Detailed Trail Status by Section

This content was last updated on 2026 June 1st

This summary covers any popular access roads that are closed, any new fires near the PCT, snow conditions on the PCT, and any other information new in 2026 that backpackers will need to know before they go.

Access Roads

Numerous roads are closed due to damage cause by winter flooding. Any roads not mentioned here are open.

block State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) - on May 30th the point of closure was moved from mp 131 to mp 134 (the normal winter gate). It's closed to 1.5 miles west of of Rainy Pass (mp 156). No access allowed (no bikes). East of Rainy Pass both lanes are open. Estimated opening June 25th. Check WA DOT for the latest status.

block Harts Pass Road Closed at Monument Creek (Just past the lost River bridge). No ETA for opening.

block Railroad Creek Road Closed. Probably will not reopen in 2026.

block Suiattle River Road Closed at milepost 4 (20 miles from the trailhead) with 6 major washouts. No repairs are in progress or even budgeted. Note that mountain bikers have already cut trails around all the washouts.

Details of the road and the trail are in this excellent trip report from May 23rd. And also this one from the same day.
Sloan Creek Road (NF-49) from Bedal and Sauk River Trail is the next best option for accessing the middle of section K in 2026 - passable, but in rough shape.

Opened

Highway 410 to Chinook Pass and Highway 123 connecting Chinook Pass and Packwood opened May 22nd

Unknown

NF-21 from Packwood to Walupt Lake and Midway. Status unknown

Fires

local_fire_department There are no known fires in the vicinity of the PCT.

Snow coverage

UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THIS IS AN EARLY POST OF A PAGE I AM UPDATING

Section L (Canada to Rainy Pass)

ac_unit Currently Section L is more snow than not. From Glacier Pass to Castle Pass is all snow. The only clear areas are the lower parts of Porcupine Creek, Methow River, Route Creek, and swamp creek.

  • Until this section clears, southbound thru hikers with a permit-dictated start date might want to use one of the Robinson Creek alternate routes to the north terminus. The trail is snow-free from Castle Pass to the Canada border so the Frosty Pass route is a good option. Slate Pass is still under snow so too soon for that route unless you have spike and axe.
  • Sadly, the Slate Peak Fire Lookout collapsed over the winter. So you may see ruins.

After Methow Pass, the trail along Swamp Creek is clear to Granite Pass.

Section K North (Rainy Pass to NF Sauk River)

  • Note; Services in Stehekin are impacted by the December floods. Details are on the Resupply page. ac_unit Completely snow free from Rainy Pass, past High Bridge, all the way to mm 2561.5
  • 6.5 miles of spotty snow over Suiattle Pass to 2554.5 (The sweet alternate routes are also under snow)
  • Completely snow free to Vista Ridge on the north side of Glacier Peak.
  • The Suiattle River bridge is in good shape.
  • All snow from 2535 to 2517
  • Kennedy Creek and White Chuck River are clear
  • Snow starts again at 2510 as you climb toward Red pass.

Section K South (NF Sauk River to Stevens Pass)

Note, Where the NF Sauk River Trail connects with the PCT there is White Pass and Red Pass. This is not the White Pass on highway 12 and it's not the Red Pass near Kendall Katwalk.

  • Expect significant blow-downs in Section K. ac_unit This section is mostly snow covered. Even Lake Valhalla near Stevens Pass is still mostly ice covered.
  • Patchy snow until you drop below 4000 ft two miles before the trailhead.

Section J (Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass)

  • Southbound you'll hit snow under the power lines, 3.2 miles in.
  • Josephine Lake is still ice covered.
  • Too much snow to make a detailed report worth it.
  • It's melted around Waptus Lake and Pete Lake, and south of the Katwalk. Everything else is mostly snow.
  • Northbounders will encounter solid snow after the Katwalk.

Section I, North (Snoqualmie Pass to Naches Pass)

  • This section is completely clear.
  • The small patches on the north side of Tinkham Peak seem to be all off-trail.

Section I, Mid (Naches Pass to Chinook Pass)

  • The road to Naches Pass from Greenwater is open. The road coming from the east is closed.
  • Completely clear all the way from Mike Urich Cabin to east of Echo lake.
  • Then spotty small snow patches to Martinson Gap.
  • Strong cell signal at mm 2335 (none at Chinook Pass).
  • Then mostly snow to Chinook Pass. There's even snow south of Sheep Lake.

Section I, South (Chinook Pass to White Pass)

Large snowfields from Chinook Pass to Bumping River. Then mostly snow to White Pass that is very close to being gone. There is a large blowdown north of White Pass.

Section H, North (White Pass to Midway)

  • Spotty snow starts 2 miles in.
  • Solid snow above 6200 ft.
  • Shoe Lake still ice covered.
  • 2284.5 (5400 ft)-2272 (5600 ft) mostly snow through Goat Rocks
  • 2268-2258 (5000 ft) spotty patches to near Midway.

Section H, Mid (Midway to Williams Mine)

  • 2250-2248 Spotty patches as you ascend Mt Adams
  • 2248-2239 Mostly snow around Mt Adams.
  • 2239-2237 Spotty patches as you descend Mt Adams.

Section H, South (Williams Mine to Columbia River)

  • 2216-2208 Spotty patches ~50/50 through Indian Heaven