Theme of Spring 2026: Flood damage
2nd worst flood in the past 50 years.
The central theme for spring 2026 is the damage done by winter flooding. The Washington Cascades were pounded by one atmospheric river after another coming from the South Pacific - seven of them from October 19th to November 13th. Then an almost (but not quite) record setting one that peaked the night of December 10th, was immediately followed by another large one, and then another on January 12th, and another large one on March 20th.
As bad as it was this year, 2006 was measurably 3x worse by volume whether you look at the numbers monthly, daily, or in 4 day blocks. November 7th 2006 still stands out as a remarkable 50-year record rainfall. PCT related damage was especially bad west of Glacier Peak and much of that damage has gone un-repaired.
PCT Access Roads
There are numerous ways to access the PCT. Listed here are only the most common ones.
North Cascades Highway (SR20) to Rainy Pass
SR-20 opened June 14th after repairing multiple points of winter damage between MP 143 and 148.
On June 2nd the rockslide at milepost 131 was cleared and the west side closure was move to the regular winter gate at mp 134.
Prior to that, the east side closure was moved to MP 156 while damage east of Rainy Pass was cleared. Then the east side closure was moved to MP 134 (1.5 miles west of Rainy Pass) so Rainy Pass could be accessed from the east.
This road intersects with the PCT at Rainy Pass mm 2594.4
Harts Pass Road
This road opened on June 24th 2026 and is smooth like Barry White.
On March 26th the US Forest Service announced that Harts Pass Road is closed pending repairs to winter flood damage. The closure began at Monument Creek Trailhead.
Harts Pass is a 12.28 mile long pant-wetting gravel road with no rails or downhill shoulder.
This is the northernmost intersection with the PCT at mm 2625.3
Section K
Stehekin Valley Road
This road is open and the shuttle bus is running the normal schedule.
The December rain caused Purple Creek to flood cutting out a section of Stehekin Valley Road and destroying the wastewater treatment plant that services the Landing, North Cascades Lodge, and NPS facilities. The lodge will not open this year. The Post Office is open. Government assistance is expected to focus on this repair as a top priority. There was also significant damage to Company Creek Road (the opposite side of Stehekin River) which does not directly impact PCT hikers. Repair work there has already begun.
This road intersects the PCT at High Bridge mm 2575.1
Railroad Creek to Holden Village
block
CLOSED, likely for all of the 2026 season. More than 11 landslides on the Railroad Creek Road has Lucerne and Holden entirely closed.
Normally, this is a ferry ride to Lucerne, followed by a bus ride to Holden Village.
After a 10 mile hike over Cloudy Pass this route intersects the PCT at mm 2556 north of Suiattle Pass.
FR-26 to Suiattle River Trailhead (aka Sulphur Mtn Trailhead)
block
CLOSED at milepost 4 (20 miles from the trailhead) with 6 major washouts. No repairs are in progress. The USFS is optimistic about repairs up to mp 10.5 this year, but not beyond that for some time. Walking this road has extremely challenging obstacles.
Normally this is a 22.6 mile drive from State Route 530.
After a 6.46 mile hike on the Suiattle River Trail #784 this route intersects the PCT just north of the Suiattle River Bridge mm 2544.
FR-49 to North Fork Sauk River Trailhead
The Sloan Creek road is open but rough. This is currently the ONLY OPTION for accessing the middle of Section K from the west.
From the the Mountain Loop Highway it's 6.71 miles of dirt road.
After a 8.66 mile hike on the North Fork Sauk River Trail #649 this route intersects the PCT just north of White Pass Camp mm 2505.7
FR-63 (index-Galena Road) to North Fork Skykomish Trailhead [From US2]
block
CLOSED with a washout and a missing bridge. FR-65 can be used to get to Jack Pass (MP 14) but no further. This road was closed for 17 years until it was rebuilt and reopened Nov 2023.
FR-65 to Little Wenatchee Ford Trailhead
block CLOSED due to damage one mile in.
Chiwawa River Road to Trinity Trailhead
block Gated at Atkinson Flat Campground 5.5 miles from Trinity Trailhead.
FR-65 to Little Wenatchee Ford Trailhead
Open but only to 2600 ft elevation, Leaving a 2.7 mile hike-in to the Trailhead.
FR-67 (Rainy Creek Road) to Smithbrook Trailhead
block
CLOSED. All of FR-67 is closed from Hwy 2 to FR-65 due to flood damage. This is normally a 2.72 mile road.
After a 1.23 mile hike this route intersects the PCT at Union Gap mm 2475
Section J
There are no access road closures for Section J. That includes:
FR-6095 to Tunnel Creek Trailhead [From US-2]
1.27 miles on dirt road from US-2.
1.35 mile hike to the PCT at Hope Lake.
FR-840 to Surprise Creek Trailhead [From US-2]
0.33 miles on dirt road from US-2.
3.7 miles to the PCT at Surprise Lake
Cle Elum Valley Road to Cathedral Pass Trailhead [From I-90]
12.2 miles of dirt road.
4 mile hike to the PCT at Cathedral Pass.
Cle Elum Valley Road to Tucquala Meadows Trailhead [From I-90]
12.4 miles of dirt road. 4.55 mile hike to the PCT at Deception Pass.
Salmon La Sac Trailhead
0.7 miles of dirt road. 6.2 mile hike to the PCT at Waptus Lake.
Cooper Road to Pete Lake Trailhead [From I-90]
1.75 miles of dirt road. 6.2 miles hike to the PCT above Pete Lake.
Section I
There are no access road closures for Section I. That includes:
FR-54 to Stampede Pass and Tacoma Pass [From I-90 exit 52]
3.5 miles of dirt road to Stampeded Pass. 8.54 miles of dirt road to Tacoma Pass. This road intersects the PCT at Stampede Pass mm 2378.1
NF-7000 to Naches Pass [From SR-410]
After leaving hwy 410 it's 4.58 miles paved, then 11.5 miles of dirt road. After a short 1/2 mile walk this route intersects the PCT near the Mike Urich Cabin mm 2350.1
Crystal Mountain Boulevard [From SR-410]
There are multiple ways to hike to the PCT from Crystal.
SR-410 to Chinook Pass
Chinook Pass and Highway 123 connecting Chinook Pass and Packwood were opened on May 22nd, 2026 after the usual winter closure. This paved road intersects the PCT at mm 2326.8
Section H
There are no access road closures for Section H. That includes:
SR 12 to White Pass
This two lane highway does not close for the winter. This road intersects the PCT at mm 2298.1
Chambers Lake Road to Snowgrass Trailhead
16.3 miles of dirt road. After a 4.57 mile hike on Snowgrass trail #96 this route intersects the PCT at the Snowgrass Bypass mm 2277
FR-21 to Walupt Lake Road [From Highway 12]
Freshly graded this spring. 20.7 miles of dirt road.
After a 4.26 mile hike on the Walupt Lake Trail this route connects with the PCT at mm 2268
FR-2329 to Midway
23.64 miles of dirt road. This road intersects the PCT at mm 2256.2
FR 5603 to Potato Hill
30.75 miles of dirt road. This road intersects the PCT at mm 2254.3
FR-23 north to Williams Mine (Mt Adams) from Trout lake -
This road intersects the PCT at mm 2232.1
FR-65 to Panther Creek Campground from Wind River Highway
This paved road intersects the PCT at mm 2185.2