Remote and wild, with thousands of access points, the Pacific Crest Trail is still remarkably accessible. Even by bus. Getting to and from the trail can be logistically complicated. We hope this page helps.

Getting to the Pacific Crest Trail

Using a car is the easiest option.

Having your own car (or a good friend to drive you!) is the most convenient way to access the PCT. If you are trying to access a trailhead on a major paved road, you can use google maps or another online mapping tool to find a route. If you’re trying to get to a trailhead farther into the backcountry or on a dirt road, it’s not necessarily so straightforward. If you’ve ever driven around lost looking for a trailhead, you know that they’re not always easy to find.

Be sure to bring accurate and quality information. Dirt roads on public lands necessitate specific National Forest or BLM maps. Road names and numbers, conditions and closures change frequently. Contact the local land management agency or search online for the status of the road before you drive it. Remarkably, you can sometimes search Google Maps for Forest Service roads and their intersections with the PCT. While you can use the “Directions” feature to find driving directions to that intersection it’s imperative that you compare the results with paper maps and other sources. Don’t trust online mapping information in remote areas.

Car-free transportation is environmentally friendly and a great option.

While there are many PCT trailheads that are accessible by bus, most public transit can only take you as far as a town close to the trail. Some rural transit services are very small operations. They may only run a few days per week, require reservations, or have limited space. Sometimes towns near the trail can’t be reached by public transit. Google Maps’ transit directions are very helpful – many, but not all, transit agencies share their routes there.

There are surely more taxi and shuttle companies than listed here. If you’re having trouble figuring out how to get to a particular part of the trail, you can always reach out to the community and ask for advice.

Plan ahead and be prepared. Public transit can be challenging. We have put a lot of effort into this page for you, but you should do additional research. Be aware that cell service is often not available at trailheads.

If you’re paying for transportation, ask the company for details about their licenses, insurance, and permits. Special use permits are required for operating a shuttle on public land. Do not assume that a listing here implies anything. Check with the local land management agency for lists of permitted shuttle providers in their area.

Trail Wide Transportation Resources

These services may be available in many places along the trail.

Amtrak is a nationwide train company and it also operates the Amtrak Thruway Bus Service. Most relevant stops: San Diego, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Victorville, Lancaster, Mojave, Tehachapi, Bakersfield, Merced, Sacramento, Fresno, South Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Truckee, Soda Springs, Reno, Redding, Dunsmuir, Klamath Falls, Eugene, Portland, Vancouver (U.S.A.), Hood River, Bingen-White Salmon, Ellensburg, Seattle, Everett, Wenatchee, Vancouver (Canada).

Greyhound is a nationwide bus company. Most relevant stops: San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, Reno, Redding, Weed, Eugene, Salem, Portland, Vancouver (U.S.A), Yakima, Tacoma, Seattle, Everett.

Jayride provides links to airport shuttle companies that may serve trail towns, regional hubs or trailheads

Lyft

Uber

Southern California

Getting to the PCT Southern Terminus

We’ve got a whole page with directions to the Southern Terminus of the PCT. It explains how to take the bus, how to drive, and more.

Airports in Southern California

Public Transit Options in Southern California

Private Shuttles and Taxis in Southern California

WTT Transportation is a San Diego-based shuttle service.

Transit Van Shuttle-Riverside is a shuttle service in Banning, Hemet, and Palm Springs and includes transit to/from San Diego Airport or LAX.

Big Bear Cab Company is a taxi service based in Big Bear Lake.

Ride Cali is a taxi service based in Big Bear Lake.

Central California

Most transit options between Walker Pass and South Lake Tahoe are on the east side of the Sierra.

Airports near Central California

Fresno Yosemite International Airport is in Fresno, west of the Sierra Nevada. YARTS bus and VVR Shuttle stop at the airport.

Mammoth Yosemite Airport is a small airport near Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite with year-round and seasonal (winter) flights to LAX and other locations. From the airport, take a taxi to town.

Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, CA, is less than 100 miles west of the PCT at Walker Pass. Kern Transit connects to the PCT and the city also has Amtrak and Greyhound stations.

Merced Regional Airport has flights to and from LAX and Oakland by Boutique Air. From Merced, you can take YARTS to Yosemite and beyond or travel to Fresno for connections to western Sierra trailheads.

Reno International Airport is a major airport in Reno, Nevada, about an hour’s drive east of the PCT at Donner Pass, near Truckee and Lake Tahoe. It’s also a good option for getting to Lake Tahoe and the eastern and northern Sierra, and the southern Cascades. Eastern Sierra Transit stops at the airport.

Sacramento International Airport is a major airport in Sacramento, less than a two-hour drive west of the PCT near Truckee and Lake Tahoe. Also provides access to northern and central California PCT.

San Francisco International Airport is the largest airport in central or northern California, several hours drive west of Yosemite and South Lake Tahoe. BART station links you to Amtrak and Greyhound.

Oakland International Airport is a major airport near San Francisco, several hours drive west of Yosemite and South Lake Tahoe. The airport has a BART station.

Public Transit Options in Central California

Eastern Sierra Transit connects all the major towns on the east side of the Sierra to each other and Reno (airport and more), as well as to Lancaster (Metrolink and more). It also connects to YARTS. Local service in the Mammoth area connects to PCT-relevant trailheads in Reds Meadow Valley, Lakes Basin, and June Lake.

Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) connects Yosemite with east- and west-side towns including Sonora, Merced, Mammoth Lakes, Fresno, and Lee Vining. Possible connections include Sacramento, Fresno, Reno, Oakland, and San Francisco airports.

Yosemite National Park has information on how to get around inside the park, including to the PCT at Tuolumne Meadows, and how to get there with public transportation.

and how to get there with public transportation. Sequoia Shuttle runs between Visalia (Amtrak, Greyhound and more) and Sequoia National Park. Note that it’s a long hike from these western Sierra trailheads to the PCT.

Tahoe Transportation District connects Carson City (Eastern Sierra Transit) and Gardnerville (Eastern Sierra Transit) to South Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) reaches Donner Lake, Truckee (Amtrak and Greyhound), Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Tahoe City and other locations on the shore of Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe City and other locations on the shore of Lake Tahoe. North Lake Tahoe Express connects the Reno airport to North Lake Tahoe locations including Truckee, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, and Tahoe City.

Shuttles and Taxis in Central California

Northern California

Airports near Northern California

Reno International Airport is a major airport in Reno, Nevada, east of the PCT near Truckee and Lake Tahoe. Connections include Amtrak, Eastern Sierra Transit, TART, and Greyhound.

Sacramento International Airport is a major airport in Sacramento, CA, west of the PCT near Truckee and Lake Tahoe.

San Francisco International Airport is several hours drive west of Yosemite and South Lake Tahoe. It is the largest airport in central or northern California.

Oakland International Airport is near San Francisco, several hours drive west of Yosemite and South Lake Tahoe.

Redding Municipal Airport is small and offers flights to San Francisco. Located west of Lassen Volcanic National Park and south of Mount Shasta. Redding has RABA, SIRPT, Sage Stage, Amtrak, and Greyhound.

Rogue Valley International Medford Airport is a mid-sized airport in Medford, Oregon, near the California/Oregon border.

Public Transit Options in Northern California

Private Shuttles/Taxis in Northern California

High Sierra Taxi is based in Truckee.

Burney Taxi (530-605-7950 – no website) is based in Burney.

Mt Shasta Taxi is based in the Mount Shasta area and runs shuttles to the Redding and Medford airports.

Oregon

Airports near Oregon

Rogue Valley International Medford Airport is a mid-sized airport in Medford, Oregon. RVTD services the airport.

Eugene Airport is a mid-sized airport less than a two-hour drive west of the PCT near the Three Sisters and Mount Washington. Lane Transit District brings you towards the PCT.

Redmond Municipal Airport is a mid-sized airport about an hour drive east of the PCT near Sisters and Bend, Oregon. Many ground transportation options are listed here.

Portland International Airport is the largest airport in Oregon and less than an hour drive west of the PCT near the Washington border.

Public Transit Options in Oregon

Private Shuttles/Taxis in Oregon

Cascade Shuttle is an Ashland area airport and local shuttle service.

Shuttle Oregon travels daily between Bend/Sisters and Salem/Portland, crossing the PCT at Santiam Pass . They also offer charter services.

. They also offer charter services. X Cab is a Bend-based outdoor recreation focused taxi.

Mount Hood Teleporter services Bend, the Redmond airport, Sisters and Portland.

Bridge of the Gods Shuttle services all area destinations, including Trout Lake and Portland.

Washington

Getting to the PCT Northern Terminus

We’ve got a whole page with directions to the Northern Terminus of the PCT. It explains how to take the bus, how to drive, and more.

Airports near Washington

Seattle – Tacoma International Airport is the largest airport in Washington. It’s only about an hour drive west of the PCT at Snoqualmie Pass.

Yakima Air Terminal is a small airport with flights to Seattle, located about an hour east of White Pass.

Pangborn Memorial Airport is a small airport with flights to Seattle, located in Wenatchee about an hour and a half east of Stevens Pass.

Bellingham International Airport is a small airport close to the Canadian border, less than a three-hour drive west of Rainy Pass.

Public Transit Options in Washington

Private Shuttles/Taxis in Washington

Leavenworth Shuttle and Taxi offers a shuttle service to Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass.

Central Washington Airporter runs between Yakima, Ellensburg, Cle Elum, North Bend, and Sea-Tac but it does not stop as it crosses Snoqualmie Pass.

Chariot Destinations runs winter shuttles to Snoqualmie Pass, Stevens Pass, and Crystal Mountain.

Mountain Motion services Wenatchee, Bellingham, Sea-Tac, Methow Valley, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, North Cascades National Park, trailheads, and public transit connections.

Canada

Entering the U.S. from Canada via the Pacific Crest Trail is illegal. If you are planning on entering Canada via the PCT, you must obtain a Canada PCT Entry Permit.

Getting to the PCT Northern Terminus

We’ve got a whole page with directions to the Northern Terminus of the PCT. It explains how to take the bus, how to drive, and more.

Airports near Manning Park, British Columbia

Vancouver International Airport is the second-busiest airport in Canada and a three-hour drive west of Manning Park.

Abbotsford International Airport is a small airport less than two hours west of Manning Park.

Public Transit Options in Canada

Via Rail Canada has a train line from Hope to Vancouver once a day with a stop in Chilliwack.

Manning Provincial Park maintains a list of resources for PCT hikers on its website.

BC Transit oversees a number of small regional transit systems with buses from Hope to Agassiz to Chilliwack to Abbotsford where there is a local line that goes to within a couple hundred feet of the U.S. border crossing (or walk a mile from where the bus from Chilliwack stops). After crossing the U.S. border on foot into the town of Sumas, Washington, Whatcom Transportation Authority has a bus line to Bellingham, which has Greyhound and Amtrak connections in addition to the airport.

Private Shuttle/Taxi in Canada