5 Highlights of Northern California That Might Surprise You on the PCT

When thru-hikers talk about the Pacific Crest Trail, it’s usually the High Sierra or Washington that steals the show. But in between those two iconic sections lies something quieter—and in many ways, more powerful. A stretch that tests your patience, challenges your mindset, and offers unexpected beauty if you’re willing to look for it.

Welcome to Northern California.

The start of Northern California—quiet, understated, and nothing like what came before. It’s the part no one talks about… but maybe the part that changed me the most.

This section of the PCT is often overlooked—sandwiched between the glory of the Sierra Nevada and the excitement of the Oregon border. It’s the part no one really talks about. But for me, NorCal ended up being one of the most surprising and enjoyable sections of my entire hike. Despite being the only time I seriously considered quitting

After nearly 3.5 months on trail, I remember thinking: How am I still in California? The adrenaline that carried me through the Sierra had faded, and what settled in was fatigue, heat, and the haunting question:

“Am I really doing this for another 1,600 miles?”

But here’s the thing—despite that mental low, NorCal delivered. In fact, it took my breath away (both literally and figuratively). Below are five highlights that made this stretch unforgettable—and proof that Northern California deserves your full attention.

1. Desolation Wilderness

This is where NorCal begins—and where my morale nearly broke.

Leaving Lake Tahoe behind, I officially crossed into the Northern California section of the PCT (at least according to FarOut). The Sierra was technically behind me—but no one told that to the trail. I had hiked through months of snow, and I naïvely believed that leaving the High Sierra meant leaving the snow behind too.

Instead, Desolation Wilderness greeted me with steep traverses, snow-covered trail, and endless post-holing that felt like winter would never end.

I was exhausted, frustrated, and sick of crampons and my ice axe. But then I looked around. Suddenly I was surrounded by pristine alpine lakes, brilliant turquoise water, and snow-dusted granite peaks that looked like they belonged in a painting. I may have been miserable, but the landscape was pure magic.

It’s easy to miss the beauty around you when you're deep in the struggle—but the trail doesn’t stop showing up, even when you're breaking down.

One of the first lakes I saw in Desolation Wilderness—still frozen around the edges, still absolutely breathtaking. I was tired, grumpy, and knee-deep in snow... and yet, somehow, it was impossible not to pause in awe.

Desolation Wilderness wasn’t the reprieve I expected—but it was unforgettable. Cold, quiet, and stunning in a way that made me stop and see past the struggle.

And then there was this tree—standing tall and twisted against the sky. A quiet reminder that there’s strength in just staying rooted.

2. Lassen Volcanic National Park

AS the PCT skirts the northeastern edge of Lassen, you'll get a taste of California’s fiery volcanic energy. You can take a short side trip to see Boiling Springs Lake and Terminal Geyser, where steam rises straight from the ground and bubbles ripple across otherworldly pools.

Volcanic magic bubbling beneath the surface. The short side trip to Terminal Geyser was totally worth it—even in a heatwave. There’s something wild about watching steam rise from the Earth like it’s quietly exhaling.

It was nearly 100°F when I walked through this section—but watching steam float up from the earth reminded me just how alive this land really is.

And just before reaching the park, don’t miss a quick stop at Subway Cave, a massive lava tube you can walk through with a headlamp. It’s dark, chilly, and completely surreal—one of those hidden gems that makes the NorCal section feel like its own kind of wild.

Subway Cave was dark, cold, and completely surreal. Walking through a lava tube with just a headlamp made me feel like I’d stepped into a different world—one of those odd, unforgettable stops that make NorCal feel like its own kind of wild.

3. Burney Falls

After a hot, dry stretch along Hat Creek Rim, Burney Falls feels like stepping into a fairytale.

This iconic waterfall doesn’t just tumble over a cliff—it erupts from the middle of it, spring-fed and cascading like shimmering silver curtains through mossy rock. The air is cool, the mist is refreshing, and it’s only a short side trip off the trail.

When you're covered in sweat, dust, and sunscreen, there's nothing like standing next to Burney Falls and feeling clean for the first time in days—if only for a moment.

Like walking into a fairytale after the furnace of Hat Creek Rim. Burney Falls was cool, misty magic—restoring me in a way only cold spray and falling water can.

4. Castle Crags

Castle Crags sneaks up on you.

After winding through forests and ridgelines, the trees suddenly part and you're staring at dramatic granite spires that rise like something out of a fantasy novel.

I remember turning a corner and being stunned—that sense of awe that hits you right in the chest.

The trail carves along the ridges with massive views and just enough exposure to make you feel wild again. Castle Crags reminded me that I was still very much in the mountains—and still very much in love with this journey.

Castle Crags doesn’t announce itself—it just appears. One moment you’re in the trees, and the next you’re staring at a wall of granite that stops you in your tracks.

Still very much in the mountains—and still very much in love with this journey. Castle Crags made me feel small, wild, and completely alive.

5. Trinity Alps & Marble Mountains

As the PCT winds north of Etna and toward Seiad Valley, the trail enters the Trinity Alps Wilderness—a wild, remote stretch with sweeping ridgelines, old-growth forests, and glacier-fed streams. After the mental drag of the middle miles, this section felt like a reset.

Then just before crossing into Oregon, you’re welcomed into the Marble Mountain Wilderness—a kaleidoscope of color and texture. White marble peaks, red volcanic soil, turquoise lakes, and wildflowers blooming in every direction.

There was a stillness in these final miles of NorCal. A quiet knowing that you’ve earned this view.

The final gift before Oregon. Marble Mountain was a burst of color, stillness, and wonder—a reminder that beauty waits for those who keep walking.

Bonus Highlights from the Northern California PCT You Don’t Want to Miss

Beyond the big-name landmarks and sweeping views, Northern California is full of quirky, memorable moments that make the section uniquely NorCal.

These are the little things—unexpected town gems, weird wildlife encounters, and those “only on trail” moments—that don’t show up in the guidebooks but stay with you long after you’ve crossed the Oregon border.

Snow in the woods. Sunshine on my face. One of those quiet, unexpected moments that make NorCal unforgettable—not for its grandeur, but for its grit and surprises.

NorCal Town Vibes & Trail Magic

From hiker-famous burgers in Sierra City to getting scooped up by a kind local in Etna, NorCal towns get hikers. You roll into places like Chester, Mt. Shasta, Etna and Seiad Valley exhausted and dusty—and you’re greeted with kindness, greasy food, and porch chairs that feel like heaven.

The kind of burger that makes you forget your aching feet. Sierra City knows how to feed a hiker soul—greasy, delicious, and gone in under five minutes.

Sierra City: home of the best deli Reuben I’ve ever had—and one of the most iconic general stores on trail. If you know, you know.

There’s something special about walking into a one-street town and feeling like everyone already knows what you need: a cold soda, a charging outlet, and a ride back to trail.

You have to try to Etna root beer - I'm still on a quest to find root beer as good as the one I had in Etna brewing!

A balanced diet by thru-hiker standards. Four types of chips, five types of candy, and zero regrets. NorCal town resupplies hit different.

The Beauty After the Burn

Yes, NorCal has burn zones. Some stretches are long, hot, and exposed—but they also hold a certain eerie beauty. Hiking through blackened tree trunks surrounded by fluorescent green undergrowth and bursts of vibrant fireweed felt like walking through a dreamscape. It’s haunting, quiet, and unexpectedly full of life.

This is the trail reminding you that beauty doesn’t always look like a postcard. Sometimes, it’s what grows back after the fire.

A landscape scarred by fire, now glowing with life. This stretch was bursting with fireweed and electric green regrowth—proof that the trail is constantly healing, just like we are.

Deer Licking Your Pee: The Weirdest Trail Habit No One Warns You About

I remember scrolling through FarOut comments somewhere in NorCal and seeing note after note about “odd deer behaviour.” I thought it had to be some kind of joke—or at the very least, an exaggeration. I mean, how weird could it really be?

And then it happened to me.

I stepped off trail to pee, walked a few feet away to grab my pack, and turned around just in time to see a deer trot over and enthusiastically lick the spot I had just peed. No hesitation. Like it had been waiting for me to finish. I froze, half-laughing, half-disturbed.

Apparently, it’s the salt they're after—and PCT hikers provide a near-endless buffet. It’s gross. It’s hilarious. It’s pure PCT.

And once it happens to you, you’ll never look at deer the same way again.

The face of someone who's definitely up to something. Once you know about the whole pee-licking thing, you’ll never look at deer the same way again.

Final Thoughts: The Section That Tests and Transforms

Northern California might not have the headline views of the Sierra or the hype of Washington, but this is the section where the PCT becomes something deeper.

It’s where the sparkle of novelty fades, and the real work begins. Where you build endurance, sharpen your mindset, and learn to keep walking even when the scenery isn’t showing off.

It’s the stretch where the trail stops dazzling you—and starts asking: Will you keep going anyway?

Don’t skip NorCal. She’s quiet, rugged, and real—and she just might be the part of the trail that changes you the most.

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Pacific Crest Trail 2023

Hi, I'm Chloe! A mindset coach, yogi, mindfulness enthusiast, and adventurer at heart.

My journey in yoga and mindfulness has led me to a deeper understanding of living in the moment, inspiring my recent trek on the PCT.

This adventure wasn't just a physical challenge; it was a transformative experience that deepened my commitment to living freely and inspiring others to do the same.

Join me in embracing the wild, finding joy in the present, and living life to its fullest.