Sierra Rec Magazine – November 3, 2021 – Are you going to be long-distance PCT hiking in 2022? Or taking an epic horseback adventure? The 2022 permit season opens on November 9, 2021, for northbound trips on the PCT starting next spring that are starting south of Sonora Pass.

Permits for travel along the Pacific Crest Trail are required in some but not all areas along the trail.

 All other itineraries will open on January 11, 2022. PCT Long-distance Permits are for people who are traveling 500 or more continuous miles in a single trip.

a wooden post with a sticker on it

Key things to know about the PCT long-distance permit

  • Read this entire page and do your research before you apply.
  • Permits are free.
  • Plan in advance to ensure that you get a permit.
  • Permit requests are reviewed and issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Long-distance permits are only for hikers and horseback riders intending to travel 500 or more miles in a single, continuous trip.
  • By using a PCT long-distance permit, you agree to abide by all terms of the permit , and all laws, rules, and regulations which apply to the areas that you pass through on the Pacific Crest Trail.
  • Each adult must get their own permit. If you’re hiking with your children who are under 18 years old, they may be attached to your permit.

The USDA Forest Service authorizes PCTA to issue permits with the following restrictions:

  • 50 permits per day for northbound trips starting between the Mexican border and Sonora Pass between March 1 and May 31; northbound section permits will not be issued in this zone during the month of June;
  • 1,400 permits for section hikers crossing the John Muir Trail overlap and 600 permits for trips starting in the Southern Sierra;
  • 15 permits per day for southbound thru- and section hikes starting between Canada through Stehekin between June 15 and July 31. Then, 15 permits per day starting in the Northern Terminus area for section hikers between Aug. 1 and Sept. 15. 825 total Northern Terminus area permits;
  • 8,000 total permits

Starting elsewhere

Starting Southbound or other section itinerary. – We’ll start accepting permit applications on January 11 at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

How to Apply

  1. Research where and when you want to go. Make sure that your trip is feasible. The PCT is covered in snow for much of the year and if you’re aiming to hike, rather than ski or mountaineer, you’ll likely need to wait for summer before you can go most places.
  2. Apply for a PCT long-distance permit. (Click here for the permit application.)
    • You’ll need your name and address, start location, end location, start date, end date, names and birthdays for your children if they’re hiking with you.
    • You’ll be able to select a date if there is space. Once you pick a start date, you have that date locked for 20 minutes so that you can fill out the rest of the application.
    • Do not fill out the application more than once. Doing so may result in the cancellation of all your requests!
    • We’ll review your application. If it has errors, it may be canceled, delayed or denied.

If you’re doing a series of short section hikes, you’ll need to apply for local permits from the agencies that manage those sections of trail.

To learn more, head over to the permits page on our website.