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Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California (Campo to Kennedy Meadows South)

Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California (Campo to Kennedy Meadows South) reference article on thruhikingwiki.com.

Overview

The Southern California segment of the Pacific Crest Trail runs approximately from the Mexican border near Campo to Kennedy Meadows South, covering about 0–702 trail miles northbound. It is characterized by water management, heat, wind exposure, and relatively frequent access to resupply towns compared with some later sections.

Key points

  • Covers roughly miles 0–702 of the Pacific Crest Trail from Campo to Kennedy Meadows South.
  • Common themes include water planning, hot and exposed stretches, and windy ridges or passes.
  • Multiple access points to nearby communities allow regular resupply and rest opportunities.
  • Terrain alternates between lower-elevation chaparral or desert and higher-elevation forested "sky island" ranges.
  • Seasonal timing strongly affects water availability and temperature patterns.
  • Many hikers refine gear choices, daily routines, and resupply strategies during this section.
  • Kennedy Meadows South functions as the traditional transition point into the Sierra Nevada portion of the trail.

Details

The Southern California portion of the Pacific Crest Trail begins at the monument on the Mexican border near Campo and extends north to Kennedy Meadows South. Northbound hikers move through a sequence of foothills, desert basins, and isolated mountain ranges, with repeated transitions between hot, low-elevation zones and cooler, forested highlands.

Water and heat are central logistical considerations. Some stretches provide relatively frequent sources, while others require longer carries, especially later in the season. Wind can be a consistent factor on exposed ridgelines and passes. Frequent road crossings and trailheads offer access to a series of resupply towns and services, allowing hikers to balance longer backcountry segments with periodic rest and reorganization in communities.

Over the course of this macro section, hikers pass through or near locations such as Lake Morena, Mount Laguna, Julian, Warner Springs, the San Jacinto and Big Bear areas, Wrightwood, Agua Dulce and Acton, and Tehachapi or Mojave, with optional access via Walker Pass to towns such as Lake Isabella or Ridgecrest. Each community offers a different combination of groceries, restaurants, lodging, and postal services, forming a network of resupply points leading toward the Sierra.

By the time hikers reach Kennedy Meadows South, many have tested their initial gear and logistics assumptions under real trail conditions. This location functions as a practical and symbolic gateway to the higher and more remote Sierra Nevada terrain.

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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.