{"id":410798,"date":"2026-07-24T14:14:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T14:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/410798\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T14:14:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T14:14:10","slug":"pct-california-sections-o-p-burney-falls-to-etna-summit-miles-1420-6-1601-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/410798\/","title":{"rendered":"PCT California Sections O & P: Burney Falls to Etna Summit (Miles 1420.6\u20131601.2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Note:\u00a0I am hiking the PCT while working full-time remotely. I work Monday through Thursday from my RV, and trail run some Monday-Thursday nights and hike Friday through Sunday before returning to basecamp. It\u2019s a balance between trail miles, logistics, and recovery\u2014more on how it works here:\u00a0https:\/\/thetrek.co\/pacific-crest-trail\/my-plan-to-hike-the-pct<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Northern California had already surprised me once.<\/p>\n

I expected the trail north of Burney Falls to settle into long, repetitive forest miles. Instead, it kept changing. Lava fields gave way to rivers, dense forests opened onto volcanic ridges, and Mount Shasta gradually became the dominant feature on the horizon.<\/p>\n

The hiking itself was often easier as more of the trail was made up of smooth dirt.<\/p>\n

Getting to and from it was another story.<\/p>\n

For these two sections, I continued day hiking with my trail running bag and returning to the RV each night. That meant lighter miles, better sleep, and no heavy backpack aggravating my back or hips.<\/p>\n

It also meant hours of driving, expensive gasoline, rough dirt roads, locked Forest Service gates, and more of the side activity I had not originally planned on: overlanding.<\/p>\n

Section Snapshot<\/p>\n

Miles: 1420.6 \u2192 1601.2
\nStart \/ End: Burney Falls \u2192 Etna Summit
\nConditions: Warm afternoons, cool mornings, mostly dry weather
\nTerrain: Lava fields, river canyons, dense forests, volcanic ridges, and mountain wilderness
\nStyle: Day hiking and trail running from an RV base
\nPace: Consistent daily mileage with extensive driving between access points
\nRV Parks: KOA Mt. Shasta, Scott Mountain Campground, Etna RV Park<\/p>\n

Mileage<\/p>\n

Section O<\/p>\n

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 \u2013 Zero Day (0 miles)
\nWednesday, July 15, 2026 \u2014 Mile 1420.6 to 1439.4
\nThursday, July 16, 2026 \u2014 Mile 1439.4 to 1458.8
\nFriday, July 17, 2026 \u2014 Mile 1458.8 to 1475.1
\nSaturday, July 18, 2026 \u2014 Mile 1475.1 to 1502.7<\/p>\n

Section P<\/p>\n

Sunday, July 19, 2026 \u2014 Mile 1502.7 to 1528.1
\nMonday, July 20, 2026 \u2014 Mile 1528.1 to 1541.2
\nTuesday, July 21, 2026 \u2014 Mile 1541.2 to 1561.8
\nWednesday, July 22, 2026 \u2014 Mile 1561.8 to 1581.6
\nThursday, July 23, 2026 \u2014 Mile 1581.6 to 1601.2<\/p>\n

What Defined These Sections<\/p>\n

Sections O and P were defined by Mount Shasta.<\/p>\n

At first, it appeared only occasionally through gaps in the forest. Then it began showing up from ridgelines, valleys, and road crossings. Eventually, it became the landmark that seemed to organize the entire landscape.<\/p>\n

But the trail was more varied than one mountain.<\/p>\n

The route passed through dry volcanic terrain, followed rivers beneath heavy forest, skirted the dramatic formations of Castle Crags, and eventually entered the more remote mountains approaching Etna.<\/p>\n

The scenery improved gradually, but access became increasingly difficult.<\/p>\n

Lava, Rivers, and Castle Crags<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Leaving Burney Falls, the trail continued through volcanic country.<\/p>\n

The early miles felt exposed in places, with dry soil, scattered lava rock, and forests that offered less shade than expected. There were long stretches where the terrain felt repetitive, especially when the trail stayed enclosed by trees without many open views.<\/p>\n

The heat made those miles feel slower than they looked on the map.<\/p>\n

At other points, the landscape changed suddenly. The trail dropped toward cooler river corridors, where the air felt more humid and vegetation thickened. Following the McCloud River was one of the more pleasant stretches. The water, shade, and sound of the river provided a welcome break from the drier ridgelines.<\/p>\n

Castle Crags became the visual centerpiece of Section O.<\/p>\n

The jagged granite formations looked dramatically different from the broad volcanic mountains surrounding them. From certain ridges, the Crags appeared almost vertical, rising sharply above the forest. Mount Shasta was often visible nearby, creating one of the best contrasts in Northern California: dark forests, pale granite spires, and a massive snow-covered volcano beyond them.<\/p>\n

The trail did not always provide continuous views, though. Much of the route remained wooded, and I sometimes hiked for miles knowing that major landmarks were nearby without actually seeing them.<\/p>\n

That made the brief open ridgelines feel more rewarding.<\/p>\n

Near the end of the section, I reached what should have been the 1,500-mile milestone.<\/p>\n

There was no official marker.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, another hiker had created one using rocks at approximately mile 1502. I was grateful someone took the time to make it. After covering that much distance, I wanted something tangible to mark the moment, even if it was two miles late.<\/p>\n

I stopped for the required selfie before continuing north.<\/p>\n

When the Drive Is Harder Than the Hike<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Driving to and from trailheads has been part of my PCT strategy since the beginning.<\/p>\n

Because I am hiking while working full-time from the RV, nearly every section has required some version of shuttling, repositioning vehicles, and searching for practical road crossings. Earlier in the trail, many of those access points were located along paved highways or established trailheads.<\/p>\n

That still happens occasionally, and a paved road crossing now feels like a luxury.<\/p>\n

However, since leaving the Sierra and beginning to day hike nearly every day, I have increasingly relied on remote Forest Service roads and dirt-road crossings to divide the trail into manageable pieces. The farther north I travel, the more the driving seems to resemble off-roading.<\/p>\n

Some approaches were straightforward. Others involved roads that became progressively rougher, narrower, and less maintained. My lifted Jeep was useful, but even with four-wheel drive, I often had to slow to a crawl around deep ruts, loose rock, washouts, and fallen branches.<\/p>\n

At times, reaching the PCT felt more technical than hiking it.<\/p>\n

This added another activity to the trip that I had not originally planned on: overlanding. I began studying satellite images, checking road reports, and trying to determine whether a line on the map represented an actual drivable road or an abandoned track disappearing into the forest.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, I would spend an hour working my way toward a crossing only to reach a locked Forest Service gate. I would then park early and walk the remaining distance along the road, adding several non-PCT miles to the day.<\/p>\n

Those access miles were rarely scenic or physically difficult, but they made an already complicated routine more time-consuming.<\/p>\n

Gasoline was another growing concern. I have been driving between trailheads throughout the entire PCT, but the increased reliance on distant dirt-road crossings has added more mileage and more expense. The Jeep already gets poor fuel economy, and Northern California gasoline prices made the cost difficult to ignore.<\/p>\n

The strategy still gives me better sleep, a lighter pack, and the ability to cover more PCT miles each week.<\/p>\n

It is simply not the easy alternative it might appear to be.<\/p>\n

Mount Shasta to the Klamath Mountains<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Section P contained some of the strongest scenery of the combined stretch.<\/p>\n

As I moved north, Mount Shasta became larger and more prominent. The best views came from open ridgelines where the forest briefly dropped away and the volcano appeared almost impossibly close.<\/p>\n

Its appearance changed throughout the day.<\/p>\n

In the morning, the mountain looked crisp and bright beneath clear skies. By afternoon, haze often softened the lower slopes, leaving the snowy summit suspended above the landscape.<\/p>\n

The trail around the Trinity Divide alternated between forested traverses and open mountain terrain. Wildflowers appeared along some exposed slopes, while small lakes and rocky basins broke up the longer forest sections.<\/p>\n

The hiking was generally smoother than the High Sierra, but not always easy.<\/p>\n

Some stretches were hot and exposed. Others involved steep climbs that felt harder late in the day, especially after several consecutive days of hiking, working, and driving. There were also sections where the trail became overgrown enough to slow my pace and force more attention to my footing.<\/p>\n

The area approaching the Russian Wilderness and Etna Summit felt noticeably more remote.<\/p>\n

Road noise disappeared.<\/p>\n

Trailheads became farther apart.<\/p>\n

The mountains grew more rugged, with deeper valleys and sharper ridgelines. The terrain felt less volcanic and more like the beginning of a different region altogether.<\/p>\n

By the final day, I was ready to reach Etna Summit.<\/p>\n

The larger routine was beginning to catch up with me. Working full-time, planning each section, driving between remote crossings, hiking nearly every day, and then repeating the process had become exhausting.<\/p>\n

At this point, I do not only want to keep progressing north.<\/p>\n

I want to reach Canada and finish the PCT.<\/p>\n

The trail has been one of the most rewarding projects I have ever taken on, but it has also taken over nearly every part of my life. Each new milestone now brings both satisfaction and relief because it means I am closer to completing the goal and eventually stepping away from the constant cycle of work, driving, hiking, and logistical planning.<\/p>\n

Increasingly Remote Trail Access<\/p>\n

Driving between trailheads has been part of the hike since the beginning.
\nSince the Sierra, daily slackpacking has required more remote dirt-road crossings and off-road travel.
\nOccasional paved crossings provide welcome relief.<\/p>\n

Uncertain Forest Roads<\/p>\n

Roads shown on maps may be gated, washed out, overgrown, or poorly maintained.
\nClosed gates sometimes added several non-PCT miles.<\/p>\n

Rising Gas Costs<\/p>\n

Longer and rougher access routes increased fuel use.
\nPoor Jeep fuel economy amplified the expense.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Cumulative Routine Fatigue<\/p>\n

A light pack reduced physical pain, but combining full-time work, daily hiking, driving, and planning became increasingly exhausting.<\/p>\n

Inconsistent Scenery<\/p>\n

Major landmarks were spectacular when visible.
\nLong forested stretches occasionally felt repetitive.<\/p>\n

Road Access Varies Constantly: Some PCT crossings are located directly on paved highways while others require long drives on rough Forest Service roads.
\nResearch Dirt Roads Carefully: A road shown on a map may be gated, washed out, or no longer maintained.
\nBring a Capable Vehicle: Four-wheel drive and higher clearance were increasingly useful in Northern California.
\nExpect Additional Walking: Locked gates may require parking short of the trail and adding road miles.
\nDay Hiking Has Hidden Costs: Better sleep and lighter packs come with additional driving, fuel expenses, vehicle wear, and planning.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>These sections reinforced that every hiking strategy has a cost.<\/p>\n

Day hiking allowed me to protect my back, let my hip wounds heal, and complete more miles than I likely could have while backpacking continuously.<\/p>\n

But it was not necessarily easier.<\/p>\n

Instead of carrying the weight on my back, I carried the logistics.<\/p>\n

Long drives.<\/p>\n

Rough roads.<\/p>\n

Fuel costs.<\/p>\n

Closed gates.<\/p>\n

Daily route planning.<\/p>\n

And now, cumulative exhaustion.<\/p>\n

The approach still works for me. It keeps me healthier, lets me sleep in the RV, and allows me to progress much faster than I could with a heavy backpack.<\/p>\n

But after months of organizing nearly every day around the PCT, I am increasingly focused on reaching Canada and finishing what I started.<\/p>\n

There is no effortless way to complete this trail.<\/p>\n

You choose which difficulties you are most willing to manage and keep moving north until the goal is complete.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Note:\u00a0I am hiking the PCT while working full-time remotely. I work Monday through Thursday from my RV, and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":410799,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8],"class_list":["post-410798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410798","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=410798"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410798\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/410799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=410798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=410798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=410798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}