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Pacific Crest Trail through the Marble Mountains

Siskiyou · Managed by Klamath National Forest (USFS) · Region: Marble Mountain Wilderness
Difficulty 30/100 · Moderatepoint to point#pct#marble-mountains#alpine-lakes#northern-california
Distance
32 mi
Days
3–4
Permit
Not required
Campfires
Campfires allowed seasonally

Overview

The Marble Mountains' PCT stretch is one of the trail's most overlooked gems: 32 miles over the wilderness's marble-and-granite crest, past 89 lakes, with Boulder Peak (8,299 ft) on the horizon. No wilderness permits, no quotas — just three days of empty northern California high country.

Highlights

  • Marble Mountain's namesake red-and-gray striped peak
  • A lake-dotted crest with solitude most PCT hikers rush through
  • No wilderness permit required — walk in and go
  • A three-day point-to-point between Etna Summit and the Scott River country

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Etna Summit Trailhead (5,948 ft) · parking: Etna Summit on the Scott Mountain road east of Etna
  • Water: Seasonal creeks and lakes along the crest; treat all water and carry for dry stretches.
  • Resupply: None; Etna and Fort Jones have services.
  • Shuttle: Point-to-point — arrange a car spot or shuttle between trailheads.

Permits

No wilderness permit is required for this route (per Klamath National Forest (USFS)).

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires allowed seasonally. A California Campfire Permit is required for stoves and fires, and Klamath NF fire restrictions are common in summer — check current alerts before your trip. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: July, August, September.

Snow: The crest clears by July in most years.

Heat: Warm on the lower ridges.

Bugs: Mosquitoes at the lakes through July.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • Point-to-point logistics — arrange a shuttle or car spot
  • Water can be scarce along the crest by late summer
  • Fires need a CAL FIRE permit and face seasonal restrictions
  • Carry a good topo map — trail signage is minimal by design

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. SRTM90 elevation data (sampled). OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data) via Photon geocoding (OpenStreetMap). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-10. Elevation sampled at geocoded coordinates; location from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL).
  2. Wilderness — Klamath National Forest. Klamath National Forest (U.S. Forest Service). https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/wilderness. Accessed 2026-09-10. License: Public domain (US government work). Marble Mountain Wilderness overview (225,000 acres, 89 lakes, Boulder Peak 8,299 ft), no-wilderness-permit policy, CAL FIRE campfire permit requirement, and the PCT crossing the Marble crest for 32 miles.
  3. Fire restrictions in effect on Klamath National Forest. Klamath National Forest (U.S. Forest Service). https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/alerts/fire-restrictions-effect-klamath-national-forest. Accessed 2026-09-10. License: Public domain (US government work). Current fire restrictions affecting campfires and stoves on the forest.
  4. Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. U.S. Forest Service. https://www.fs.usda.gov/trails/pacific-crest-nst. Accessed 2026-09-10. License: Public domain (US government work). PCT overview and trailhead information.