PCT Thru-Hikers Will No Longer Be Able To Hike Into Canada: Canada PCT Entry Program Terminated

The Government of Canada has ended a program that allowed Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers to cross the US-Canada border on foot. Historically, northbound thru-hikers have been able to apply to the Canadian government in advance for a permit that would allow them to hike across the border on the PCT and continue on into Manning Provincial Park, BC — but no more.

The PCT entry permit page on the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) website was removed over the weekend and replaced with a brief notice that “the Pacific Crest Trail permit program has ended. Anyone seeking to complete the Canadian portion of the trail must use a designated port of entry.”

In a Monday press release, the CBSA wrote that “this change will facilitate monitoring of compliance of trail users, enhance security at the border, and aligns with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) who does not allow travellers to enter the U.S. from Canada on the trail.”

That means northbound hikers will now have to backtrack about 30 miles from the northern terminus to Harts Pass to exit the backcountry after finishing their thru-hikes, rather than continuing north from the border about eight miles into Manning Park to access a road.

“This is disappointing news,” wrote the Pacific Crest Trail Association’s Jack Haskel of the announcement. “That said, we can appreciate (CBSA’s) points, and the fact that this policy is consistent with the United States’ policy which does not allow for entry into the United States via the PCT.”

The border permit only allowed hikers to cross from the US into Canada — not the other way around — so southbound hikers have always had to do the Harts Pass-to-border leg twice as it’s the closest road crossing to the terminus on the US side of the border.

Mac from Halfway Anywhere speculates that the change — while it will not dramatically impact PCT thru-hikes — will result in more unlicensed shuttle services popping up around Hart’s Pass and that Seattle will inevitably become the PCT thru-hiker’s exit airport of choice instead of Vancouver.

“We ask that everyone travels with the utmost respect for nature by practicing gold standard Leave No Trace practices. This area will experience increased use now that more people are traveling this section of the PCT twice,” wrote Haskel.

Screenshot from the PCT entry permit program page on the Government of Canada website.

The Canada PCT entry permit program was previously suspended for three years from 2020 until 2023 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so there’s actually plenty of precedent in recent years for skipping the Canadian portion of the trail. The eight miles in Canada are technically a spur trail and not an official part of the PCT itself, so this move does not affect anyone’s ability to complete a full thru-hike. The Manning Park bonus miles just offered a fun way to end the adventure, as well as more convenient road access.

Hikers on Reddit expressed disappointment but also put a positive spin on the announcement. “That sucks, but on a positive note – the walk back to harts was an awesome experience. You get to pass by so many of the people you met on trail as they are about to finish their hike. It was great sharing high fives, congratulations and comradery with my fellow hikers,” wrote one Redditor in a sentiment echoed by others on the thread.

This post was updated January 27 at 8 p.m. ET to include additional details from the Government of Canada’s announcement and the PCTA’s response to the program termination.

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Comments 8

  • Maxwell Erickson : Jan 29th

    With the timing, it seems pretty obvious who inspired this change. Ugh.

    Reply
    • yam : Jan 31st

      I agree with you.

      Reply
    • Scott Riggle : Feb 1st

      I live 100 miles from the Canadian border and I will be visiting Canada less because of this and how hard it was to get my camper van across the border last time I vacationed in Canada. Its not just 30 additional miles of hiking its not easy to hitch a ride from Harts Pass, this is a huge inconvenience for PCT hikers. I think we all know who caused this but lets not forget that almost half the country is deeply against the man and when you unfairly punish us it doesn’t bring people together it turns us all against you, it gives him more supporters.

      Reply
      • Blake : Feb 5th

        Canada had no choice but to respond the way they did. The White House was stating that the border was the main issue for the tariffs to be implemented. Canada has no choice but to close every border “loophole” they can. Canada is not punishing the American people, the President is by threatening a country that has been our greatest ally for almost a century.

        We’ve taken their friendship for granted for a long time, we deserve however they are forced to respond.

        Reply
  • Matt : Jan 31st

    Guess I’m onboard with the 51st state now.

    Reply
  • Kurt T Bachmann : Jan 31st

    I’m not sure you can blame it all on Trump. I was there in late September (2024) when there were a lot of NOBO finishers. I would say about half of the PCT hikers went into Canada, but there were a number of hikers who had not heard from the Canadian government about their passes, and they were not getting any response when they tried to call. I got the impression that there were a lot more hikers in 2024 than in 2019, and Trump is an excuse to end a program that may be taking too many resources.

    It is actually quite pleasant to return back to Harts Pass as I did, but this depends on the good folks of the Lions Den Hostel in Mazama. They sent a guy every morning to pick up hikers at Harts Pass, and he was so nice. I pulled out a $20 bill, and he said he would only take $10, so I gave him a $10 bill.

    I stayed at the Hostel two nights, and they don’t even charge. I left a $50 bill in their donation box. I mean even the port a potties must cost a bunch of money to maintain. Another guy drove 4 of us to the north side of Seattle and he only wanted $40 per person. So please be real nice to the lady who owns the Lions Den and to the guys who do the driving, and be sure to donate.

    Reply
  • David Cameron : Feb 2nd

    We should expect that for the foreseeable future, Americans will be unwelcome in the world outside the United States. We have gone from being seen the world over as a benevolent freedom fighter to a global predator.

    Reply
    • Mattd : Feb 3rd

      Fighter yes. we start wars all over the place….middle east, Ukraine, Israel. That’s full on predator roll. Going forward we should see less US involvement in other people problems.

      The weapons companies, who pay the big bucks to their lobbyists and the media wont like it, neither will the politicians whose pockets they line. But a whole lot less people will die, and with any luck we’ll be respected again.

      Reply

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