Pacific Crest Trail: CA Section 40

CARTER MEADOWS SUMMIT to ETNA SUMMIT: Stick to the high crest and get bird’s-eye views over the headwaters of the Salmon, Scott, and Trinity Rivers during this 18.1-mile section through the less-explored lakes and peaks of the Russian Wilderness.

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 29.2

Waypoints

PCT1000

Location: 41.275333404541, -122.954696655273

Cross Binghan Lake outlet creek

PCT1001

Location: 41.2810516357422, -122.959266662598

Pass spring on W slope of Russian Peak

PCT1002

Location: 41.2840995788574, -122.960563659668

Pass a spring

PCT1003

Location: 41.3009490966797, -122.969467163086

Cross creek

PCT1004

Location: 41.3140487670898, -122.974014282227

Cross Statue Creek with a campsite

PCT1005

Location: 41.3256340026856, -122.966903686523

Stay straight @ trail junction on saddle

PCT1006

Location: 41.3438987731934, -122.959587097168

Cross Paynes Lake Creek and pass Paynes Lake trailhead

PCT1007

Location: 41.3498344421387, -122.957717895508

Cross creek

PCT1008

Location: 41.3652839660644, -122.963249206543

Taylor Lake Trail ; stay straight

PCT1009

Location: 41.3950157165527, -122.994132995605

Pass Etna Summit trailhead; continue a short ways to the summit.

PCT1010

Location: 41.3956680297852, -122.995429992676

Etna Summit

More PCT: Next Section | Previous Section

PCT0993

Location: 41.2208518981934, -122.899620056152

Cross paved road @ Carter Meadows Summit

PCT0994

Location: 41.2222175598144, -122.900016784668

Cross dirt road

PCT0995

Location: 41.2289009094238, -122.911315917969

Cross dirt road

PCT0996

Location: 41.2301177978516, -122.915618896484

Pass Salmon Mtns. ridgetop campsite

PCT0997

Location: 41.253734588623, -122.950836181641

Cross dirt road, passing dirty spring in an area populated with cows

PCT0998

Location: 41.2556838989258, -122.955535888672

Stay R @ jct. with trail to Siphon Lake; ascend hill through switchbacks

PCT0999

Location: 41.2632179260254, -122.953430175781

Russian Wilderness Boundary

Ride to Etna

Location: 41.3955726623535, -122.995620727539

Hitching on the Etna-Somes Bar road is a casual affair ©Jack Haskel

Carter Meadows Summit

Location: 41.2230796813965, -122.899810791016

Hikers caught in downpour at Carter Meadows Summit ©Jack Haskel

Sun Rays

Location: 41.2372741699219, -122.922737121582

©Jack Haskel