitting your application, check the PCTA’s Permit Management Portal every day to see if anyone has canceled. You can change your start date right up until your permit is issued. Slots open and fill quickly, so check frequently and respond ASAP if something opens up.
Worst case scenario: you’ve tried everything and still can’t get a date or entry point that works for you. You can still hike the PCT legally by obtaining local permits for each section of the trail that requires one. It’s harder, but that’s how all thru-hikers did it before 2013.
Food for thought: The purpose of the permit system is to limit the number of people on the trail so it doesn’t get trashed. Going with local permits is legal, but it sidesteps the quota system and all the benefits it provides.
11. What if I’m hiking with a partner or a group?
Going back to #3 on this list, you will have the option to link your application with one other person. If you have three people in your party, one person will have to apply for their own permit. If you have four people — or some other even number — in your group, they can pair up to improve their chances of getting the same start dates.
Other ways you can increase the chances of multiple people getting the same start date include planning a less popular starting date or location. It’s best if everyone in your group can be in the same building on application day so that you can coordinate and make decisions in real time.
If you don’t get the same start date, keep checking the Permit Management Portal in case slots open up due to cancellations. Worst case, if you do end up having to settle for two separate dates, pick dates as close together as possible. You can start separately and hopefully meet up with your partner soon after.
My partner and I submitted our 2020 applications several hours apart but still managed to score start dates just two days apart (March 4th and 6th, respectively). We knew there would be a lot of competition and decided we were OK with an early start, given that it was shaping up as a low snow year. The two-day discrepancy was still a pain, but it was logistically manageable.
12. What other permits will I need?
Anyone planning to use a backpacking stove anywhere in California needs a California fire permit. This permit doesn’t mean you can have a campfire anywhere you want — you still have to abide by local fire restrictions.
You can get the permit online at any time. The process is straightforward and quick, and you’ll get the permit via email as soon as you hit “submit.” It’s valid for one year from issuance.
READ NEXT – Backcountry Campfires: A Relic of the Past
Thru-hikers planning to cross the Canadian border also need a Canada PCT entry permit, required at least 8-10 weeks before you intend to enter Canada. Access the paperwork for the Canada Entry Permit here.
Anyone who’s ever gone through customs knows that those guys do not F around. You must follow PCTA’s instructions to the letter. Make sure everything you put in the form is correct before emailing it, along with scans of your passport and driver’s license, to [email protected].
Apply between two and six months before the start of your hike.
While the permit allows you to enter Canada via the PCT, it is always illegal to enter the US via the trail. If you’re ending your hike in Manning Park, you must return to the US via an official border crossing. If you’re hiking southbound, no Canada for you: you have to start at the border.
Just breathe.
The PCT Long-distance Permit application is very simple, but it can be stressful. It’s essential to go in with a firm understanding of the process and a few backup plans in case things don’t work out perfectly.
Think of it as a warm-up for the hike itself. Adaptability is key to success on the trail, where logistics are messy and things rarely go to plan. It’s the same with this application. Prepare as best you can and accept that you can’t control every aspect of the process.
Just breathe. It will be fine.
This article was originally published on 10/7/2021. It was updated by Ariella Nardizzi on 10/22/2024.
Featured image: Graphic design by Chris Helm (@chris.helm).
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Comments 27
A little cause for hope: In 2020, I was 7,000-something and by the time I got to the permitting process, all reasonable dates were gone (I do not recommend anyone start, for example, in early March). But hey, in 2021, I was number 6,600-something, and hey! I got the date I wanted.
Ms. Floro is not at liberty to say any of this, but I will:
To increase chances of getting a better position “in line,” *some* people — not saying who, but some — open up multiple browsers and search engines so that initially, they can have as many as 6 or 8 or 10 spots in line. Then, they can choose the highest spot and drop out of the rest, freeing those spaces in line for others.
I am *not* advising this. But, y’know, it’s not illegal or anything.
You can also grab a March start date and wait until May to use it. I had a March date, but then ended up having a surgery and had to wait until May before I could start. I was asked for my permit maybe 4 times the entire trail and no one said a word about it.
So is it 50 hikers per day? Or 35?
The article says: “ 50 permits per day for northbound trips starting between the Mexican border and Sonora Pass between March 1st and May 31st.”
but also says…
“Each date will be numbered from zero to 35, indicating how many people have selected it. Dates showing the number 35 are already full, and you can’t choose them.”
35 during November signup and 15 during January equals the 50 per day
Thank you for the very thoughtful article. There is one significant factual error about the historical permitting process. At least as far back as 1994 (and I believe this was true much earlier). it was NOT necessary to collect a bunhc of local permits. The forest service (not teh PCTA) would issue one permit for a long distance hike on teh PCT. Defined as 500 miles or more. It was necessary to get this from the forest in which one entered. For the southern terminus that was/is the Cleveland National Forest. it was valid on all of the segments of the trail, even the national parks. A separate California Campfire permit was necessary to have campfires in California (within the restrictions set foreward on the fire permit). Of course, there were fewer hikers and not many rangers cared to check. But there was no need for dozens of individual permits. That said, your article was otherwise very informative and helpful and well written. Thanks.
I thru hiked the PCT in 1987 when there wasn’t any type of permit system. I don’t remember having to get any permit to hike the PCT even crossing national parks. Most of the trip I was by myself solo hiking. It was the most incredible experience back then. The only hassle was crossing into Canada as I had to get a letter from the RCMP to enter Canada by way of the PCT. I believe only 25 people were recorded thru-hiking the PCT in 1987 either NOBO, SOBO, or finishing as a Section Hiker. I showed up at Campo, CA on April 9th using a rural “bus” (van). Border Patrol caught up with me at the wire fence (no steel wall back than) and asked what the heck I was doing. I didn’t see another sole for about a week (except rattlesnakes). It was a great time!
1976 – Got my own USFS NOBO PCT thru-hike permit via snail-mail.
1977 – Four friends got USFS NOBO PCT thru-hike permits to start on the same day, no problems. Pro tip: two couples sharing one tent not recommended.
1980 – Best friend and I got USFS NOBO PCT thru-hike permits starting the same day.
Yes, permits were required, even though you could backpack for weeks without seeing another thru-hiker.
Completion rates were much lower, too. Out of 7 people above, only one finished, not including me. Lightweight backpacking wasn’t mainstream yet. And trail angels were quite rare.
The available permits filled up very fast today. The permit system no longer indicates how many people are ahead of you in line. Luckily, I got a NOBO permit.
Thanks for all info on this site which mimicked above.
Me an old guy and not overly teac smart. Was in at 11.15 AM or 45 mins and secured my May 8th start…Mothers day – To honor my long passed mom.
Only looked at May, and with quick look most were in single digits…Even a few zeros…And a few double digits.
Where do feel per no.s I was per 45 min entry? Curious.
Have to feel the hiking gods were with me today!
I got shut out for 2022 permit on Nov.9 – logged in at exactly 10.28am and waited only 1.5 hours to get through que to site which showed EACH AND EVERY day in March through May to be full at 35 spots each already…
My experience exactly. So disheartening.
2019 I remember being able to look at obscure dates and weird “start” locations further down the trail from Southern Terminus and there would be openings.
This year it was solid RED 35’s. Very upsetting that the system would even let people wait in the lobby for hours to just be completely full.
Luckily you still have a chance on Jan 11. Also, you can do the majority of the trail without a permit.
Wow Kelly, that is complicated. That said, I enjoyed reading through the process steps. Thanks for laying out the details. The west coast process appears to be cumbersome but it is the process that must be followedAs an AT hiker I am thankful the process is so less stressful for the east coast.
Take care, best of trail luck
Welcome to the Best Coast! I live in southwest Washingtax. Sometimes it amazes me that you’re not required to get an annual permit to breathe (which, of course, could be revoked at any time for any reason without forewarning).
Maybe I’d better not give Olympia any ideas….
Doesn’t the new system of having to register and then log in through that registration on permit day stop people from logging in on permit day through multiple devices or open windows?
If you have a regular passport instead of a PCT trail-specific one, is that adequate to cross the Canadian border NOBO?
AFAIK ever since Covid, doesn’t matter what passport or visa you have, you can not cross into Canada at Manning Park. I inquired with Canadian authorities earlier this year and there were no plans to reinstate the former separate border crossing permit to enter Canada at Manning Park.
That said, and only due to extreme Fire circumstances, some hikers were allowed to enter and then approach the Northern Terminus from the Canadian side. This is something I heard from hikers on trail who were fire floppers. It got real weird this year around the northern terminus as you may know.
But officially no, there is no legal way to cross the border in either direction at Manning Park even though up till 2020 there was a simple permit that could be obtained for passage.
Great article – thanks for sharing! Couple of corrections due to changes to permitting system this year. With the registration, you’re assigned a random time to login between 10:30 and 3 pm Pacific, the day before permit release. The waiting room method no longer exists. If you receive a permit and want to change to a different date, you can check the website daily for cancellations and/or wait for the Jan 10th permit release. No need to register again. It is not necessary to cancel your existing permit either. There will be an option to modify it on the website.
Great post! I’m currently in the process of planning a long-distance PCT hike and this article was incredibly helpful in outlining the steps I need to take to obtain a permit. I’m glad to know that I can start the application process 6 months in advance, as I had no idea that was a requirement. Do you have any advice on how to increase my chances of getting a permit, especially during the busier months? Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks for sharing this helpful guide on how to score a PCT long-distance permit! I’ve been planning to tackle the PCT for years, and this post has given me the information I need to move forward with my plans. I appreciate the detailed steps and tips – it’s much appreciated!
Another way to get exact start date is to get a multi directional permit starting from a lesser used start point. For example you can start at Walker Pass (northern most desert section) and go SoBo to border then flip back to Walker and continue NoBo. Since very few hikers do this you can pick the exact date you want. I did this and it worked great for permit date I wanted but also had really great unexpected advantages as well such as getting the drier desert section (north is much drier than south) done early when it still had some moisture. Also was great to have the trail to myself for quite a while before seeing the NoBo’s and coming down Apache with a huge cup of snow was more pleasant than it looked heading up that long steep waterless stretch. You can’t do this process online but they will do it if you call in and explain what you want.