Released in 2017, the 4-state Pacific Crest Overland Route became an instant classic and must-do for full time and experienced overlanders. The PCOR is one of the crown jewels of North America, highlight some of the most scenic and iconic sites along the West Coast.
PCOR Overview
The original development of the Pacific Crest Overland Route was spearheaded by a joint collaboration between Overland Journal (Expedition Portal) and Hema Maps. Chris Cordes, former editor of Overland Journal, was tasked with mapping and driving the route. He published his adventure in the summer 2017 volume of Overland Journal. Inspired by the long-distance backpacking route, the Pacific Crest Trail, the PCOR follows a similar track (open to vehicles, of course), largely paralleling the PCT.
The PCOR also incorporates an Alaska segment, which requires a ferry ride from Bellingham to Skagway, Alaska (or vice versa). Since its creation, the PCOR has become a favorite and must-do track for long-distance overlanders. Compared to many of the tracks you'll find on OTG, the PCOR features some longer stretches of pavement. This enables travelers to cover greater distances in shorter periods, while also encouraging folks to get out of their vehicles and into the surrounding towns to experience the local culture and meet new people.
Here at OTG, we pride ourselves on providing the most detailed GPX files for our overland routes, and the Pacific Crest Overland Route is no different. You'll find hundreds of discovery points and POIs in our PCOR GPX files. Additionally, we've made some small modifications to the original route, incorporating more dirt where we felt it would enhance the overland experience. Even with these small tweaks, the goal was always to retain the original character of the PCOR, which is now considered one of North America's classic overland tracks.
We've also added a number of alternative routes, providing travelers with a variety of new experiences along the track. You'll find the PCOR route guides have been broken down into four distinct sections, all found on this page and separated by state: California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.
PCOR Oregon Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Dakar Trip Length: 5-12 days days, 545 Miles miles Season: June to October. Depending on seasonal snowfall, trails may be open earlier or later than these months. Bypassing the high elevation section around Crater Lake is likely to extend the seasonal window to May and November.
Digital Maps & GPX Files
Technical Ratings & Terrain
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear
Alternative Routes
Camping Recommendations
Discovery Points
Land Managers & Other Resources
Permits & Papers
Oregon Segment Overview
Write up coming very soon!
PCOR Washington Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Dakar Trip Length: 7-14 days, 727 Miles miles Season: June to October. Depending on seasonal snowfall, trails may be open earlier or later than these months.
Digital Maps & GPX Files
Technical Ratings & Terrain
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear
Alternative Routes
Camping Recommendations
Discovery Points
Land Managers & Other Resources
Permits & Papers
Washington Segment Overview
Some journeys are about rediscovering the places we already know and seeing them in a new light. This was our goal with the Washington portion of the Pacific Crest Overland Route (PCOR)—to experience the unique beauty of its small towns and backroads, from the shores of Bellingham to the Oregon border.
-Chris Cordes formerly of Overland Journal Like the other segments of the Pacific Crest Overland Route, the Washington segment can be driven from north to south, or vice versa. If you plan to follow the various discovery points of the track, you'll find all of our segment route guides for the PCOR follow a south-to-north direction, traveling from the Mexico border to the Arctic Circle within Alaska. The Washington segment "begins" at the Columbia River Gorge and finds its terminus at the Bellingham Ferry Terminal, which acts as a connector to Skagway for travelers who wish to continue north onto the Alaska segment of the PCOR.
The Cascade Range acts as the guiding geological feature that shepherds the PCOR along its south-to-north journey. While the track does skirt eastward into Wenatchee Valley and the Okanogan Range, it is the Cascades that are by far the most dominant geological feature of the Washington segment of the PCOR. The southernmost portion of the route is dominated by the green forests that buttress the Columbia River Gorge and flank the mountain slopes of Mt. Adams. Visitors will find emerald highways of dirt and pavement, and all kinds of interesting features that tell of the Cascades' volcanic past and present. The massive Big Lava Bed (discovery point) is a perfect example of the volcanism that envelops this portion of the track.
As you leave Mt. Adams behind, Washington's most famous peak comes into view: Mount Rainier. The paved section through Mount Rainier National Park is filled with fantastic views of the snowcapped volcano, and waterfalls seem to be around every twist and turn. This leg of the journey is easily one of the most scenic sections of the Washington segment. The track continues eastward, and then northward, passing through quaint villages and historic towns like Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Cashmere, Chelan, and Winthrop. While the overland crowd in the States often likes to stick to the backcountry, any seasoned overlander who's traveled long distances internationally, or adventure bike riders, will tell you that going into town (whether that's a village, town, hamlet, or city) is one of the best ways to learn about the local culture, all the while making friends and hopefully a few memories along the way. We highly encourage folks to stop and explore these wonderful locations along their journey.
The final leg of the track travels from the much drier Okanogan Range, and through the incredibly picturesque Northern Cascades. The Northern Cascades contain some of the most rugged mountains in the lower 48. Much like the section through Rainier National Park, the pavement through Northern Cascades National Park is filled with sublime views of the glacier-carved alpine landscape. If you're looking to explore the area on dirt, we recommend checking the alternative route to Slate Peak, which features some of the best views of the Northern Cascades.
Upon reaching the confluence of the Skagit and Cascade Rivers, you've nearly reached the outskirts of Bellingham. Bellingham is a fast-growing college town (Western Washington University) that has solidified itself as one of the premier outdoor recreation destinations in the Pacific Northwest, and people come from across the country to ride its famously technical mountain bike trails. Downtown has the energy and quirkiness that you'd expect from a college town in the Pacific Northwest, and talking to the locals, it's hard to track down someone who has anything bad to say about the place. The track ends at the Bellingham Ferry Terminal, which acts as the connector to Skagway, Alaska.
Alaska, Oregon, and California route guides coming soon!
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