National Geographic Pacific Crest Trail: San Jacinto and Laguna Mountains Map [San Gorgonio Pass to Mexico]

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in this part of Southern California covered by the San Jacinto and Laguna Mountains Topographic Map Guide rises steadily from San Gorgonio Pass into the San Jacinto Mountains, where the trail climbs just above 9,000 feet. The PCT then winds through the desert and rangeland of the rugged San Felipe Hills and eventually heads into the Laguna Mountains before the final descent to the southern terminus at the Mexican border, where it is marked by a monument. The lower elevations of this section provide a long hiking season throughout the fall, winter, and spring, but the peak summer months can bring dangerous heat and infrequent water sources. Meanwhile, the higher elevations of the San Jacinto Mountains can bring heavy snow, even during spring and fall.

The PCT spans 2,650 miles from the Canadian border, through Washington, Oregon, and California to the southern terminus on the Mexican border. The famous trail crosses some of the most wild and scenic landscapes of the western U.S., including six national parks, 25 national forests, 48 wilderness areas, the volcanic Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest, the snowcapped Sierra Nevada, and the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.

Each PCT Topographic Map Guide includes detailed topographic maps at a scale of almost 1 inch = 1 mile. Each page is centered on the PCT and overlaps with the adjacent pages so there is little chance of getting lost. Along the bottom of each page is a trail profile that shows the distance between shelters, camping areas, and trail access points. The map and trail profile provide a step by step visual guide to hiking the trail, mile by rugged mile. The Topographic Map Guide is built for all levels of hiking enthusiasts, from the day tripper to the multi month 'thru-hiker'. The front pages of the printed Topographic Map Guide include resupply information, camping options, and much more.

More convenient and easier to use than folded maps, but just as compact and lightweight, National Geographic's Topographic Map Guide booklets are printed on "Backcountry Tough" waterproof, tear-resistant paper with stainless steel staples. A full UTM grid is printed on the map to aid with GPS navigation.