Canada Now Terminates Cross-Border Travel from Pacific Crest Trail



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The Government of Canada has ended the program that allowed US thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to hike into the Canadian portion of the trail. For decades, thru-hikers simply applied for a permit to reach the end of the trail, which is now terminated.

pacific crest trail canada

The 4,265-kilometre trail begins in Mexico, continues through California, Oregon and Washington state and into Canada. Previously, thru-hikers were able to apply for a permit through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to hike across the border on the remaining 13-kilometres of the trail into Canada. The trail stretched into E.C. Manning Park, south of Hope in southern B.C. On Monday, January 27, the agency announced that the permit will end.

trail trees pct us canada

In alignment with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection—which does not give travellers access to the US from Canada on the trail—those wishing to complete the Canadian portion of the hike will have to enter Canada via a designated port of entry. The closest designated ports of entry to the hiking trail are in Abbotsford and Osoyoos, both about 100 kilometres from the trail. The second option is to end their hike at the border.

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Therefore, instead of being able to reach the terminus in E.C. Manning Park, rest and rejuvenate at the resort for a day or two and access a road to head home, hikers will have to backtrack about 48 kilometres, essentially do the Harts Pass-to-border leg twice and exit the backcountry after their thru-hike. However, the border permit had only ever allowed hikers to cross from the US to Canada—and southbound hikers have always had to do the longer, alternative route.

pct trail canada us border

Although the PCT has seen a closure between the border similar to this from 2020 to 2023, during the COVID-19 pandemic, this sudden change is speculated to be the product of US President Donald Trump’s threats to increase tariff if Canada does not do more to secure the border.

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2 thoughts on “Canada Now Terminates Cross-Border Travel from Pacific Crest Trail

  1. I understand the concept of securing the borders in respects to drugs coming into the country via north or south. But understanding that I just completed the PCT in 2024 no hiker carries any extra weight other than survival gear so the likelihood of drugs coming across the border at that location or about a 00001%

  2. If southbound hikers had to cross into the US by a controlled border, I think it is only fair that northbound hikers do the same. Moreover, if the US government wants Canada to secure the borders the way they are saying, then US citizens should take up the issue with the US government.

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