Detours

Detours, a way to walk around a closed area, sure are nice when they are available, but are not guaranteed. Sometimes you will need to skip around a closed area. Every closure, situation, and area has unique circumstances and challenges.

When the government closes a section of the trail, local agency staff and PCTA work to identify possible detours that allow people the opportunity for continuous travel around the closure. Conversations about possible detour options begin as soon as a closure appears imminent. Identifying detours can be challenging. The Pacific Crest Trail is special - there aren't usually other long north-to-south trails usable as detours. We don't encourage walking detours that place people on dangerous paved roads or in other situations that may be hazardous. Further, detours need to be reasonably navigable and maintained. Suitable routes that fit these criteria are simply not available in some regions that lack other trails or dirt roads.

Identifying a detour, including gaining alignment with land managers and other stakeholders, is often a time-consuming process. It can take weeks of work. Sometimes, detour routes need to be scouted on the ground. Please manage your expectations accordingly. When staff resources aren't available, the situation is changing rapidly, the region is covered in smoke, or we think the detour may not be viable for long, we may decide to focus on other priorities. When closure areas are huge, say, half the state of Oregon, we typically won't provide a detour. Detours that we highlight are generally somewhat close to the PCT - you won't see us suggesting walking the coast, or somewhere hundreds of miles away. Sometimes, we'll provide a discussion of options, and will leave it to you to make choices. Other times, we'll be up front about how we think you need to skip a section of trail. If usable public transit options exist, we'll mention them. Photo by Sue Owens and Denise Deeds.