Pacific Crest Trail last 50 miles closed

The Pacific Crest Trail’s northern finish is still closed, and for 2026 hikers that has turned the last stretch into a logistics problem rather than a final walk. The Pacific Crest Trail Association says the trail is closed north of Harts Pass to Canada because of the Ptarmigan Fire in Washington’s Pasayten Wilderness. The group says the closure now begins at mile 2626.2 near the Harts Pass-Pacific Crest North Trailhead, after Harts Pass and Harts Pass Road reopened. The association added that it does not expect the trail to reopen “anytime soon all the way to Canada.” ### Where exactly is the closure now? The Pacific Crest Trail Association says the current closure covers the trail north of Harts Pass to the Canadian border. That means hikers can get farther north than they could earlier in the summer, but they still cannot legally hike the final section to the Northern Terminus monument. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest says its reduced Ptarmigan Fire closure took effect on August 24 and remains in place through October 31 unless rescinded sooner. (closures.pcta.org) The Forest Service says the order bars entry on specified lands, roads and trails in the closure area for public and firefighter safety. ### How did the shutdown start? (closures.pcta.org) The Trek reported on July 25 that hikers were being told to leave the northern end of the trail as the Ptarmigan Fire was expected to close the PCT between Methow Pass, at northbound mile 2604.5, and the Northern Terminus. The report said officials were asking hikers and campers in the Harts Pass area to leave immediately and that trail sweeps were planned to notify anyone still inside the closure zone. (fs.usda.gov) KUOW reported that the U.S. Forest Service announced on July 29 that the last 43 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail were closed. Later coverage from the Pacific Crest Trail Association reflected a narrower but still decisive closure line north of Harts Pass. ### Why are hikers also talking about smoke at Cascade Locks? The Trek wrote on September 2 that smoke and fire had become “the only topic that echoed across Cascade Locks” during Trail Days, with hikers discussing quitting, skipping ahead or ending their seasons. (thetrek.co) That account describes a second problem for northbound hikers: even before they reach the Canadian endgame, smoke farther south can alter timing, morale and route decisions. (kuow.org) The Pacific Crest Trail Association’s closure guidance says hikers should check updates often because closures, fires and smoke conditions can change quickly. Its wildfire safety page says smoke can eliminate visibility and make breathing impossible, and says being in a closed area is hazardous even when flames are not nearby. ### Does this mean hikers cannot “finish” the PCT this year? KUOW reported that some hikers blocked by Washington fire closures built a homemade monument near Rainy Pass after being unable to reach the official Northern Terminus. (thetrek.co) The report quoted hiker Ian Irwin saying, “we were racing the fire season, and we still didn’t make it.” (closures.pcta.org) The Pacific Crest Trail Association struck a similar note in its closure notice, saying, “Reaching the Northern Terminus of the PCT is monumentally important to so many,” while telling hikers it is “reasonable” and “perfectly acceptable” to end a hike early. The practical distinction is that hikers may still complete most of the route, but the official border monument remains inaccessible under the current closure. (kuow.org) ### What should hikers watch next? The Pacific Crest Trail Association says hikers should use its closures page for current trail status, while the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest posts the governing closure order and map for the Ptarmigan Fire area. As of September 2, the key dates are the August 24 reduced closure order and the October 31 end date listed by the Forest Service, unless officials lift it earlier. (closures.pcta.org)