Included:

• • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 4 days of backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail
  • Transportation to the trailhead and back
  • Group camping gear (water filter, stove and fuel, toilet paper and waste bags, bear canister, travel trowel)
  • Backpacking tent (let us know if you plan on using your own tent in advance, and who you are planning on sharing a tent with, if traveling with others)
  • Trekking poles
  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the trip (starting with lunch on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 4)
  • Snacks (select options available, you are encouraged to bring your own!)
  • Tea, coffee, and hot cider
  • First aid kit

Not included:

• • Transportation to Oregon
  • Backpack, sleeping bag, and pad
  • Accommodation prior to and after the tour
  • Guide gratuities — optional

While no backpacking experience is necessary (your guides will teach you everything), good physical fitness is a must! ​Participants must be able to hike up to 10 miles a day up moderate inclines while carrying a 40lb (or heavier) pack.

The importance of proper physical training cannot be emphasized enough! By arriving with your heart, lungs, and legs in top condition, you maximize your potential for a backpacking trip and your ability to enjoy the wilderness. When training, consider a well-founded routine that includes strength training, yoga or pilates, calisthenics, cardio, swimming, HIIT, and hiking with your full pack weight on.

You’ll be carrying group gear to ensure a safe and successful adventure. Part of backpacking is learning what you do and don’t need, and your guides are here to help you finetune your pack load so it will be manageable for you to carry on your adventure. Group gear will be an additional 5-10 lb to your pack. Keep in mind that you’ll also be carrying your own tent, sleeping bag/pads, clothing, backpack, etc.

There are several routes your guides have in mind, some totally beginner-friendly, some a bit more intermediate. Daily elevation gain won’t exceed 2,000 ft (610 m), mileage is typically 8–13 miles (13–21 km) per day, and you won’t go above 7,000 ft (2,130 m)—so altitude sickness isn’t a concern. Choose the difficulty that suits you best!

• • Beginner-friendly routes require good physical fitness and the ability to hike up to 10 miles a day over easy to moderate terrain with a 40 lb backpack. No backpacking experience is necessary.
  • Intermediate routes require good physical fitness with some backpacking experience. Participants must be able to hike up to 10 miles a day over challenging terrain and steep elevation gains while carrying a 40 lb pack. Dry camping will be involved, this requires you to carry up to 4-6L of water for stretches on the trip.

Your guides aren’t able to tell you the exact section of the PCT you’ll hike in WA or OR due to several reasons:

• • Group size changes affect which designated campsites we’re allowed to use.
  • Winter damage can make certain areas impassable (downed trees, broken bridges).
  • Wildfires may arise before the trip and force reroutes.

What we can tell you: you’ll be on packed dirt, dirt with light ash, loose rock (pebbles to baseball-size), and duff. Daily elevation gain won’t exceed 2,000 ft (610 m), mileage is typically 8–13 miles (13–21 km) per day, and you won’t go above 7,000 ft (2,130 m)—so altitude sickness isn’t a concern.

There are 4 potential route options, and the final choice is made 30 days before your tour, based on the latest weather, trail conditions, and safety factors.

Backpacking gear

• • Backpack: 50–65 L capacity
  • Sleeping bag or quilt: 10°F to 32°F; down = warmer/lighter/more compressible
  • Sleeping pad: foam or inflatable
  • Pillow: inflatable or compressible (optional; can use puffy jacket)
  • Sleeping socks: 1 clean pair (wool or synthetic)
  • Headlamp: + extra batteries
  • Stuff sacks / dry bags: for gear + food organization

Clothing (all synthetic or wool; no cotton)

• • Sun hat
  • Light–midweight beanie
  • Sunglasses
  • Bandana or neck gaiter
  • Hiking T-shirt
  • Sun hoodie
  • Packable insulated jacket: down or synthetic
  • Hiking shorts or pants
  • Rain jacket + rain pants OR poncho
  • Trail runners or lightweight hiking boots (NOT waterproof)
  • Hiking socks: 1 liner + 2 pairs light/midweight outer socks
  • Lightweight gaiters
  • Camp shoes: lightweight with back-strap
  • Underwear: 2–3 pairs
  • Sports bra
  • Thin gloves
  • Base layers for sleeping: top + bottom

Hydration & cooking

• • Water capacity: 2–4 liters (bottles or bladder)
  • Spoon/spork
  • Cup or small pot

Personal items

• • Electrolytes
  • Personal medications
  • Menstrual products
  • Pee cloth or toilet paper
  • Sunscreen (reef-safe)
  • SPF lip balm
  • Toiletries (minimal; no soap)
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Wipes (for nightly cleaning)
  • Quick-dry camp towel
  • Insect repellent / permethrin pre-treat
  • Cash for gratuity

Optional

• • Eye mask
  • Maps / PCT guide
  • Backpacking camp chair
  • Sleeping bag liner
  • Snacks + candy
  • Wireless headphones
  • Battery pack
  • Blister care
  • Warm camp booties
  • Small fanny pack
  • Lightweight wallet
  • Water bottle/phone shoulder holders
  • Personal water filter (group filters provided)

Leave at home

• • Stoves
  • Bear spray
  • Firearms
  • Alcohol/Recreational drugs

Of course! You’ll need to bring your own backpack, sleeping bag, and pad, and if you don’t have your own, there are plenty of rental companies in Portland—the starting point of your tour. You can rent from LowerGear Rentals, Mountain Shop, Portland Paddle, or any other rental company in Portland. Make sure you make arrangements in time. Contact us if you need any help!

All meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 4 are included, including snacks.

Your guides will provide a combination of meals cooked from scratch and pre-packaged trail meals and snacks. Upon booking, you will be provided with a waiver where you can notify them of your allergies and dietary restrictions. You are welcome to bring as much of your own food for the trip, as well as any other personal gear related to food preparation.

Service dogs are welcome on this trip, but just a heads up—weather and trail conditions could be challenging for canine companions.

Generally, non-service dogs are only allowed on private trips, and accommodation cannot be guaranteed for a non-service canine. We are happy to discuss this with you, but the final decision on non-service canines would be dependent on the safety and comfort of our guides and other trip participants.

Finally, your guides cannot take responsibility for the safety and comfort of dogs with respect to the outdoor elements.

Group sizes and prices:

• • For this backpacking tour along the Pacific Crest Trail, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 10:1. 
  • It takes a minimum of 5 people for this tour to run.

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

If you’re looking to join an all-women version of this trip, check out our all-women backpacking along the Pacific Crest Trail.

Min. age requirements:

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Yes, single tents are available for all participants by advance request, just leave us a note at checkout!

To get to Portland, Oregon, most people fly into Portland International Airport (PDX). From there, you have a 15-minute drive to your guide’s office in Troutdale.

You’ll meet your guide and your fellow backpackers at 8 am on Day 1 a the guide’s office, 121 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060. The entrance to their office is located at the back of the building (the side away from Historic Columbia River Hwy) in the lower level garage.

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.