The Pacific Crest Trail is a 2,661 mile trail that runs from the Mexico border past the Canada border, generally following the central ridgeline of the Cascade Mountain Range.

The trail crosses the Columbia River into Washington State 2,147 trail-miles from the Mexico border. 505.5 miles of the trail are in Washington State, and another 9 miles in Canada (no entry).

A flight due north from Cascade Locks to the Canadian border would only be 208 miles. A direct line between the Bridge of the Gods and the northern terminus monument is about 13 degrees off true north. Magnetic north in Washington is 14 degrees. The trail never deviates more than 12.5 miles from this theoretical straight line, which passes through Glacier Peak.

Official PCTA sections of the PCT

The official PCTA sections are divided by paved highway access (with the exception of Highway 410, Chinook Pass, which runs through the middle of section I.)

Section L

61.5 miles
North from State Route 20 (Rainy Pass) to the Northern Terminus Monument.

Section K

127 miles
North from US 2 (Stevens Pass)

Section J

71 miles
North from Interstate 90 (Snoqualmie Pass)

Section I

98 miles
North from highway 12 (White Pass)

Section H

148 miles
North from highway 14 (Bridge of the Gods)

Smaller Non-official Sections of the PCT in Washington

Here I have further subdivided the official sections by the easiest road access so each is no more than 70 miles. The one exception here is the Sauk River hike-in, not a drive-in. These are just comparative summaries. For each section I have also written detailed mile by mile trip notes. Named access points are at the south end of each section. Just read the section above for the north end access point. In some cases, I have rounded distances to the nearest whole mile.

Harts Pass to the US/Canada border (in Section L)

Notice: The Canadian border is closed. Entry is not permitted. Backpackers must back-track from the border.
29.7 miles one way.
Highest point: 7,070 Devils Stairway (2nd highest point in the state)
Lowest Point: 4,260 Northern Terminus Monument.
Northbound elevation gain: 6,050 ft. (204 feet per mile average)
Southbound elevation gain: 8,339 ft. (281 fpm)
Access: NF-5400 from Mazama, off SR-20, View on map
Note: Harts Pass is the northernmost road access to the PCT in the US, and the easternmost point on the trail in Washington (mm 2625). This is also the driest and most fire-prone section.

Rainy Pass to Harts Pass (in Section L)

31 miles
Highest point: 7,011 feet, Tatie Peak
Lowest point: 4,307 ft, Brush Creek
Northbound elevation gain: 7,089 ft. (257 fpm)
Southbound elevation gain: 5,775 ft. (186 fpm)
Access: On State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway). View on map

High Bridge to Rainy Pass, North Cascades NP (in Section K)

18.7 miles
Highest point: 4,855 ft, Rainy Pass (SR-20)
Lowest Point: 1,590 ft, High Bridge Ranger Station is the lowest point on the PCT in WA aside from the southernmost 34 miles.
Northbound elevation gain: 4,508 ft (241 fpm)
Southbound elevation gain: 1,287 ft (69 fpm)
Access: In front of the High Bridge Ranger Station View on map
(See the Public Transportation guide for more details on access via Stehekin.)
Note: This is the biggest difference in elevation gain between northbound and southbound because the entire section is a river walk.

Sauk to High Bridge (Stehekin), past Glacier Peak (in section K)

This is the only section on this list that requires a hike in.
68.2 miles PCT only (+ 8.7 miles hike in)
North end: High Bridge Ranger Station (mm 2575.2)
South end: Intersection with Sauk River Trail (mm 2502.7)
Highest point: 6,514 feet, Red Pass
2nd highest point: 5,991 feet, Suiattle Pass
Lowest point: 1,590 ft, High Bridge Ranger Station
2nd lowest point: 2,320 ft, The Suiattle River Bridge
Northbound elevation gain: 12,947 ft. (190 fpm) PCT only (+ 4,305 ft in)
Southbound elevation gain: 17,355 ft. (254 fpm) PCT only (+ 436 ft out)
Access: from the Sauk River Trail.View on map
Note: The overall feet-per-mile elevation change average is skewed by the segment from Suiattle Pass to High Bridge. The segment from the Sauk intersection to the Suiattle River Bridge has a fpm average of 301 southbound and is generally considered to be the most challenging segment in the state. Both sides of the Milk Creek valley are the #1 (north side, 557 fpm) and #2 (south side. 517 fpm) steepest climbs on the PCT in WA.

Stevens Pass to Sauk (in section K)

The North Fork Sauk River Trail is the only viable access point in Section K as of the fall of 2026.

37.6 miles
Highest Point: The highest point is the intersection with Sauk River Trail (mm 2502.7)
2nd highest point: 5,463 ft, Grizzly Peak
Lowest Point: 4,036 ft, Stevens Pass
Northbound elevation gain: 8,698 ft. (231 fpm avg)
Southbound elevation gain: 6,709 ft. (178 fpm avg)
Access: Off Highway 2, View on map

Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass, Alpine Lakes (in section J)

71 miles
Highest point: 5,930 feet, below Chickamin Peak (#2 is Pieper Pass 5,888 ft.)
Northbound elevation gain: 22,199 ft. (313 fpm)
Southbound elevation gain: 21,170 ft. (298 fpm)
Access: Off Interstate 90, View on map Note: Snoqualmie Pass is the lowest road access to the PCT in WA aside from at the Columbia River or the Stehekin River.
This section can be broken in half with an easy exit at Pete Lake to Cooper Lake.

Naches Pass to Snoqualmie Pass (in section I)

44 miles
Highest point: 5,638 feet, Blowout Mountain
Northbound elevation gain: 10,472 ft. (238 fpm)
Southbound elevation gain: 12,201 ft. (277 fpm)
Access: Mike Urich Cabin View on map

Chinook Pass to Naches Pass (in section I)

23 miles
Highest point: 6,521 feet Scout Pass near Norse Peak
Northbound elevation gain: 3,799 ft. (165 fpm)
Southbound elevation gain: 4,406 ft. (192 fpm)
Access: Highway 410, View on map

White Pass to Chinook Pass (in section I)

29 miles
Highest point: 5,864 feet, Naches Peak
Northbound elevation gain: 4,199 ft. (145 fpm)
Southbound elevation gain: 3,232 ft. (111 fpm) *** This is the lowest avg elevation gain of any section.
Access: off Highway 12, View on map

Midway to White Pass, via Goat Rocks (in section H)

41 miles
Highest point: 7,200 feet, Old Snow Mountain
Northbound elevation gain: 9,421 ft. (230 fpm)
Southbound elevation gain: 9,449 ft. (230 fpm)
Access: A long road out of Packwood, Midway Loop Road View on map

Williams Mine to Midway, via Mt Adams (in section H)

24 miles
Highest point: 6,143 feet
Northbound elevation gain: 4,059 ft. (169 fpm)
Southbound elevation gain: 3,480 ft. (145 fpm)
Access: Williams Mine Trailhead off FR-23 View on map

Panther Creek to Williams Mine, via Indian Heaven (in section H)

48 miles
Highest point: 5,204 feet
Northbound elevation gain: 8,586 ft. (179 fpm)
Southbound elevation gain: 5,732 ft. (119 fpm)
Access: Panther Creek Campground on FR-65 off Wind River Road Note, the 8 miles northbound from Panther Creek Campground are quite steep. View on map

Cascade Locks to Panther Creek Campground (in section H)

35 miles
Highest point: 3,477 feet
Northbound elevation gain: 6,801 ft. (194 fpm)
Southbound elevation gain: 5,938 ft. (170 fpm)
The furthest west point on the trail in Washington is a switchback just north of Three Corner Rock (mm 2166.2) about 16 miles into the state. Access: A small parking lot on the north end of the Bridge of the Gods off Highway 14 Note, the 6 miles northbound from Greenleaf Creek are quite steep. View on map

Statistics for each section