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AT vs. PCT.

One of the most popular questions I get asked is to compare the AT vs. PCT.

Comparing them is like comparing apples to oranges—they’re different in nearly every aspect. If you’re after a more comparable discussion, the PCT vs. CDT would make more sense.

No one can tell you which trail is right for you. Factors like your time, fitness, confidence, and weather conditions will all influence your decision. My advice? Research, prepare thoroughly, and know your ability level.

In my experience, the AT felt harder, but that was likely because it was my first thru-hike. Both trails can be equally challenging, depending on the year and conditions, but your experience will be shaped by factors like the time of year, snow levels, general weather, fitness, and direction of travel.

It used to be that the AT was the most common first thru-hike. However, with the advent of lighter gear, the PCT has become just as popular, with many now attempting it as their first thru-hike.

Below, I’ve broken down some popular categories to highlight the key differences between these trails. Keep in mind, these are based on my personal experiences—yours may differ. Keep reading to find out more as well as some tips for your own thru-hike and a look at my gear.

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Comparison

Appalachian Trail

Length: 2,189 miles
Established: Work on the trail began in 1921 and was completed in 1937.
States Covered: 14
Sections:
- Northern New England: Maine, New Hampshire
- Southern New England: Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut
- Mid-Atlantic: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland
- The Virginias: West Virginia, Virginia
- Southern Appalachians: Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia
Total Elevation Gain: 464,500 feet
Highest Point: Clingmans Dome, 6,643 feet
Lowest Point: Hudson River, 124 feet

The current unsupported thru-hike speed record was set by Joe McConaughy, who completed the AT in 45 days, 12 hours, and 15 minutes, averaging an astonishing 48 miles per day. For comparison, the average hiker covers about 15-20 miles a day.

Approximately 1 in 4 hikers who start the AT finish. Before 2006, the completion rate was closer to 10%. In 2014, 2,500 hikers began the trail northbound, and 653 completed it, resulting in a 26% completion rate.

Between 1936 and 1969, only 61 recorded completions were logged.

The trail crosses six national parks, eight national forests, and numerous state and local parks and forests.

Hikers take roughly 5 million steps to complete the entire trail.

Pacific Crest Trail

Length: 2,655.8 miles
First Explored: In the late 1930s
States Covered: 3
Sections:
- Southern California: 648 miles
- Central California: 505 miles
- Northern California: 567 miles
- Oregon: 430 miles
- Washington: 500 miles
Total Elevation Gain: 489,418 feet
Highest Point: Forester Pass, 13,153 feet
Lowest Point: Cascade Locks, Oregon, 140 feet

The current unsupported thru-hike speed record was set by Josh Perry in 2022, completing the PCT in 55 days, 16 hours, and 54 minutes, averaging 44 miles per day. Most hikers average about 20-25 miles per day.

The PCT passes the three deepest lakes in the U.S.:

Lake Tahoe (1,645 feet),
Crater Lake (1,932 feet),
Lake Chelan (1,149 feet).

Although the distance “as the crow flies” from Mexico to Canada is just over 1,000 miles, the PCT meanders at over 2.5 times that distance.

The trail passes through 33 federally mandated wilderness areas, 25 national forests, 7 national parks, and 3 national monuments. Along its route, the PCT crosses 57 major mountain passes, descends into 19 major canyons, and passes more than 1,000 lakes and tarns.

The PCT also traverses six of North America’s seven eco-zones, showcasing some of the continent’s most diverse landscapes.

TREAD

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

The tread of the AT can be down right nasty at times. It’s often full of rocks or roots. That’s not to say it doesn’t have smooth parts too. The trail lacks switchbacks making the climbing quite difficult at times. The elevation gain/loss is almost 100,000′ more than the PCT.

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

The PCT was designed and built so one could use pack animals on it. As a result the trail has a much easier grade and meanders up/around climbs. The actual tread is much smoother too. Don’t get me wrong, sections like the Alpine Wilderness in Washington State are rocky as rough on your feet as the tough AT sections.

WEATHER*

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Weather is never the same so it’s hard to say which has the better weather. The AT is wetter and much more humid. That said I hiked the whole state of Virginia with only a half hour of rain. Two years later I met a thru-hiker who never saw the sun for the 750 miles of Virginia. I got snow on April 1st on Roan High Knob.

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

I personally found the weather on the PCT to be much better than the AT. The temperatures are higher on the PCT but it lacks the humidity of the AT. I’m reluctant to use the term “predictable” to describe the PCT’s weather. The PCT still has rain, hail, snow, lightening and more. Just know it can vary from year to year.

NAVIGATION*

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

In my opinion navigating the AT is very easy. The white blazes are so predictably reliable compared to any other trails. Other trails use multiple types of signage making it confusing at times. If I hiked the AT again I wouldn’t even carry maps, I would only have the Farout App. The novice hiker that might be not feel as comfortable as me. Use your own judgement.

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

When I hiked in 2007 map options were limited and not very good. Even so navigating wasn’t terrible. The PCT is marked well but not as consistent or as frequent as the AT. At times you have to follow your “Hiking Instinct” as I call it. Today there are many more map options and they are much better in quality. In my opinion if you have basic hiking skills and map reading ability you should do fine, but know your limits of course.

MAPS

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Official AT Guide Sets, Official AT Maps (they also have an app now too), and Postholer Maps,

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

Halfmile’s Maps, PCTA Guide Books, Postholer Maps, John Muir Trail Map-Pack: Shaded Relief Topo Maps (Tom Harrison Maps)“Tom Harrison Maps for JMT (These were great to have in the Sierra.), US Forest Service Maps, and Farout App.

MY GEAR

1 2 3 4

Links to “If I Hiked the…Again” Series:*

Appalachian Trail , Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Long Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail

*The “If I Hiked the…Again” series are a collection of gear lists that show what I would take if I went back and hiked a trail again.

1 2 3

Links to our Gear Lists:

Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, John Muir Trail, and Colorado Trail

TIPS

Pre-Hike:

Shakedown Hike: Be sure to do multiple shakedown hikes, not only will it make you stronger helping you avoid on trail injuries, it will help you build your confidence and get you more familiar with your gear.
Research: Do as much as you can. Knowing your options will make things easier when things don’t go as planned.
Cutting Pack Weight: Your shakedown hikes will help weed out gear you don’t need but if you want to know more, checkout my post about cutting pack weight.
Budget: Make yourself a budget. Cost can add up quick while on trail.
Planning: Have an itinerary. The chance you’ll stick to it are small but it will help you plan resupply and familiarize yourself with the trail.
Pre-Trip Considerations: There are a lot of things one might over look when planning a thru-hike. Things like a living will, power of attorney, healthcare proxy and more. I dive into these and others in my post Bikepacking Pre-trip Considerations. Many apply to thru-hiking as well.

On Trail:

Itinerary: As I just mentioned above, you probably won’t stick to your pre-hike plan but I strongly encourage you to stick to it for the first few weeks. Many hikers over do it and quit due to over use injuries.
Mistakes: Everyone makes them so don’t sweat it. To help you avoid the most common mistakes thru-hikers make, checkout this post.
Journaling: My of my fellow thru-hikers failed to either be consistent with keeping a daily journal or the format they used day to day. Now, years later as memories have faded they struggle to follow their journals. You can find some journaling tips here.
Decision Making: Many hikers form “Tramilies” as their called. As great as hiking with others is, don’t be afraid of going your own way. Some of my best hiking was solo.

PHSYICAL / MENTAL

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

I think most would say the AT is the more physically challenging of the two. You could argue that a big part of that is because most start with the AT, making it seem harder.

Mentally it’s easier though. Distances between towns are smaller, there’s more people and trail registers make you feel connected to other thru-hikers

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

The PCT has a better tread and grade but don’t forget you will carry more water, go further each day and distances between resupplies are bigger. In the end they’re equally hard but in different ways.

Mentally the PCT is tougher in my opinion. Longer days and more extreme weather can be tiresome. There is also less hikers and the thru-hiker community is smaller. Without shelters people camp anywhere and you see others much less. Solitude is not something today’s individual is used too. It can be tough for some to accept.

PLANNING

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Planning for the AT was hard as it was my first big hike but with the number of forums and resources out there planning really isn’t that hard. The AT has the most resources of the Big 3.

With distances between towns being larger than on the AT and less of them you have to plan more. (AT average distance between towns is about 3.5 days, PCT is more like 5). You also have to think about things like warmer clothes, ice axes, crampons and bear canisters.

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

You also have to look at the water report and gain access to updates as you hike. Snow levels have to be monitored as well. As is the case with the PCT and CDT, doing a Flip Flop is a possibility to consider. These cause logistic nightmares or it did for me on the CDT. Your maps, data book, and water report will be out of order. The maps you were to keep in a town as it was in the middle and was needed for the next section will contain the last day or more of your now southbound Flip. You’ll hike into town blind, unless you have GPS or Farout.

TIME OF YEAR*

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

The hiking window for the AT is large. I started Feb. 28th. Most start in March and finish by Oct. Finish times depend on the closing of Katahdin due to snow. Southbounders start in June/July depending on snow and finish in November.

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

April to late September is the normal window for a Northbound thru-hike. Southbounders start late June or July and finish in October/November.

COST

APPALACHIAN TRAIL & PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

Cost on both trails is about the same. I have heard of people doing any of the Triple Crown trails for anywhere from $3000-$8000. It all depends on the gear, food, number of hotels, mode of travel to and from the trail, amount of postage, and amount of money you spend in towns.
The AT does have more trail towns increasing the chance you may spend more money and is longer meaning more time off work.

WATER*

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Water is almost never an issue on the AT. Of the three trails it has the most sources available. Unlike the PCT or CDT water isn’t as high a priority on the AT.

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

Water varies from year to year. Typically water is an issue up to the Sierras then in a few places in Oregon. Compared to the AT you’ll have to carry much more water on any given day. It will be or should be a main concern throughout your day.

RESUPPLY

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Resupplying on the AT is by far the easiest of the three trails. You can resupply on average about every 3 days. Heck, if you plan right you can eat your way through the Shenandoah without carrying any food.

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

My average resupply was between 4-5 days. The longest stretch being in the High Sierra from Kennedy Meadows to Independence, CA. There were less people on the more remote roads the PCT crossed than the populated east coast.

COMMUNITY

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

The AT has by far the largest trail community of the Big 3. There’s probably more resources for the AT than the PCT and CDT combined. The community surrounding the AT is vast and been in place for a long time. You will find plenty of off trail support.

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

The PCT has strong hiking community due to its harsh environment. Trail Angels maintained water caches and offer rides to the trailhead on top of what you’d normally expect. Due to the vast growing interest in hiking the PCT from books and movies of late numbers have soared. 1500 attempted to thru-hike in 2015. These numbers have put a lot of stress on the community and some Trail Angels have had to close their doors. Be respectful when you stay with them and support them if you can.

*Note that every year these four items can be different as each effects the other. It’s never the same from one year to the next. Expect your experience to be your own and don’t try to compare it to others before you. Expect the unexpected.

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MY NUMBERS

	AT	PCT
Zero Days	10	7
Nights alone	3	34
Tarp Tent/Tent	16	63
Tarp	0	7
Friend’s house	11	2
Cowboy Camped	0	34
Motel	11	10
Hostel	20	7
Shelter	94	1
Rain	35	12
Snow	4	1

	AT	PCT
0 miles hiked	10	7
1-4 miles hiked	3	0
5-9 miles hiked	17	6
10-14 miles hiked	37	8
15-19 miles hiked	63	21
20-24 miles hiked	22	38
25-29 miles hiked	1	25
30-34 miles hiked	0	15
35-39 miles hiked	0	4