PCT Data

Last update: March 6, 2024

These files are based on data available from the PCTA, used and republished under CC BY 4.0, with the following changes:

• Separated Oregon Section A from California Section R
• Removed the trail from the Canadian Border into Manning Park
• Removed small gaps between a few sections (up to 5 meters)
• Simplified the trail to reduce the file size
• Split each region into individual sections
• Split larger sections into multiple files

Downloads

PCT_20k

This is a slightly simplified version of the trail with ~180 points per mile and up to 20,000 points per track. Mostly one track per section. Use this with larger handheld devices or your favorite navigation app.

All sections in a single file, compressed.

• PCT_20k.gpx.zip

All sections in multiple files, compressed.

• PCT_20k.zip

Individual sections.

• CA_Section_A.gpx
• CA_Section_B.gpx
• CA_Section_C1.gpx
• CA_Section_C2.gpx
• CA_Section_D.gpx
• CA_Section_E.gpx
• CA_Section_F.gpx
• CA_Section_G.gpx
• CA_Section_H1.gpx
• CA_Section_H2.gpx
• CA_Section_I.gpx
• CA_Section_J.gpx
• CA_Section_K.gpx
• CA_Section_L.gpx
• CA_Section_M.gpx
• CA_Section_N.gpx
• CA_Section_O.gpx
• CA_Section_P.gpx
• CA_Section_Q.gpx
• CA_Section_R.gpx
• OR_Section_A.gpx
• OR_Section_B.gpx
• OR_Section_C.gpx
• OR_Section_D.gpx
• OR_Section_E.gpx
• OR_Section_F1.gpx
• OR_Section_F2.gpx
• OR_Section_G.gpx
• WA_Section_H1.gpx
• WA_Section_H2.gpx
• WA_Section_I1.gpx
• WA_Section_I2.gpx
• WA_Section_J.gpx
• WA_Section_K1.gpx
• WA_Section_K2.gpx
• WA_Section_L.gpx

PCT_10k

The same data as PCT_20k, but split into tracks with up to 10,000 points. Most sections have multiple tracks.

All sections in multiple files, compressed.

• PCT_10k.zip

Individual Sections

• CA_Section_A1.gpx
• CA_Section_A2.gpx
• CA_Section_B1.gpx
• CA_Section_B2.gpx
• CA_Section_C1.gpx
• CA_Section_C2.gpx
• CA_Section_C3.gpx
• CA_Section_D1.gpx
• CA_Section_D2.gpx
• CA_Section_E1.gpx
• CA_Section_E2.gpx
• CA_Section_F1.gpx
• CA_Section_F2.gpx
• CA_Section_G1.gpx
• CA_Section_G2.gpx
• CA_Section_H1.gpx
• CA_Section_H2.gpx
• CA_Section_H3.gpx
• CA_Section_H4.gpx
• CA_Section_I1.gpx
• CA_Section_I2.gpx
• CA_Section_J1.gpx
• CA_Section_J2.gpx
• CA_Section_K1.gpx
• CA_Section_K2.gpx
• CA_Section_L.gpx
• CA_Section_M1.gpx
• CA_Section_M2.gpx
• CA_Section_N1.gpx
• CA_Section_N2.gpx
• CA_Section_O1.gpx
• CA_Section_O2.gpx
• CA_Section_P1.gpx
• CA_Section_P2.gpx
• CA_Section_Q1.gpx
• CA_Section_Q2.gpx
• CA_Section_R.gpx
• OR_Section_A.gpx
• OR_Section_B1.gpx
• OR_Section_B2.gpx
• OR_Section_C1.gpx
• OR_Section_C2.gpx
• OR_Section_D1.gpx
• OR_Section_D2.gpx
• OR_Section_E1.gpx
• OR_Section_E2.gpx
• OR_Section_F1.gpx
• OR_Section_F2.gpx
• OR_Section_F3.gpx
• OR_Section_G1.gpx
• OR_Section_G2.gpx
• WA_Section_H1.gpx
• WA_Section_H2.gpx
• WA_Section_H3.gpx
• WA_Section_H4.gpx
• WA_Section_I1.gpx
• WA_Section_I2.gpx
• WA_Section_I3.gpx
• WA_Section_J1.gpx
• WA_Section_J2.gpx
• WA_Section_K1.gpx
• WA_Section_K2.gpx
• WA_Section_K3.gpx
• WA_Section_L1.gpx
• WA_Section_L2.gpx

PCT_Mini

A simplified version of the trail with ~10 points per mile. Optimized for smaller handheld devices like the inReach Mini.

All sections in a single file.

• PCT_Mini.gpx

All sections in multiple files, compressed.

• PCT_Mini.zip

Individual Sections

• CA_Section_A.gpx
• CA_Section_B.gpx
• CA_Section_C.gpx
• CA_Section_D.gpx
• CA_Section_E.gpx
• CA_Section_F.gpx
• CA_Section_G.gpx
• CA_Section_H.gpx
• CA_Section_I.gpx
• CA_Section_J.gpx
• CA_Section_K.gpx
• CA_Section_L.gpx
• CA_Section_M.gpx
• CA_Section_N.gpx
• CA_Section_O.gpx
• CA_Section_P.gpx
• CA_Section_Q.gpx
• CA_Section_R.gpx
• OR_Section_A.gpx
• OR_Section_B.gpx
• OR_Section_C.gpx
• OR_Section_D.gpx
• OR_Section_E.gpx
• OR_Section_F.gpx
• OR_Section_G.gpx
• WA_Section_H.gpx
• WA_Section_I.gpx
• WA_Section_J.gpx
• WA_Section_K.gpx
• WA_Section_L.gpx

FAQ

What about side/alternate trails?

The Halfmile Project has some alternate downloads at https://pctmap.net/gps/.

Their centerline data was donated to the PCTA at some point, but I'm not sure if the extra trails were as well, so those files may still be under copyright and are not included here.

Why are the section lengths and mile markers different?

The offical PCTA data contains over 1.2 million GPS points. These simplified files contain far fewer so they cannot produce an accurate measurement.

So is this data accurate?

I believe these tracks are accurate, but I have not yet verified them in the field. Please inspect these files carefully before relying on them as a primary navigation method.

Contact the PCTA if you have any questions about the original data.

Can I see the code?

Yes, the code used to generate these files will be open sourced in the near future.