Pacific Crest Bicycle Trail
Encyclopedia
The Pacific Crest Bicycle Trail (PCBT) is a 2,500-mile-long, road-based bicycle touring
route from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
to Tijuana
, Baja California
, Mexico
. It was designed to closely parallel the Pacific Crest Trail
and the two trails cross 27 times as they pass through the states of Washington, Oregon
, and California
.
The PCBT passes through the North Cascades National Park
, Crater Lake National Park
, Lassen Volcanic National Park
, Yosemite National Park
, Kings Canyon National Park
, and Sequoia National Park
and is generally routed through the Cascades and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. The route attains its highest elevation at Tioga Pass
in California at approximately 10,000 feet.
Both paved and unpaved roads are used, although most are paved. In several sections where an unpaved road is used, a paved road alternative is offered.
The route passes through terrain as varied as thick evergreen forests, apple
orchards, wide river canyons, grasslands, glaciated
high Sierra canyons, and high desert.
The PCBT was first publicized in 1990 by the guidebook Pacific Crest Bicycle Trail by Bil Paul. The book is out of print.
included:
The route was changed and field re-researched by Bil Paul in 2008 to use all paved roads (with one non-paved alternative in Oregon). However, more side roads are used. The Adventure Cycling Assn. of Missoula, MT published in April 2010 a series of five maps covering the revised route, which they call the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route. A side route to Mount Rainier National Park
has been added. The southern terminus of the route has been changed to Tecate, Mexico. At the northern terminus at Sumas, WA, a connector route allows riding between Sumas and Bellingham, WA to offer airport access and access to the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route.
Bicycle touring
Bicycle touring is cycling over long distances – prioritizing pleasure and endurance over utility or speed. Touring can range from single day 'supported' rides — e.g., rides to benefit charities — where provisions are available to riders at stops along the route, to multi-day...
route from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It was designed to closely parallel the Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
and the two trails cross 27 times as they pass through the states of Washington, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
The PCBT passes through the North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is a U.S. National Park located in the state of Washington. The park is the largest of the three National Park Service units that comprise the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Several national wilderness areas and British Columbia parkland adjoin the...
, Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is a United States National Park located in southern Oregon. Established in 1902, Crater Lake National Park is the sixth oldest national park in the United States and the only one in the state of Oregon...
, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a United States National Park in northeastern California. The dominant feature of the park is Lassen Peak; the largest plug dome volcano in the world and the southern-most volcano in the Cascade Range...
, Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
, Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is a National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno, California. The park was established in 1940 and covers...
, and Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
and is generally routed through the Cascades and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. The route attains its highest elevation at Tioga Pass
Tioga Pass
Tioga Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. State Route 120 runs through it, and serves as the eastern entry point for Yosemite National Park. It is the highest highway pass in California and in the Sierra Nevada. Mount Dana is to the east of the pass...
in California at approximately 10,000 feet.
Both paved and unpaved roads are used, although most are paved. In several sections where an unpaved road is used, a paved road alternative is offered.
The route passes through terrain as varied as thick evergreen forests, apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
orchards, wide river canyons, grasslands, glaciated
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
high Sierra canyons, and high desert.
The PCBT was first publicized in 1990 by the guidebook Pacific Crest Bicycle Trail by Bil Paul. The book is out of print.
Route
According to a trip report by Caryl L. Bergeron, the route through most of Washington to Central OregonCentral Oregon
Central Oregon is a geographic region in the U.S. state of Oregon and is traditionally considered to be made up of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Other definitions include larger areas, often encompassing areas to the north towards the Columbia River, eastward towards Burns, or south...
included:
- from Sedro-Woolley, WashingtonSedro-Woolley, WashingtonSedro-Woolley is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,540 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Mount Vernon–Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to TwispTwisp, WashingtonTwisp is a town in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. The population was 938 at the 2000 census and decreased to 919 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Twisp is located at ....
on SR 20 - to PaterosPateros, WashingtonPateros is a city in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. The population was 643 at the 2000 census and increased 3.7% to 667 in the 2010 census.-History:Pateros was originally established as Ive's Landing in around 1886 by Lee Ives...
on SR 153Washington State Route 153State Route 153 is a highway in Okanogan County, Washington that runs along the Methow River from Pateros to Twisp. The highway is a part of the Cascade Loop, Washington state's scenic loop highway.-External links:***... - to WenatcheeWenatchee, WashingtonWenatchee is located in North Central Washington and is the largest city and county seat of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925...
on US 97 - to EllensburgEllensburg, WashingtonEllensburg is a city in, and the county seat of, Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 18,174 at the 2010 census. The population was 18,250 at 2011 Estimate from Office of Financial Management. Ellensburg is located just east of the Cascade Range on I-90 and is known as the...
on US 2 and SR 821Washington State Route 821State Route 821, also known as Canyon Road, is a state highway in Washington. It runs from an intersection with Interstate 82 north of Selah to another junction with I-82 south of Ellensburg. The total length of SR 821 is .-Route description:...
(Canyon Road) - to SelahSelah, WashingtonSelah is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,147 at the 2010 census.-History:Selah was officially incorporated on April 3, 1919. The government is a Strong Mayor/Council form. The Tree Top apple processor co-operative has its headquarters and two processing...
on Old Naches Heights Road - to NachesNaches, WashingtonNaches is a town in Yakima County, Washington, United States. The population was 795 individuals at the 2010 census.-Infrastructure:Naches' infrastructure is based mainly on timber and agriculture, known for its large masses of apple, cherries, pears and various other fruits.-Geography:Naches is...
on US 12U.S. Route 12 in WashingtonU.S. Route 12 is a major east-west U.S. Highway, running from Aberdeen, Washington, to Detroit, Michigan. It spans across the state of Washington, and is the only numbered highway to span the entire state from west to east, starting near the Pacific Ocean, and crossing the Idaho state line near... - to RandleRandle, WashingtonRandle is an unincorporated community in extreme eastern Lewis County, Washington, United States. Randle is located on U.S. Route 12 and is notable as the northeastern access point to the Mount St. Helens Windy Ridge viewpoint, by way of forest service roads that cut through the Gifford Pinchot...
on US 12 - to Trout LakeTrout Lake, WashingtonTrout Lake is a census-designated place in Klickitat County, Washington, United States. The population was 848 at the 2011 census. The town is notable for dairy farms, herb farms, as an access point to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.-Geography:...
on SR 131Washington State Route 131State Route 131 is a short Washington state highway in Lewis County, extending from the northern terminus of at the boundary of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to in Randle...
and Forest Service Road 23 - to Hood River, OregonHood River, OregonThe city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,831...
on SR 141Washington State Route 141State Route 141 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Washington, running from SR 14 in Bingen to the Skamania County west of Trout Lake.-Route description:Beginning in downtown Bingen at SR 14, SR 141 travels up a long grade to White Salmon... - through Hood River on 2nd Street, Oak Avenue, 13th Street
- to ParkdaleParkdale, OregonParkdale is an unincorporated community in Hood River County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Parkdale as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with...
on Route 281Oregon Route 281Oregon Route 281 is an Oregon state highway running from Hood River to the community of Mount Hood. OR 281 is known as the Hood River Highway No. 281... - to DetroitDetroit, OregonDetroit is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. It was named for Detroit, Michigan in the 1890s because of the large number of people from Michigan in the community. The population was 262 at the 2000 census...
on Route 35, U.S. Route 26, and Forest Service Road 42 - to SistersSisters, OregonSisters is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is part of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 959 at the 2000 census, but more than doubled to 2038 as of the 2010 census.- History :...
on Oregon Route 22
The route was changed and field re-researched by Bil Paul in 2008 to use all paved roads (with one non-paved alternative in Oregon). However, more side roads are used. The Adventure Cycling Assn. of Missoula, MT published in April 2010 a series of five maps covering the revised route, which they call the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route. A side route to Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is a United States National Park located in southeast Pierce County and northeast Lewis County in Washington state. It was one of the US's earliest National Parks, having been established on March 2, 1899 as the fifth national park in the United States. The park contains...
has been added. The southern terminus of the route has been changed to Tecate, Mexico. At the northern terminus at Sumas, WA, a connector route allows riding between Sumas and Bellingham, WA to offer airport access and access to the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route.