Which is harder, Clouds Rest Trail or Pacific Crest Trail?

Pacific Crest Trail is the tougher of the two on distance and elevation (1,915 mi (3,083 km), 102,300 ft (31,181 m) of climbing). See the full side-by-side breakdown.

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Clouds Rest Trail vs Pacific Crest Trail

A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.

Units

	Clouds Rest Trail	Pacific Crest Trail
Distance	9.1 mi15 km	1,915 mi3,083 km
Elevation gain	2,156 ft657 m	102,300 ft31,181 m
Typical duration	—	—
Difficulty	—	—
Route type	Point-to-point	Point-to-point
Network	Local	National
Country	United States	United States
Best time to hike	Best from June to September	Best from May to May
	map Route & GPX	map Route & GPX

Clouds Rest Trail vs Pacific Crest Trail: which should you hike?

At 1,915 mi3,083 km, Pacific Crest Trail is the longer route — roughly 1,906 mi3,068 km more than Clouds Rest Trail (9.1 mi15 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Clouds Rest Trail is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.

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