Details on how this new plan directly affects PCT section- and thru-hikers are hard to find in the current Decision documents, so we contacted Matt Peterson, one of the plan managers at Willamette National Forest, for more details and additional clarification. For thru-hikers, the changes are fairly minimal, however for section-hikers, it gets pretty ugly. Here’s the rundown:

New Rules for PCT Thru-Hikers

Thru-hikers holding a PCT Long-Distance Permit (hiking 500+ miles) will be given pass-thru permission to cross all three wilderness areas. This is in accordance with the current long-distance permit allowance. Long-distance hikers should still fill out the self-issue wilderness permits at the entry kiosks at every wilderness area they enter to assist with usage data collection.

New No-Camping Zones will be implemented in some popular and high-impact areas. This will include the Obsidian area and North/South Matthieu Lakes in the Three Sisters Wilderness, and Coyote/Shale Lakes and Jefferson Park in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. The Forest Service will be releasing boundary maps for these no-camping zones once the plan is final. Camping in the Obsidian and Coyote/Shale Lakes will still be permitted with a separate, valid LEA Permit for the respective area.

The PCT Corridor through these wilderness areas will be extended to 1/2 mile on either side of the PCT to allow for more camping flexibility. New camping setbacks of 250 feet will be implemented for Obsidian Falls, Minnie Scott Spring and Pamelia Lake.

New Permit for PCT Section-Hikers

The Forest Service will be implementing the new Skyline Permit for hikers interested in section-hiking across multiple designated wilderness areas in this region. This permit is intended for those hiking less than 500 miles and don’t qualify for a Long-Distance Permit. It will be required for anyone starting their hike in a designated wilderness area (Three Sisters, Mount Washington, Mount Jefferson), as well as anyone hiking larger portions of the PCT through Oregon and requiring pass-thru privileges. Skyline Permits will be limited to two starts/entries per day, and will be restricted to specific entry and exit dates.

Hikers with a Skyline Permit will be required to start their section-hike in one of the designated wilderness areas at one of the newly-designated PCT Trailheads:

Irish Lake in the Three Sisters Wilderness (FR-600)

in the Three Sisters Wilderness (FR-600) Lava Camp Lake and McKenzie Pass at McKenzie Pass (OR-242)

and at McKenzie Pass (OR-242) Big Lake and Santiam Pass at Santiam Pass (US-20)

and at Santiam Pass (US-20) Breitenbush Lake in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness (FR-4220)

Skyline Permit holders will not be permitted to start their hikes from any of the trailheads on the Cascade Lakes Hwy out of Bend, e.g., Elk Lake, Devils Lake, Sisters Mirror Lake, etc. Also off-limits are any of the lateral trails within any of the designated wilderness areas, e.g., Hinton Meadow, Scott Pass, Pamelia Lake, etc. Use of these trailheads for a PCT section-hike would require both a Skyline Permit and the respective trailhead permit.

Skyline Permit holders will not be required to observe the same no-camping zone restrictions as Long-Distance Permit holders, yet will be limited to the same PCT Corridor requirement of camping within 1/2 mile of the PCT. It will also include the same 250-foot setbacks at Obsidian Falls, Minnie Scott Spring and Pamelia Lake. Camping side-trips to locations such as the Snow or Mink Lakes, Hinton Meadows, Eileen Lake, etc. will not be permitted unless you also obtain a valid permit for those respective trailheads; camping in the Obsidian and Coyote/Shale Lakes areas will still require a separate, valid LEA Permit.

Skyline Permits will go into effect beginning with the 2020 hiking season, and will be only be available through the recreation.gov website. They will be required from the first Friday before Memorial Day through Sept. 30, and there will be a yet-to-be-determined per-person fee. It is still unknown if Skyline Permits will be available on a day-of or walk-up basis, and there is currently no plan to deal with cancellations or no-shows.

New Limits to Overnight Backpackers

Hikers planning to do an overnight backpack that may incorporate portions of the PCT, but remain within a single designated wilderness area, will not be required to obtain a Skyline Permit. They will be required to obtain a permit for the desired starting trailhead, and adhere to the new daily limits imposed on each (see trailhead chart). These permits will not have camping restrictions (except for the LEA areas), but will be limited to specific entry and exit dates.

Confused yet? Check out this permit comparison chart: