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Julian (via Scissors Crossing)

Julian (via Scissors Crossing) reference article on thruhikingwiki.com.

Overview

Julian is a small town accessed from Scissors Crossing around mile 77 of the Pacific Crest Trail by road to the west. It is a popular early resupply and rest stop.

Key points

  • Trail crosses or approaches Highway 78 at Scissors Crossing around mile 77.
  • Julian lies roughly 12 road miles west of the crossing.
  • Access typically involves hitchhiking or arranged transport from the highway.
  • Provides groceries, restaurants, lodging, and postal services for early resupply.
  • Often chosen instead of relying solely on smaller desert outposts.

Details

Julian is a well-known early-town stop for PCT hikers, offering a compact downtown with food, lodging, and postal options. Hikers reach it by traveling west from Scissors Crossing, where the trail meets Highway 78. The combination of services and town layout makes Julian a convenient place to perform a full or partial resupply and take a short rest.

Because it is relatively close to the early miles of the trail, Julian is sometimes used for gear adjustments as well as food resupply. Its role as a social and logistical waypoint contributes to its prominence in many Southern California itineraries.

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Illustrative hiking footage

The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.