A Pacific Crest Trail sign clings to a tree trunk, showcasing a tree silhouette against a majestic mountain backdrop. The sign reads Pacific Crest Trail, National Scenic Trail. Surrounding the scene are lush green forest trees, eagerly explored by many a pacific crest trail hiker.

Pacific Crest Trail Survey

The Pacific Crest Trail Survey was conceived after my 2013 thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Before hiking the PCT, I struggled to find information that was actually useful for planning a thru-hike. The Pacific Crest Trail is so many different things to so many different people; it’s hard to construct an idea of what your PCT hike may entail based on the reports of others. So why not attempt to consolidate all those experiences to give as accurate a picture of the trail as possible, based on data from hikers who have experienced the PCT firsthand?

Over the years, the survey has grown to be more than the loose collection of a couple of hundred hikers’ responses it began as. With thousands of would-be thru-hikers hitting the PCT every year, the survey has grown to encompass a variety of topics relevant to thru-hiking (or section hiking) the PCT. Every year, I strive to enhance the survey, the data collected, and the presentation for both past and future hikers. I happily accept any suggestions for making this data more useful to all the extreme walking enthusiasts out there.

HIKING NEXT YEAR? If you plan on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail next year (or this year, depending on when you’re reading this), click here to sign up to receive the PCT Hiker Survey when it becomes available to hikers.

Please get in touch if you have any questions or comments.

PCT Hiker Survey
PCT Gear Survey
PCT Resupply Survey
PCT Hiker Demographics
PCT Horror Stories
PCT Hiker Advice
PCT Women's Gear
Gear for Couples
PCT Survey Review

Historical PCT Hiker Surveys