Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California
From the Mexican Border to Tuolumne Meadows
First published in 1973, The Pacific Crest Trail, Vol. 1, California quickly established itself as the "PCT Bible"—the book trekkers could not do without. Now thoroughly updated and redesigned into two portable volumes, Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California starts at the Mexican border and guides you to Yosemite's beautiful backcountry. Its companion volume meets the trail at Tuolumne Meadows and drops you at Oregon's door. Thru-hikers to Canada will find the rest of their journey in Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon & Washington. Our PCT gurus help you locate the trail, water sources, and resupply access routes with detailed descriptions, customized maps, and tips on alternate routes. Whether you're planning day hikes, weekend or weeklong backpacking trips, or an ambitious thru-hike, everything you need to know about—from bears to trees—is here.
As a journalist with more than 20 years of experience, Los Angeles resident Laura Randall has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, Sunset Magazine, and National Geographic News Service. She is the author of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Los Angeles, Peaceful Places: Los Angeles, and Day and Overnight Hikes: Palm Springs. When she isn’t writing or hiking, Laura can be found reading Raymond Chandler novels on the beach, walking her sons to and from school, and plotting the next family road trip, which may or may not involve a spectacular hike or two.