Land and Resources Management
The Forest Service is responsible for making sure that the many land managers and partners along our 2,650 miles of trail know the special status of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and the policies that make it different from other trails. The documents on this page are key resources that describe how the trail should be managed. Since the Pacific Crest Trail is a resource for the American public, it is important that these policies are available to everyone so that management decisions are transparent and our many partners along the trail can easily access key information.
Guiding Documents
National Trails System Act
This 1968 Act of Congress established our nation's network of National Scenic, Historic, and Recreation trails. It has been amended several times since 1968 with the addition of more National Trails.
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Foundation Document
The PCT Foundation Document acts as a companion document to the Comprehensive Management Plan. It aggregates the legislative history, legal and policy requirements, special mandates, administrative commitments, and trail management directives. Additionally, to support consistent trail-wide management, it documents the PCT’s nature and purposes, what makes it significant, identifies the fundamental resources and values, and interpretive themes. The Foundation Document, in conjunction with the Comprehensive Management Plan, informs management considerations, decisions, and planning efforts surrounding the PCT.
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Comprehensive Plan
The 1982 PCT Comprehensive Plan established guidelines for administering the trail. A 1978 Amendment to the National Trails System Act required a comprehensive plan to be submitted to Congress defining the development, management, and use of the trail. The plan was developed in consultation with the PCT Advisory Council, the Governors of California, Oregon, and Washington, the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service.
Federal Register Notice (January 30, 1973 Vol. 38, #19, Part II)
The PCT’s selected route location was published in the Federal Register of January 30, 1973 (Vol. 38, #19, Part II). The PCT is approximately 2,650 miles long and starts in California at the Mexican border, ending at the Canadian border in Washington. Of the total miles, approximately 300 are on non-federal land (i.e. private, county, state park, or tribal land).
Documents for Land Management
Prohibitions for Motorized Use and Bicycles
The PCT is open only to use by hikers and equestrians. There is a prohibition on motorized and mechanized use, defined in the National Trails System Act and a Forest Service and BLM General Prohibition.
Optimal Location Review Process Guidelines
Portions of the PCT might be relocated to more optimal locations that enhance the scenic experience of the trail. This OLR guidance document outlines the process for conducting an optimal location review analysis for the PCT. This OLR process precludes and does not replace the NEPA process for establishing a new trail location.
Pacific Crest Trail Suppression Repair Guidelines
The Forest Service is responsible for making sure the many land managers and partners along the 2,650 miles of trail know the special status of the PCT landscape and how the law, regulation and policies make the PCT different from other trails. This same landscape is also faced with the growing concerns from wildfires. There will certainly be more wildfires along the PCT landscape and we need to learn from past events. Suppression efforts will continue to happen within the landscape and this document is intended to provide guidelines for how to repair suppression actions.