If you plan on hiking more than 500 continuous miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, you are required to obtain a PCT permit from the Forest Service. You need a permit to go for a walk in the woods? Silly, I know, but you also need a passport to cross imaginary lines between “countries” – equally ludicrous. However, the permit is free to obtain and only requires that you print and mail/fax in the application (the permit page can be found here). At the same time, you can also apply for a permit to enter the Mt. Whitney zone (costs $15 and a check mark on the application) allowing you to summit the tallest mountain in the 48 contiguous states (otherwise you have to enter a lottery for a Whitney permit).
CANADA PERMIT
Since the trail ends (or begins) in Canada, you will need to cross the US/Canada border to complete it. Legally, hikers cannot enter the US from Canada via the PCT (although I do not expect there would be anyone there to stop you – we will see), and to enter Canada from the US you must obtain a Canadian entry permit prior to your trip. On a side note, if you have a felony record (or a DUI – a more serious offense in Canada) you can be denied entry to Canada – so beware Billy Joel. Even with the permit, you will still need to carry your passport, passport card, or enhanced driver's license to cross the border (and to return the US, if you're into that sort of thing). The necessary form can be obtained here (note: you will need to provide photocopies of your passport and ID along with the application).
CALIFORNIA FIRE PERMIT
The last permit you may need (and will probably want) is a California Fire Permit. If you plan on doing any cooking of food, boiling of water, burning of witches, or elaborate flame-enhanced magic tricks, you (technically) will need to print out and complete one of these permits. You can download it for free and print it out yourself. I know, what's the point? Probably so you can be sued after you do something wrong. The permit can be found here (valid for 2013 – unsure if it get's auto-updated).
In the end, I question whether or not these permits are truly necessary to obtain. But being as they are free (minus the optional Mt. Whitney permit) and not difficult to come about, I say go ahead and do it for formality's sake. It's just that much more official once you get these pieces of paper in the mail (for which the turnaround time (PCT and Canada permits) was about two and a half weeks). Time to go adventuring.
Does the PCTA actually have the authority of the USFS? I thought they were completely separate orgs.
I believe they are separate, but the PCTA issues permits that are recognized by the USFS. Or maybe they boomerang the applications?
Hey there!
I’m from Germany and I’m excited to hike the PCT in about one year.. So, can you tell me if I needed to apply for these permits in a minimum amount of time – like a half year before I start hiking?
Thank you so much for all your effort, I love your blog! <3
You should apply for the entry into Canada permit as soon as you can. The PCT Permit you can only apply for after a certain date. You can find out what it is each year on the PCTA website.
I would get in touch with the PCTA to get more information on that one.
The CA campfire permit is found here: http://www.preventwildfireca.org/ Watch a 2.5 minute video, take a 8 question quiz, and print out your permit.
Hi, absolutely love your page. Thanks for all the “easy to understand” information. Theres a few things about those permits that I dont really get. Its new to me that I need permits to hike a long distance trail..so maybe my brain is a bit overwhelmed with understanding…
The PCT Long distance permit, what does that really include or cover?
I surely still need the fire permit and the permit to enter the Canadian Boarder as well as Mt Whitney.
But do I still need to get the “smaller” permits for all the National Parks like eg Sequoia and Yosemite that I pass?
on the pcta website theres a Q&A for the long distance permit and its about the Southern Sierra section from Kennedy Meadows to Sonora Pass. It says for this section you have 30 days from the start date of the permit.
But wouldnt the start date of the long distance permit be the day when I start at the mexican boarder?
Am I thinking too complicated, do I miss stuff while reading? Can you help?
You do still need the CA Fire Permit and a Whitney Permit (if you plan on hiking out or up Whitney Portal). However, you do NOT need permits for the individual wilderness areas or parks that the PCT passes through (so long as any distance you stray from the PCT is either to or from a trailhead).
“Legally, hikers cannot enter the US from Canada via the PCT…” Then how is SOBO possible? The article discusses the permit required for NOBO, but what permit is required to do SOBO? Thank you for a great site!
SOBO hikers generally get a ride to Harts Pass, the closest access point to the northern terminus from the US side, and then hike ~20 miles north to the border to then turn around and start hiking south.