Pacific Crest Trail: CA Section 26
I-80 to SIERRA CITY: This 32-mile leg runs from ridge-to-river and offers incredible campsites. Add a wildcard to this adventure by overnighting at a backcountry hut.
Trail Facts
- Distance: 51.3
Waypoints
PCT679
Location: 39.3421325683594, -120.335830688477
Head N; tunnel under I-80
PCT680
Location: 39.3450317382812, -120.337951660156
Trail junction
PCT681
Location: 39.3438835144043, -120.34033203125
Spur trail to Rest Area
PCT682
Location: 39.3428649902344, -120.340133666992
Donner Pass Rest Area: freeway rest area that’s generally not worth visiting. It has bathrooms and running water but not vending machines or telephones
PCT683
Location: 39.3502159118652, -120.352615356445
Cross dirt road near Castle Valley
PCT684
Location: 39.3581161499023, -120.36483001709
Join old dirt road leading up to the pass
PCT685
Location: 39.3587341308594, -120.364868164062
Castle Pass; Castle Peak is an easy ascent from here
PCT686
Location: 39.3678016662598, -120.367630004883
Peter Grub Hut; a backcountry ski hut that remains open in the summer; well worth poking around and appreciating the rustic building
PCT687
Location: 39.3695983886719, -120.367179870605
Straight @ Sand Ridge Lake trail
PCT688
Location: 39.3978996276856, -120.376281738281
Bridge over North Creek in Paradise Valley
PCT689
Location: 39.400634765625, -120.377014160156
Pass a small crescent-shaped lake
PCT690
Location: 39.4104499816894, -120.397148132324
Mt. Lola trail
PCT691
Location: 39.410514831543, -120.398948669434
Bridge over White Rock Creek
PCT692
Location: 39.4176826477051, -120.402450561523
Dirt road
PCT693
Location: 39.4189834594727, -120.410667419434
Forested ridge
PCT694
Location: 39.4234008789062, -120.419166564941
Cross dirt road
PCT695
Location: 39.4255485534668, -120.448234558105
Dirt road and creek
PCT696
Location: 39.4327163696289, -120.456932067871
Ridge with great views of reservoirs below and Sierra Buttes
PCT697
Location: 39.4470672607422, -120.462135314941
Cross dirt road
PCT698
Location: 39.470085144043, -120.495101928711
Switchback going L near a creek; this might be an important spot to fill up if you are dry; to get to the creek, leave the switchbacks and go uphill a little for easier creek access
PCT699
Location: 39.4696350097656, -120.49829864502
Cross dirt road
PCT700
Location: 39.4777984619141, -120.518814086914
Cross dirt road
PCT701
Location: 39.4811325073242, -120.520980834961
Straight @ Lasier Meadow Trail
PCT702
Location: 39.5022201538086, -120.527801513672
Cross paved road; PCT follows road N across the bridge
PCT703
Location: 39.5040664672852, -120.526916503906
Trail resumes @ signed trailhead
PCT704
Location: 39.5055847167969, -120.529136657715
Cross paved Henness Pass road
PCT705
Location: 39.5231323242188, -120.556266784668
Large flat camping area above Bear Valley
PCT706
Location: 39.5422821044922, -120.571350097656
Creek
PCT707
Location: 39.5435180664062, -120.572463989258
Bridge over 1st crossing of Milton Creek
PCT708
Location: 39.5508346557617, -120.576736450195
Bridge over 2nd crossing
PCT709
Location: 39.5640678405762, -120.585350036621
Road to Wild Plum campground (a shortcut to Sierra City); PCT stays R
PCT710
Location: 39.5653343200684, -120.587982177734
Bridge over Haypress Creek
PCT711
Location: 39.5683670043945, -120.592346191406
Creek
PCT712
Location: 39.5800018310547, -120.608299255371
Bridge over North Yuba River; trail follows S side of CA 49
PCT713
Location: 39.5767593383789, -120.612373352051
Cross CA 49. Resupply: Sierra City is 2 miles W.
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Sierra City County Store
Location: 39.5764808654785, -120.612464904785
Thru hikers gather for a party in front of the Sierra City County Store ©Jack Haskel