Jeff Garmire hiked this route in 2014
The 1,200-mile Pacific Northwest Trail is an epic, advanced thru-hike that takes backpackers from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean. It can be completed in 10-14 weeks.
Region: Pacific West, Mountain West (Washington, Idaho, Montana)
Length: 1,200 miles (10-14 weeks)
Physical Difficulty: Difficult
- Steep, rugged trails
- Quickly changing and intense weather
- Rooty, rocky trails with blowdowns
Logistical Difficulty: Difficult
- A long, remote trail with little cell service
- Three national parks to plan permits in
- Difficult navigation and changing land management groups
- Resupply needs to be planned in advance. Resupply spreadsheet here.
Season: Summer / Early Fall
Pacific Northwest Trail Elevation Profile
| Miles / Day (average) | Days to complete (rounded up) |
| 10 | 120 |
| 15 | 80 |
| 18 | 67 |
| 22 | 55 |
| 25 | 48 |
| 30 | 40 |
How to Get to the Pacific Northwest Trail
This is one of the most challenging trails to access on either end. I had a ride to the western terminus, but here is a collection of info on reaching either end if you don’t have a ride.
Pacific Northwest Trail Eastern Terminus
The eastern terminus of the PNT is located at Chief Mountain Customs off the Chief Mountain Highway right at the northeast corner of Glacier National Park in Montana.
Closest Major City: East Glacier, Montana (67 miles)
From the East Glacier Amtrak station, arranging a private taxi or setting up a ride is the best option for getting to the terminus. Smaller airports and stations exist in the smaller cities within a few hours of East Glacier, and we would recommend planning the trip that gets you to East Glacier and/or the St. Mary Visitor Center for Glacier National Park backcountry permits.
Pacific Northwest Trail Western Terminus
The western terminus is in Olympic National Park at Cape Alava. Like the eastern terminus, this is quite remote, but there are a few more options to get close to this point. Cape Alava is a 3-mile hike from the park’s Ozette ranger station.
Personal Transportation to the Pacific Northwest Trail Western Terminus
You can reach Ozette Lake (and then hike the 3 miles to Cape Alava) most easily by getting a ride to the area. There are also private shuttles back to Ozette if you are section hiking Section 10, and it is possible to leave a vehicle here.
Public Transit to the Pacific Northwest Trail Western Terminus
Public transportation is available between Seattle and major trail towns on the Olympic Peninsula, but it is not possible to reach Ozette by public transit.
Hikers taking public transportation from Seattle will also need to book a shuttle or find another ride from the nearest bus stop, between 30-50 miles from Ozette / Cape Alava. Hitchhiking is illegal in national parks and Uber or Lyft might not be available as you get more remote.
From Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, hikers can get to Forks, Clallam Bay, or Neah Bay via a series of buses and a ferry. This can be pieced together with the Jefferson Transit and Clallam Transit schedules.
Private Shuttle to the Pacific Northwest Trail Western Terminus
A private shuttle operated by the Olympic Hiking Company can now be used to travel between Ozette and the nearest transit stations on the Olympic Peninsula. Here is a schedule of the shuttle’s route between Oil City and Neah Bay. The shuttle operator is usually able to accommodate quick drop-off requests for PNT hikers at bus stops along the route at Neah Bay, Clallam Bay, or in the trail town of Forks so that they can use public transit to reach Seattle and other destinations.
Olympic Hiking Company can also arrange custom shuttle trips throughout Olympic National Park. Please note that all shuttle trips must be booked in advance.
Hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail
The Pacific Northwest Trail gained National Scenic Trail designation in 2009. It spans from the Pacific Ocean to the Continental Divide. One of the draws of the trail is that it cuts diagonally across numerous mountain ranges. On the 1,200-mile route, hikers access ranges of the Continental Divide, Whitefish Divide, Purcells, Selkirks, Kettles, Cascades, and Olympic mountains.
The route crosses through rainforests, offers beach camping, and follows the Boundary Trail for much of its length. The Pacific Northwest Trail is one of the most remote in the Lower 48, and is by no means a beginner trail. Simply for the fact it is so remote and travels through some of the least-used land in the country, it offers an experience that few people get, and no other trail offers.
The Pacific Northwest Trail is separated into 10 segments, numbered and spanning from east to west. We have outlined them, what they entail, and the features of each section.
Section 1 – The Rocky Mountains
149 miles
East Terminus to Eureka, Montana
The eastern terminus of the trail sits at Chief Mountain Border Crossing, from which the trail winds through Glacier National Park for 55 miles. After exiting Glacier is the best spot for the first resupply: Polebridge. There is a cute little mercantile and restaurant that sits on the outskirts of GNP. From Glacier the PNT climbs the Whitefish Divide, offering an even more remote experience than the west side of the national park. The sections ends as the trail walks right through the heart of Eureka, Montana.
This section is known for the national park, grizzly bears, elk, moose, marmots, and very remote hiking from Polebridge to Eureka. A backcountry permit is needed to hike through Glacier and can be obtained from the Polebridge ranger station if entering the park from the west.
Section 2 – Purcell Mountains
97 miles
Eureka to Hwy 95 (Bonners Ferry, Idaho)
The Purcell Mountain section is one of the most remote on the entire trail. It passes four remote fire lookout towers and through areas with the continent’s most iconic mammals (wolves, grizzly, black bear, elk, and moose). Section 2 of the PNT offers two small windows into civilization. Yaak, Montana, in the Yaak Valley provides a destination for hikers with two bars and a minor resupply. Outside of this small 280-population community, there is a small, hiker-friendly resort that can hold packages and offer a good meal.
Section 3 – Selkirk Mountains
143 miles
Hwy 95 (Bonners Ferry) to Northport, Washington
Heading east from Highway 95, the trail crosses the Kootenai River Valley— a peaceful river valley surrounded by rolling hills. But the ease and peacefulness is short-lived, with a harsh climb into the Selkirk Mountains. Once at the height of the mountains, hikers reach some of the most challenging sections of the entire PNT. Just before dropping to Upper Priest Lake the trail largely disappears and what follows is one of the longest bushwhacks on any major trail. It is fairly easy to find the road at the bottom if the correct bearing is taken, but it is an exciting section and you’ll need a map and compass.
After Upper Priest Lake there are a few alternates we recommend, if only for the swimming prospects in Sullivan Lake. From the campground on the north side of the lake, a series of roads leads to Metaline Falls, Washington, the first true chance to resupply since Bonners Ferry. The trail follows a series of roads out of the small town and then branches off on a trail to climb up Abercrombie Mountain, the highest point in the section. From the summit it is a decent trail and roadwalk to get to Northport.
Section 4 – Kettle River Range
121 miles
Northport to Sweat Creek
From Northport, the Pacific Northwest Trail follows a series of roads back into the Kettle River Range. This is much hotter and drier than a location so close to Canada would lead you to believe. Water is precious as the trail joins a portion of the Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail. The major city after Northport is Republic, Washington. The town has everything a hiker could need, from hotels to a full supermarket. This town can be hitched to from three different locations, as the Pacific Northwest Trail goes around three sides of the county seat of Ferry County.
Section 5 – Okanogan Highlands
104 miles
Sweat Creek to Cold Springs
The Okanogan Highlands are another hot section where water is scarce. But don’t be deceived; this section also receives substantial snowfall in the winter. The route seesaws through the mountains with a smattering of fields and forests. There are reprieves throughout the section, with a store and campground on the banks of Bonaparte Lake. The resort will hold packages and has an assortment of snacks and drinks. An open plain and another forest before a beautiful trail leads down to Highway 97. Here begins the longest roadwalk of the trail. Hikers reach Oroville, a full-service town, but on the west side of town there is a substantial amount of asphalt to walk. At the end of this walk (and section) there is an alternate on most maps and apps we recommend avoiding. I attempted to complete the scramble connecting the road to the trail, but it wasn’t worth the consequences.
Section 6 – Pasayten Wilderness
121 miles
Cold Springs to Ross Lake
The trail enters the vast Pasayten Wilderness with abandoned cabins, mines, and relics of past inhabitants. The PNT follows the route of the Boundary Trail, winding through the remnants of old forest fires, sprawling forests, unkempt trail, across churning rivers… all within a stone’s throw of Canada. This is one of the most difficult sections to resupply, despite the 13 miles that are shared with the Pacific Crest Trail. Options exist to hitch to Mazama or Winthrop, two PCT resupply points, but when I hiked this trail I stuck it out all the way between Ross Lake and Oroville without a resupply. This section offers the best look at what the country used to be, rolling hills leading to a huge expanse of untouched land.
Section 7 – North Cascades
196 miles
Ross Lake to Oyster Dome
After picking up your package at Ross Lake, the immersion into the high peaks of the Washington Cascades begins. It is like nothing found in the rest of the country. Sweeping views of dormant and active volcanoes dominate the skyline. Hiking around Mount Baker, through lower forest lands, and along some of the first trail constructed on the Pacific Northwest Trail all form this section.
The only resupply locations close to the trail in the section are at the beginning (Ross Lake) and at the end (Alger, .7 off the trail). Other than these spots, hitching is necessary to properly resupply across the longest section of the entire trail. When I did the trail I mailed a package to Glacier, Washington, and was able to work with the short post office hours.
Section 8 – Puget Sound
68 miles
Oyster Dome to Coupeville
After two difficult sections to resupply, hikers of the PNT enter a populated area. The climate is very manageable and amenities are everywhere, even a ferry! This is the first introduction to beach hiking and a sign that the end of the thru-hike is in sight. Lightweight carries are the name of the game through the Sound, and many photos of seals, Deception Pass, and the deer.
Section 9 – Olympic Mountains
162 miles
Coupeville to Forks
The mountains of the Olympics and the rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula make up one of the most diverse sections of trail in the entire country. The peaks of the mountains get high snow while the temperate rainforest on the shores of the Bogachiel River gets over 12 feet of rain each year. Moss and stunning green forest surround you as the trail drops from the mountains to the lower forests, with a nice beach walk awaiting. Diverse wildlife ranging from bears to goats to giant Roosevelt elk call this section home. Forks is the end of the section and has gained tourism fame from its inclusion in the Twilight movies. The small town is a short hitch, and offers anything a hiker needs before their final section.
Section 10 – Wilderness Coast
61 miles
Forks to Cape Alava (Western Terminus)
This is the final stage of the mountains to the ocean route that has taken hikers against the grain of seven different mountain ranges. Camping on the beach begins and the magical view of seeing the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. A bear can is required to camp in Olympic National Park. For the beach portion, this is more to protect food and gear from raccoons than from the bears. This final section is best navigated by following the tides to sneak around the inlets before the water comes in again. The rocks and barnacles are sharp and will cut the lifespan of your shoes in half.
Another staple of the northward beach walk to the end of the trail is the rugged ladders that assist hikers in climbing up and over the headlands, before dropping back to the beach on the other side. This section is unlike any section of any other National Scenic Trail in the US, so enjoy the final 61 miles of your journey!
Pacific Northwest Trail Resupply Data Here
When Should You Hike the Pacific Northwest Trail?
The best time to hike the Pacific Northwest Trail is in the summer when snow has melted, the rainforest has less precipitation, and the downpours on the Washington coast are less frequent. The Pacific Northwest Trail is unique in that it traverses so many different mountains, beaches, rainforest, and arid high plains that you won’t get ideal weather throughout the entire trail, but you can minimize your rough times by starting in early summer.
Should You Hike Eastbound or Westbound?
There is no perfect answer to this question—both terminuses are difficult to access, and since the trail goes laterally, you aren’t chasing the seasons like you do on a north-south trail. The majority of thru-hikers hike the PNT from east to west (westbound), but I’ve have hiked this trail twice eastbound. Many hikers like to start at the heights of the Continental Divide and finish at the ocean, but both directions offer similar adversity and beauty.
Pacific Northwest Trail Terrain
The Pacific Northwest Trail has every kind of terrain imaginable. Hikers experience a rainforest on the Olympic Peninsula, and a very arid and exposed section through Northeastern Washington. This is an advanced-level thru-hike, in that the challenges involved are a combination of everything that most long-distance trails require. You’ll need everything from an ice axe, to an umbrella, to snow gear and crampons, to sun protection, to bear spray. When we say you encounter it all, we mean it.
Logistics: Permits, Camping, Water
Permits: Backcountry permits are required to camp on the PNT in the three national parks that it passes through: Glacier National Park, North Cascades National Park Complex, and Olympic National Park.
Camping: Other than the national parks requiring permits, the Pacific Northwest Trail offers dispersed camping unless otherwise noted. There are corridors through public lands, so using LNT practices is important to maintain this footpath and the positive relationships with landowners.
Water Carries: There are multiple waterless stretches up to 20 miles in length, so check your sources and be prepared with plenty of water and add electrolyte tabs to stay hydrated.
Know Before You Go
Wildlife: Ticks, mosquitoes, snakes, and grizzly bears exist on this trail, so planning out each section and what to expect is essential. From the Idaho border to the eastern terminus we recommend carrying bear spray.
Road Walks: You’ll encounter some roadwalks on this trail. Some are long and flat, but our experiences with the residents along them have been nothing but positive.
Pacific Northwest Trail Resources
The Pacific Northwest Trail Association has made overview maps and more detailed map sets available for download, found here. More detailed maps found here.
Pacific Northwest Trail Association
Glacier National Park Backcountry Office
North Cascades National Park Backcountry Office
Olympic National Park Backcountry Office
