Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)

4221 km analysed against the carriers' own coverage filings
27% fast 4G/5G data, a further 21% weak 4G signal only
168 dead zones mapped (1902 km)

Phone signal on the Pacific Crest Trail: where it drops

TrailSim estimate for the Pacific Crest Trail: 27% of its 4221 km has fast 4G/5G data, a further 21% has weak 4G signal only, and 168 dead zones total 1902 km (the carriers' own coverage filings, snapshot 2026-08-03).

The signal is strongest between near Oak Creek Pass and near Tehachapi Pass, where the model puts fast 4G/5G data at 100% of the stage. It runs thinnest between Frosty Pass and Manning Park Resort (0% fast data) — expect long stretches where maps and messages crawl or fail.

Pacific Crest Trail coverage map

Coverage map of Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)

Report preview

Real rows from the report you'll receive — every stage analysed, every dead zone pinned with GPS coordinates.

Stage	km	4G/5G	weak 4G	No signal	Best network
near Campo → near Lake Morena Village	0–25	48%	38%	14%	AT&T
near Lake Morena Village → near La Posta	25–50	66%	26%	8%	AT&T
near La Posta → Sh'quah	50–75	24%	44%	32%	AT&T
Sh'quah → near Iguai	75–100	18%	48%	34%	AT&T
near Iguai → San Felipe (Ewiinalhy)	100–125	96%	2%	2%	Verizon
San Felipe (Ewiinalhy) → near San Felipe	125–150	90%	10%	0%	Verizon
near San Felipe → Warner Springs	150–175	90%	10%	0%	Verizon
Warner Springs → Combs Peak	175–200	18%	40%	42%	AT&T
Combs Peak → near New Santa Rosa	200–225	10%	32%	58%	AT&T
near New Santa Rosa → Lion Peak	225–250	48%	28%	24%	AT&T
Lion Peak → Red Tahquitz	250–275	36%	60%	4%	Verizon
Red Tahquitz → near Pine Wood	275–300	44%	44%	12%	Verizon
near Pine Wood → Snow Creek	300–325	94%	6%	0%	Verizon
Snow Creek → near Morongo Valley	325–350	40%	18%	42%	Verizon
near Morongo Valley → near Fish Creek Saddle	350–375	0%	26%	74%	AT&T
near Fish Creek Saddle → Onyx Summit	375–400	40%	38%	22%	AT&T
Onyx Summit → near Big Bear City	400–425	70%	22%	8%	Verizon
near Big Bear City → Little Bear Peak	425–450	60%	20%	20%	Verizon
Little Bear Peak → near Luna Mountain	450–475	42%	38%	20%	Verizon
near Luna Mountain → near Crestline	475–500	40%	18%	42%	Verizon
near Crestline → near Cajon Pass	500–525	94%	6%	0%	Verizon
near Cajon Pass → near Lytle Creek	525–550	86%	12%	2%	Verizon
near Lytle Creek → near Big Pines	550–575	78%	20%	2%	Verizon
near Big Pines → Windy Gap	575–600	52%	28%	20%	AT&T
Windy Gap → Cloudburst Summit	600–625	8%	18%	74%	AT&T
Cloudburst Summit → Mill Creek Summit	625–650	10%	20%	70%	AT&T
Mill Creek Summit → Messenger Peak	650–675	68%	26%	6%	AT&T
Messenger Peak → Three Sisters Rock	675–700	86%	0%	14%	Verizon
Three Sisters Rock → near Lincoln Crest	700–725	84%	8%	8%	Verizon
near Lincoln Crest → Green Valley	725–750	6%	26%	68%	AT&T
Green Valley → Bushnell Summit	750–775	76%	24%	0%	Verizon
Bushnell Summit → Liebre Mountain	775–800	66%	32%	2%	AT&T
Liebre Mountain → Kern County, California	800–825	78%	18%	4%	AT&T
Kern County, California → near Twin Lakes	825–850	54%	44%	2%	AT&T
near Twin Lakes → near Oak Creek Pass	850–875	18%	64%	18%	AT&T
near Oak Creek Pass → near Tehachapi Pass	875–900	100%	0%	0%	Verizon
near Tehachapi Pass → near Emerald Mountain	900–925	24%	46%	30%	AT&T
near Emerald Mountain → near Sorrell Peak	925–950	0%	72%	28%	AT&T
near Sorrell Peak → near Sageland	950–975	0%	16%	84%	AT&T
near Sageland → Bird Spring Pass	975–1000	26%	32%	42%	AT&T
Bird Spring Pass → Walker Pass	1000–1025	20%	32%	48%	Verizon
Walker Pass → near Spanish Needle	1025–1050	16%	44%	40%	AT&T
near Spanish Needle → near Chimney Peak	1050–1075	2%	12%	86%	AT&T
near Chimney Peak → near Kennedy Peak	1075–1100	0%	0%	100%	—
near Kennedy Peak → near Dutch John Flat	1100–1125	0%	0%	100%	—
near Dutch John Flat → Bell Camp Meadow	1125–1150	0%	0%	100%	—
Bell Camp Meadow → Trail Pass	1150–1175	0%	12%	88%	AT&T
Trail Pass → Guyot Pass	1175–1200	0%	2%	98%	AT&T
Guyot Pass → Rockwell Pass	1200–1225	0%	0%	100%	—
Rockwell Pass → Glen Pass	1225–1250	0%	0%	100%	—
Glen Pass → Pinchot Pass	1250–1275	0%	0%	100%	—
Pinchot Pass → Cirque Pass	1275–1300	0%	0%	100%	—
Cirque Pass → Muir Pass	1300–1325	0%	0%	100%	—
Muir Pass → near Pig Chute	1325–1350	0%	0%	100%	—
near Pig Chute → near Crazy Pass	1350–1375	0%	0%	100%	—
near Crazy Pass → Feather Lake Pass	1375–1400	0%	18%	82%	AT&T
Feather Lake Pass → Deer Pass	1400–1425	0%	0%	100%	—
Deer Pass → Deadman Pass	1425–1450	42%	26%	32%	Verizon
Deadman Pass → Donohue Pass	1450–1475	72%	6%	22%	Verizon
Donohue Pass → Tuolumne Meadows	1475–1500	12%	12%	76%	Verizon
Tuolumne Meadows → near Benson Pass	1500–1525	0%	0%	100%	—
near Benson Pass → Seavey Pass	1525–1550	0%	0%	100%	—
Seavey Pass → near Keyes Peak Pass	1550–1575	0%	0%	100%	—
near Keyes Peak Pass → near Walker Meadows	1575–1600	0%	0%	100%	—
near Walker Meadows → Stanislaus Peak	1600–1625	0%	52%	48%	AT&T
Stanislaus Peak → Wolf Creek Pass	1625–1650	0%	2%	98%	AT&T
Wolf Creek Pass → Raymond Peak	1650–1675	22%	10%	68%	Verizon
Raymond Peak → near Carson Pass	1675–1700	48%	24%	28%	Verizon
near Carson Pass → near Nebelhorn	1700–1725	68%	30%	2%	Verizon
near Nebelhorn → near Mosquito Pass	1725–1750	58%	24%	18%	Verizon
near Mosquito Pass → near Rubicon Springs Campsite,	1750–1775	18%	34%	48%	AT&T
near Rubicon Springs Campsite, → Five Lakes	1775–1800	30%	30%	40%	Verizon
Five Lakes → Donner Pass	1800–1825	86%	10%	4%	Verizon
Donner Pass → near Mount Lola	1825–1850	48%	26%	26%	AT&T
near Mount Lola → near Findley Peak	1850–1875	6%	48%	46%	AT&T
near Findley Peak → Sierra City	1875–1900	0%	0%	100%	—
Sierra City → near Mount Elwell	1900–1925	2%	4%	94%	Verizon
near Mount Elwell → Mount Etna	1925–1950	0%	22%	78%	Verizon
Mount Etna → near Dogwood Peak	1950–1975	6%	38%	56%	AT&T
near Dogwood Peak → Paulson Place	1975–2000	12%	8%	80%	Verizon
Paulson Place → Mount Pleasant	2000–2025	46%	18%	36%	Verizon
Mount Pleasant → near Mount Hope	2025–2050	34%	50%	16%	Verizon
near Mount Hope → Locke Peak	2050–2075	4%	26%	70%	Verizon
Locke Peak → near Saint Bernard	2075–2100	30%	42%	28%	AT&T
near Saint Bernard → North Stover Mountain	2100–2125	78%	12%	10%	AT&T
North Stover Mountain → Pilot Mountain	2125–2150	16%	18%	66%	Verizon
Pilot Mountain → near Old Station	2150–2175	2%	6%	92%	AT&T
near Old Station area	2175–2200	58%	26%	16%	Verizon
near Old Station → near Cassel	2200–2225	66%	26%	8%	Verizon
near Cassel → Four Corners	2225–2250	58%	24%	18%	AT&T
Four Corners → Red Mountain	2250–2275	28%	48%	24%	AT&T
Red Mountain → Mushroom Rock	2275–2300	32%	38%	30%	Verizon
Mushroom Rock → Brushy Butte	2300–2325	18%	42%	40%	AT&T
Brushy Butte → near Willow Creek Ranch	2325–2350	2%	2%	96%	Verizon
near Willow Creek Ranch → near Dirigo	2350–2375	46%	30%	24%	Verizon
near Dirigo → near Middle Peak	2375–2400	60%	22%	18%	Verizon
near Middle Peak → near Gumboot Saddle	2400–2425	42%	18%	40%	Verizon
near Gumboot Saddle → High Camp Pass	2425–2450	18%	18%	64%	Verizon
High Camp Pass → Scott Mountain Summit	2450–2475	12%	10%	78%	Verizon
Scott Mountain Summit → near Carter Meadows Summit	2475–2500	10%	10%	80%	Verizon
near Carter Meadows Summit → near Eaton Peak	2500–2525	4%	16%	80%	Verizon
near Eaton Peak → near Etna Summit	2525–2550	16%	10%	74%	Verizon
near Etna Summit → Marble Mountain	2550–2575	2%	0%	98%	Verizon
Marble Mountain → Huckleberry Mountain	2575–2600	0%	20%	80%	Verizon
Huckleberry Mountain → Seiad Valley	2600–2625	0%	4%	96%	Verizon
Seiad Valley → Cook and Green Pass	2625–2650	26%	26%	48%	Verizon
Cook and Green Pass → near Wards Fork Gap	2650–2675	0%	34%	66%	AT&T
near Wards Fork Gap → Siskiyou Gap	2675–2700	8%	40%	52%	AT&T
Siskiyou Gap → Toll Road Gap	2700–2725	44%	42%	14%	Verizon
Toll Road Gap → Green Springs Summit	2725–2750	78%	22%	0%	AT&T
Green Springs Summit → near Little Chinquapin Mountain	2750–2775	30%	58%	12%	AT&T
near Little Chinquapin Mountain → near Burton Butte	2775–2800	6%	66%	28%	AT&T
near Burton Butte → near Máalsi Tip	2800–2825	2%	70%	28%	AT&T
near Máalsi Tip → Shale Butte	2825–2850	18%	16%	66%	Verizon
Shale Butte → near Oregon Desert	2850–2875	12%	16%	72%	AT&T
near Oregon Desert → near Discovery Point	2875–2900	0%	18%	82%	AT&T
near Discovery Point → near Gaywas Peak	2900–2925	28%	14%	58%	Verizon
near Gaywas Peak → Howlock Mountain	2925–2950	22%	32%	46%	AT&T
Howlock Mountain → Tolo Mountain	2950–2975	50%	34%	16%	Verizon
Tolo Mountain → Emigrant Pass	2975–3000	56%	18%	26%	Verizon
Emigrant Pass → Pengra Pass	3000–3025	52%	22%	26%	Verizon
Pengra Pass → The Twins	3025–3050	38%	8%	54%	Verizon
The Twins → near Little Roundtop Mountain	3050–3075	22%	26%	52%	AT&T
near Little Roundtop Mountain → Elk Lake	3075–3100	16%	24%	60%	AT&T
Elk Lake → near Opie Dilldock Pass	3100–3125	14%	26%	60%	Verizon
near Opie Dilldock Pass → McKenzie Pass	3125–3150	34%	34%	32%	Verizon
McKenzie Pass → Santiam Pass	3150–3175	82%	16%	2%	Verizon
Santiam Pass → South Cinder Peak	3175–3200	52%	38%	10%	Verizon
South Cinder Peak → Sentinel Hills	3200–3225	52%	28%	20%	Verizon
Sentinel Hills → near Olallie Meadows Cabin	3225–3250	26%	28%	46%	Verizon
near Olallie Meadows Cabin → near North Pinhead Butte	3250–3275	12%	28%	60%	Verizon
near North Pinhead Butte → near Abbot Pass	3275–3300	18%	56%	26%	Verizon
near Abbot Pass → near Government Camp	3300–3325	86%	14%	0%	Verizon
near Government Camp → near Lolo Pass	3325–3350	50%	26%	24%	Verizon
near Lolo Pass → Indian Mountain	3350–3375	0%	52%	48%	Verizon
Indian Mountain → near Cascade Locks	3375–3400	34%	30%	36%	Verizon
near Cascade Locks → near Rock Creek Pass	3400–3425	82%	12%	6%	Verizon
near Rock Creek Pass → near Hemlock	3425–3450	2%	4%	94%	AT&T
near Hemlock → near Grassy Pass	3450–3475	2%	8%	90%	AT&T
near Grassy Pass → near Gifford Peak	3475–3500	8%	38%	54%	AT&T
near Gifford Peak → near Tire Junction	3500–3525	0%	22%	78%	AT&T
near Tire Junction → Burnt Rock	3525–3550	8%	38%	54%	AT&T
Burnt Rock → near Green Mountain	3550–3575	0%	0%	100%	—
near Green Mountain → Cispus Pass	3575–3600	0%	4%	96%	AT&T
Cispus Pass → near Tieton Pass	3600–3625	0%	20%	80%	AT&T
near Tieton Pass → Cowlitz Pass	3625–3650	18%	48%	34%	AT&T
Cowlitz Pass → Dewey Peak	3650–3675	0%	0%	100%	—
Dewey Peak → Big Crow Basin	3675–3700	48%	4%	48%	Verizon
Big Crow Basin → Pyramid Pass	3700–3725	24%	32%	44%	Verizon
Pyramid Pass → Tacoma Pass	3725–3750	8%	32%	60%	Verizon
Tacoma Pass → Yakima Pass	3750–3775	36%	22%	42%	Verizon
Yakima Pass → Snoqualmie Pass	3775–3800	52%	12%	36%	Verizon
Snoqualmie Pass → Island Mountain	3800–3825	24%	44%	32%	Verizon
Island Mountain → near Dutch Miller Gap	3825–3850	0%	8%	92%	Verizon
near Dutch Miller Gap → Deception Pass	3850–3875	0%	0%	100%	—
Deception Pass → near Stevens Pass	3875–3900	10%	38%	52%	Verizon
near Stevens Pass → Union Gap	3900–3925	46%	8%	46%	Verizon
Union Gap → Cady Pass	3925–3950	0%	4%	96%	Verizon
Cady Pass → Red Pass	3950–3975	0%	0%	100%	—
Red Pass → Fire Creek Pass	3975–4000	0%	0%	100%	—
Fire Creek Pass → near Gamma Peak	4000–4025	0%	0%	100%	—
near Gamma Peak → Suiattle Pass	4025–4050	0%	0%	100%	—
Suiattle Pass → near Junction Mountain	4050–4075	0%	0%	100%	—
near Junction Mountain → near Sulphide–Frisco Cabin	4075–4100	0%	0%	100%	—
near Sulphide–Frisco Cabin → Snowy Lakes Pass	4100–4125	0%	0%	100%	—
Snowy Lakes Pass → Grasshopper Pass	4125–4150	0%	0%	100%	—
Grasshopper Pass → Jim Pass	4150–4175	0%	4%	96%	AT&T
Jim Pass → Frosty Pass	4175–4200	0%	0%	100%	—
Frosty Pass → Manning Park Resort	4200–4221	0%	0%	100%	—

All 169 stages in the PDF report

#	Near	Section	Length	Signal drops at	Returns at
1	near Lake Morena Village	23–26 km	3 km	32.65517, -116.54278	32.66529, -116.53828

…and 167 more dead zones in the PDF report

Page one of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) coverage report: the coverage map and the segment table

Page two of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) coverage report: the dead-zone list with coordinates

What you carry with you

The map above shows where the signal holds and where it goes. The report is the version you take with you: on the trail there is no signal, so it is a PDF you keep on your phone or print, plus a GPX track that puts every dead zone on your map app as you walk.

Every stage of the route with its coverage, kilometre by kilometre
The strongest network for each stage
Every dead zone with its coordinates and GPS waypoints
Printable PDF and a GPX track for your GPS or phone map

Included with every plan, emailed within minutes of purchase.

How this is estimated. Modelled from FCC provider filings (not field measurements) — real signal varies with terrain, weather and network load. Full methodology in the report. Coverage data: FCC National Broadband Map (public domain), snapshot 2026-08-03. Route and place names: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). © 2026 TrailSim.

Frequently asked questions

Is there phone signal (cell service) on the Pacific Crest Trail?

On the networks TrailSim sells for the Pacific Crest Trail, 27% of the route's 4221 km has fast 4G/5G data and a further 21% has weak 4G signal only; 168 modelled dead zones totalling 1902 km have no signal on its networks — the best-coverage plan on this page cuts this to 166 dead zones totalling 2006 km. Cell service depends on which networks your eSIM roams on: the plans on TrailSim's Pacific Crest Trail page are compared against exactly this route, and every dead zone is named and pinned with GPS coordinates in the coverage report included with each eSIM.

How much data do I need for the Pacific Crest Trail?

Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) typically runs about 150 days — more than any single plan covers, so plan on buying again along the way (days start on first use and delivery is instant). Worldwide, everyday smartphone use averages about 22 GB a month — roughly 730 MB a day — most of it video streaming (Ericsson Mobility Report, Nov 2025). On the trail the picture is lighter: with maps downloaded and video saved for wifi, messaging, photos, weather and bookings run 200–400 MB a day, so we size every recommendation at 500 MB a day for comfortable headroom. Size up if you stream, video-call or share your connection. If you would rather pay only for the days you are out, TrailSim's pay-by-the-day plans for the Pacific Crest Trail give a full-speed daily allowance that slows down instead of cutting off, with the number of days set on the payment page.

What is a pay-by-the-day eSIM plan?

A daily allowance of 300 MB to 1.5 GB at full speed, then slower for the rest of that day — never cut off. It is priced per day: you set the number of days (1 to 90) on the payment page, pre-filled with the typical Pacific Crest Trail trip length, and the days start on first use. It suits short trips and people who would rather never run out than carry a large fixed plan; the fixed plans on the same page are cheaper per gigabyte for a long trip.

When do the plan days start counting?

On first use — installing the TrailSim eSIM and connecting starts the clock, not the purchase date. You can safely buy weeks before your trip.

Does my phone support eSIM?

Most phones released since 2019 support eSIM, including iPhone XS and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, and most recent Samsung Galaxy models. Your phone must also be carrier-unlocked.

Why not a regular travel eSIM from Airalo or Holafly?

Any eSIM connects to the same physical networks. What TrailSim adds is the route check: it compares the carriers' own coverage filings along the Pacific Crest Trail itself, picks the network combination that holds best there, and includes the coverage report with every dead zone mapped — so you know before you go where the phone will and won't work. A longer comparison is at trailsim.com/compare/airalo and /compare/holafly.

What if parts of the route have no signal at all?

On most wild routes some stretches have no signal from any network — no eSIM can change that. TrailSim's Pacific Crest Trail coverage report marks every dead zone with GPS coordinates and length, so you can download offline maps for those sections and tell people at home when you'll be unreachable. Knowing where it drops is the point.

What if I change my mind after buying?

Uninstalled eSIMs qualify for a full self-service refund within 14 days of purchase — no questions asked. Once the eSIM is installed on a device it can no longer be returned. See the refund policy.

Phone signal on the Pacific Crest Trail: where it drops

Choose your eSIM

Pacific Crest Trail coverage map

Report preview

What you carry with you

Frequently asked questions