The Pacific Crest Trail Crosses the Pass
Near Stevens Pass Area, Washington
Where the highway tops the pass, another far longer trail crosses it. This is the Pacific Crest Trail, the footpath that runs about two thousand six hundred fifty miles from Mexico to Canada along the spine of the western mountains. Stevens Pass sits near trail mile two thousand four hundred sixty four, and for hikers walking the length of it, this crossing is a hard won landmark deep in the Washington home stretch.
The stretch on either side is famously demanding. To the south, between Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass, hikers face roughly seventy miles with no town and no road crossing, so they must carry every scrap of food from the start. To the north, the section on toward Rainy Pass is often called the most difficult in all of Washington.
The ski area at the pass will hold resupply boxes mailed ahead, though there is no store to shop at, so many long distance hikers instead hitch about thirty five miles east down the mountain to Leavenworth for a hot meal and fresh supplies. Reaching Stevens Pass usually means a walker is only a couple of weeks from the northern terminus, with the toughest and most beautiful country still ahead.
