I’ve wanted to explore the PCT, and since I was close to Lancaster, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore Pacific Crest Trail in San Francisquito Canyon. The Pacific Crest Trail is a trail.
About the Pacific Crest Trail:
The Pacific Crest Trail (also known as the PCT) is 2,650 miles and runs from Mexico to Canada. It goes through the West Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington. It has beautiful scenery from the desert, glaciers of the Sierra Nevada into deep forests, and even has views of volcanic peaks in the Cascade Range.
If you are looking to get a little bit of everything on the West Coast, the Pacific Crest Trail is it. However, thru-hiking the entire trail takes a lot of time. Watching the movie “The Wild” with Reese Witherspoon inspires me; I would actually love to thru-hike it sometime.
My adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail in San Francisquito Canyon:
Since I was nearby, I decided to hop onto the Pacific Crest Trail in San Francisquito Canyon.
San Francisquito Canyon South from the Pacific Crest Trail is a 6.5 mile out and back trail located near Santa Clarita, California.
When we arrived at the Pacific Crest Trail in San Francisquito Canyon trailhead, no one was on a foggy weekday morning. Parking is alongside the road, and we got premium parking. When we finished, there were 4 cars there.
The first mile is the steepest, and you climb about 600 feet. The surface is soft, and it’s an easy climb, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
The rest is incline or decline but never flat. I climbed roughly 1200 feet the entire time, which is less than I expected. Because the Pacific Crest Trail is so smooth, it doesn’t feel overwhelming, and you don’t feel as though you’re ever out of breath.
I am looking forward to hiking and running more of the Pacific Crest Trail.
You can see more hikes and trails here.
Questions for you:
Have you ever been to the Pacific Crest Trail?
What is one of your favorite trails?