On the Washington PCT Section L is the most prone to wildfires. Under primarily E/NE winds, the Olympic Mountains, Mount Baker, and the North Cascades all force moisture to fall as rain before Pacific air can reach Section L. So, dry conditions, a fire, and a trail closure is a fairly common event at some point in a given hiking season.

That is an unfortunate fact for hikers with a goal of reaching the US/Canada border at monument 78. A closure that merely forces hikers to rejoin the PCT somewhere north of Harts Pass before hiking toward the border is much less heartbreaking than a closure that prohibits Monument 78 from being a goal at all. Some hikers will choose to come back in the spring to hike Section L. Others committed to reaching Canada will find routes to other points along the border.

Alternate border contacts

There are not many near-PCT options for touching Canada using maintained trails. Generally the two most common choices for alternate are Monument 90 to the east and Monument 72 to the west. But 2026 fires have removed M72 as an option leaving M90 as the obvious choice. Unfortunately, winds have kept the air quality low on the route to M90.

East of the PCT

• 7 miles east of the NT - Monument 83 on the peak east of Chuchuwanteen River, via Trail #482. closed 2026 due to the Ptarmigan fire.
  
  
• 11 miles east of the NT - Monument 85 on the west side of the Pasayten River, via trail #461 (Monument 85 Trail). closed 2026 due to the Ptarmigan fire.
  
  
• 18.5 miles east of the NT - Monument 90 at Park Pass via trail 529 (Sheep Mountain Trail) and the Park Pass spur. open as of 2026sep10 Directions to Monument 90

West of the PCT

• 12 miles west of the NT - Monument 72 at the north end of Ross Lake via the Lightning Creek Trail. closed 2026 due to the Border 2 fire. directions
  
  
• 51.5 miles west of the NT - Monument 47 and 49 are two monuments in Mt Baker NF via trail #689 (Canyon Ridge Trail). open as of 2026sep10 Directions to Monument 47