Project overview: Repair damaged drainage and hazardous conditions on a 17.5-mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail that runs through Yosemite National Park to improve visitor experiences and safety. 

How your support helps: The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a 2,650-mile trail that stretches from Mexico to Canada, traversing some of the most popular wilderness areas in California, Oregon, and Washington. With nearly 70 miles of the PCT contained within Yosemite National Park, this well-used trail is in poor condition due to increasing numbers of hikers, weather damage, and a lack of staff to perform necessary maintenance. 

National Park Service staff have identified a 17.5-mile section of the PCT in Yosemite that is in poor condition — from Dorothy Lake Pass on the northern border of the park, down to the Stubblefield Canyon area. In addition to general deferred-maintenance issues, there is a portion of this area where a downed tree has resulted in a diverted seasonal creek and improper drainage. 

This has major impacts on visitors and local ecosystems. During heavy snow years, the creek flows down the trail into a meadow below, causing the entire meadow to flood. The flooded trail also requires hikers to find unique ways to pass. A new social trail has been formed around the section, creating a ripple effect of issues.  

There is a section of this trail at Jack Main Canyon that is in serious need of repair. The section had a large tree fall into a drainage along the trail, creating a diverted seasonal creek. The creek now runs over a 150-foot section of steep stonework and is actively destroying the trail.  

This year: In 2025, National Park Service teams will improve several features of the 17.5-mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Work will reroute drainage, reset uneven trail tread, fill in potholes, and remove vegetation encroaching on the trail corridor to reduce potential hazards and improve the hiking experience. 

Project partner: National Park Service