Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail
Know Before You Go
Conditions on the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNT) can change rapidly due to events such as wildfires or flooding. Some sections of the PNT may be closed or have other restrictions. The Pacific Northwest Trail Association aggregates information from local land managers and visitors to provide Trail Conditions, Trail Alerts, and COVID-19 Updates. For the latest information, visitors should check with the local office of the land management agency for the section of the PNT you plan to visit.
Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Council
The charter for the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Council has been renewed, effective March 10, 2020. The Forest Service is soliciting nominations for volunteers to serve on the advisory council. For more information, including how to apply, please visit our Advisory Council Membership page. The deadline to submit nominations has been extended to December 15, 2021.
Connecting Landscapes and Communities
The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNT) travels through some of the most spectacular and scenic terrain in the United States, connecting diverse landscapes and communities of the Pacific Northwest.
Beginning at the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park the trail travels over 1,200 miles through Montana, Idaho, and Washington before reaching the Pacific Ocean near Cape Alava.
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The Trail:![]() |
Maps:![]() |
Advisory Council:![]() |
National Trails System
In 2018, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the birth of our National Trails System, 11 National Scenic Trails (including the Pacific Crest Trail) and 19 National Historic Trails authorized by Congress, and more than 1,200 National Recreation Trails.
These trails provide outdoor recreation opportunities, promote resource preservation and public access, and encourage the appreciation of the great outdoors and America's history and cultural diversity.
Pacific Northwest Trail; One of America's Newest National Scenic Trails
First proposed in the early 1970s, the Pacific Northwest Trail was designated by Congress as one of eleven National Scenic Trails in the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. The National Trails System Act calls for these trails to be located to provide for maximum outdoor recreation potential as well as the conservation and enjoyment of the scenic, historic, natural, and cultural resources in the areas through which these trails pass.