PCT DAYS is open on Friday, August 15th from 12:30 to 10pm and on Saturday, August 16th from 9am to 10 pm. Daily attendance is free, with a suggested donation of a non-perishable food item or monetary contribution to the Columbia Gorge Food Bank, who will be at the entrance / front gate to the main area. No early birds and all attendees must be out of the main sponsor area at 10pm each day. Check out each tab below to see the amazing list of what went on in 2024, which will be updated in June 2025!
8 – 11am: 2024 PCT Thru-Hiker Breakfast on Thunder Island. Food for Adventures and Triple Crown Coffee are going to provide an amazing free breakfast and coffee for thru-hikers that are camping on Thunder Island. Don’t miss out!
10 – 11 am: Cascade Locks Clean-Up. Join Granite Gear & HOKA as they give back to Cascade Locks with a town clean up! Meet at Overlook Park (next to the Post Office.) Gloves and garbage bags are provided. Participants get great swag and 5 tickets for the raffles on Friday and Saturday. Please bring water and sun protection and thank you for participating in a way to give back to the community!
12:30 pm: PCT DAYS Opens! The gate will open at 12:30 pm so you can kick off your PCT DAYS experience. Hundreds of products will be on display and sponsors will be offering great deals! Don’t miss the great lineup of booth activities and presentations! No early birds, you’ll need to wait until 12:30 pm to enter the area since sponsors and event staff need time to set up.
1 – 5 pm: Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by the Cascade Locks Tourism Committee: Spin to Win. Visit the Cascade Locks Tourism Committee booth and Spin-to-Win on our Schwinn Bike wheel-of-fortune. Everyone is a winner! Come chat with committee members and learn more about all the great things to see and do in Cascade Locks, the heart of the gorge.
1 – 2 pm: Presentation in the Pavilion by the Greater Hells Canyon Council: The Blue Mountains Trail – A Long-Distance Route through Hells Canyon and the Blue Mountains of Northeast Oregon. The Blue Mountains Trail is an immersive adventure through the diverse, interconnected eco-regions that comprise the Greater Hells Canyon Region. The route will take you deep into the mountains, forests, rivers, canyons, and communities of northeast Oregon. It is an experience that shares our living history and demonstrates why this area is deserving of expanded protection.
1 – 5 pm: Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by the Cascade Locks Tourism Committee: Spin to Win. Visit the Cascade Locks Tourism Committee booth and Spin-to-Win on our Schwinn Bike wheel-of-fortune. Everyone is a winner! Come chat with committee members and learn more about all the great things to see and do in Cascade Locks, the heart of the gorge!
1:30 – 2 pm Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by Hyperlite: Win a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Full Kit! Who’s excited for PCT Days?! We sure are, and we’re looking forward to seeing you! This year, we’ll be raffling off a kit that will get any high-mileage backpacker giddy! One lucky winner will receive a tent, a pack, and several accessories! You’ll also have a chance to win several other items such as apparel, stuff sacks, and other pack accessories! Swing by our booth to enter via a digital form, and be present to win!
2 – 3 pm: Presentation at the Stage by Food for Adventures: “Wild” Recipes From Food For Adventures. Join the Food For Adventures team as we reveal some of our top foraging tips and trail recipes. Discover our favorite “wild” recipes that are both easy and safe for any PCT hiker. Additionally, we’ll showcase how to create our renowned “Backcountry Butterfinger” treat right at the campsite.
2:30 – 3 pm: Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by Mystery Ranch: Backpack Repair! Swing by the MYSTERY RANCH Booth for pack repairs to get you thru your thru-hike. We will be prioritizing thru-hiking packs but can evaluate any bag or pack with suggestions for its repair. Our Repair Team will also be available on Saturday to finish as many repairs as possible. Please note: our repair capacity is limited when on the road, but we will do as much as we can to get your pack functionally repaired.
2:30 – 3:30 pm: Presentation in the Pavilion by Hike for Mental Health: Post-Trail Depression: Preparation, Trepidation, and Discussion for Life After the Trail. In this presentation, we will explore the concept of “Post-Trail Depression.” During the talk you’ll hear a personal anecdote from HIKE for Mental Health Vice President, Brayden Donnelly, and come away with relevant steps to bolster mental well-being at the end of an outdoor adventure. Strategies covered will be applicable to folks of all experience levels; from day hiker to thru-hiker.
3:30 – 4 pm : Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by Arc’teryx: Super Soaker Challenge. Come by the Arc’teryx booth to test out our new ePE GORE-TEX through a super soaker challenge and learn about the new membrane for a chance to win an Arc’teryx Beta Jacket of your own! Please note: areas not covered by the jacket may get wet. We will have our Beta Jackets made with ePE GORE-TEX available to try on and then have a team member spray a super soaker at them. They will then watch/learn about the GORE-TEX membrane from a little demonstration at our tent before entering to win an Arc’teryx Beta Jacket.
4 – 5 pm: Presentation in the Pavilion by Headline Sponsor the American Long Distance Hiking Association-WEST: Learn about ALDHA-West & The Triple Crown Award. ALDHA-West is a not-for-profit organization with the mission to inspire, educate, and promote fellowship among long-distance hikers and those who support long-distance hiking. ALDHA-West oversees the official Triple Crown Award program for completion of the PCT, AT, and CDT in their entirety. ALDHA-West also organizes a variety of hiker education and preparedness events throughout the calendar year in locations across western states. We like to say that ALDHA-West is the premier fellowship club for thru-hikers. Come to this talk to learn more!
4:30 – 5 pm – Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by SCARPA: Town Day Fashion Show. We know that best way to feel good on the trail, is to look good on the trail. Bring your unique sense of style to the big stage and compete against fellow hikers in front of a panel of celebrity judges. Prizes available for both participants and spectators. This is a show you don’t want to miss! To sign up to walk the runway, visit the SCARPA booth. Spots are limited!
5:30 – 6:30 pm – PCT DAYS Raffle #1 at the Stage. There will be a LOT of great products to win and lot’s of laughs as Scott “Squatch” Herriott and the PCT DAYS staff will MC the activity. Raffle tickets are $2.00 each and will be available for sale on Friday & Saturday at the Info Booth area. You must be present to win or have someone present with your tickets. Raffle proceeds are donated to the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West, the Pacific Crest Trail Association and Trail Keepers of Oregon. If you didn’t win on Friday, your ticket is still good for the raffle on Saturday!
6:30 – 7:45 pm – PCT DAYS Sponsor Meet & Greet with the Oregon Outdoor Alliance: The Oregon Outdoor Alliance will be hosting a free tour on the Columbia River Sternwheeler for PCT DAYS sponsors. After the tour, sponsors can head to the stage for the OOA Beer:Thirty! for live music by Legato Gusto and a free pint of beer or cider by showing their sponsor wristband to bar staff. Meet at the Sternwheeler dock at 6:15, which is just to the east of the Pavilion and food cart area in the Marine Park. Beer:Thirty! is the Oregon Outdoor Alliance’s flagship networking event designed to bring the Oregon outdoor industry together to connect, share stories and learn from one another over a beer or non-alcoholic beverage. To learn more, visit: https://www.oregonoutdooralliance.org/
8 – 9:30 pm – Live Music by Legato Gusto on the Stage: Legato Gusto is a band that will take you on a musical journey. They are a band that you can dance to, with hypnotic, funky, feel-good rhythms, and high-energy, heavy-hitting soloists to fill the musical canvas in all the right spaces. With a sweet, soulful side, they add atmospheric textures, rich harmonies, contemplative lyrics, all while blending musical styles: https://www.facebook.com/legatogusto
10 pm: Everyone except for sponsors, vendors, and staff must vacate the fenced in / main festival area.
8:30 am: PCT DAYS Day 2 Opens! Please wait until 8:30 am to start visiting sponsor booths so they have time to have breakfast, and get ready for an awesome day. Hundreds of products will be on display and sponsors will be offering great deals at the Gear Demo and Marketplace! Don’t miss the great lineup of booth activities, presentations the raffle and live music!
9 am – 5 pm: Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by the Cascade Locks Tourism Committee: Spin to Win. Visit the Cascade Locks Tourism Committee booth and Spin-to-Win on our Schwinn Bike wheel-of-fortune. Everyone is a winner! Come chat with committee members and learn more about all the great things to see and do in Cascade Locks, the heart of the gorge.
9 – 10 am: Presentation in the Pavilion by Friends of the Owyhee – Exploring the Owyhee Canyonlands: Conservation and Recreation Unveiled”Description: Dive into the captivating world of the Owyhee Canyonlands with Tim Davis, the esteemed Founder and Executive Director of Friends of the Owyhee, nestled in the heart of Malheur County, Oregon. In this engaging presentation, Tim will illuminate the ongoing conservation endeavors shaping the Owyhee Canyonlands while unraveling the vast recreational possibilities this breathtaking landscape offers. Discover how conservation and outdoor recreation seamlessly intertwine, providing a harmonious balance between preserving natural wonders and facilitating immersive outdoor experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned conservationist, an avid outdoor enthusiast, or simply curious about the remarkable synergy between conservation and recreation, this presentation promises to inspire, educate, and leave you with a newfound appreciation for the Owyhee Canyonlands and its enduring legacy. Join us on this enlightening journey as we unlock the secrets of one of Oregon’s most treasured landscapes.
10:30 – 11 am: Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by Altra: Build-Your-Own GORP & Legends of Lone Peak. Trail snacks have come a long way, but it’s still hard to beat Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts. Come by the Altra booth to assemble a sampling of your own GORP from an array of tasty trail mix treats. We also want to hear about all the adventures you’ve gotten into in your trusty pair of Altras! Stop by with an appetite & your best trail stories for a chance to be featured in an upcoming content series from Altra.
10:30 – 11:30 am: Presentation in the Pavilion by Renee “She-ra” Patrick: Life Beyond the PCT – Strategies for a Successful Transition. Join Intentional Hiking and past PCT thru-hikers to discuss navigating from trail life to the day-to-day realities of life off-trail. Come with your questions and concerns, hopes and fears, and discuss how the hiking community can help support you during this time. Come for the conversation, stay for the snacks and gear giveaways.
11:30 am – 12 pm: Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by Six Moon Designs: Nita Larronde Memorial Pie Eating Contest. Let’s put that legendary hiker hunger to the test and see who comes out on top at the SMD booth. 2 contests will be held, one for 2024 thru-hikers and one for the kids who came to PCT Days. Like getting a permit to hike the PCT, 12 participants per challenge will be drawn via a lottery and then face off for a winner-take-all pie-eating contest. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes per challenge.
12 – 1 pm: Presentation in the Pavilion by Liz “Snorkel” Thomas: Take your PCT hike from Dream to Reality. Dreaming of hiking the PCT, JMT, or another distance trail and aren’t sure where to start? In this approachable take on distance hiking, celebrated thru-hiker Liz Thomas will share stories from her book, the National Outdoor Book Award winning Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike. With real-life stories from dozens of trails including the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails, Liz showcases expert tips by experienced hikers from a variety of ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Part-story-telling, part how-to, this talk includes topics such as: gear, fitness, safety, nutrition, staying in good graces with family and friends on-and-off trail, and finding the time and money to hike for weeks or months. Attendees are invited for a Q&A afterward as well as a book signing with the author.
12:30 – 1pm: Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by Sawyer – Sawyer Spin on Rock, Paper Scissors. Gather at the Sawyer booth as we bring back this classic game, with a twist: your weapons of choice are a filter, a human, or giardia. In our game, filter beats giardia, human beats filter, and (as you can guess) giardia beats human. If you make it past the 2nd round you’ll earn some sweet Sawyer Swag, and ice cream sandwiches will be provided once the ruckus concludes.
1:30 – 2 pm: Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by Gossamer Gear: FKT – Race to Pitch a Tent. How fast can you set up The One Ultralight Shelter? We’ll throw in some extra obstacles to make sure this is challenging enough for all of you ultralight nerds. The winner will walk away with a brand new The One and a pair of LT5 Trekking Poles. Swing by our booth to cheer on your fellow hikers and chat with the GG crew.
1:30 – 2:30 pm: Presentation in the Pavilion by Headline Sponsor Pacific Crest Trail Association: PCT Stewardship with PCTA. Come learn about the PCTA – our work, partnerships, how we’re adapting to a changing future, and how you can help. Hear about local stewardship and how the volunteers in your community are maintaining the Pacific Crest Trail for all to enjoy. Presented by PCTA’s Central Cascades Regional Representative Jeanine Russell.
2 – 2:30 pm: Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by Outdoor Research: Blaze your trail to the prize wheel. Sink a putt at the OR Disc Golf Course and win a chance to win some sweet Outdoor Research gear from the wheel of destiny. We have a portable disc golf hole setup somewhere near our booth, participants get a few throws to sink it. If they do, they spin the wheel at our booth to win OR gear.
2:30 – 3:30 pm: Title Sponsor Activity by Next Adventure at the Stage: The Next Adventure Watermelon Challenge. Here’s how it works: 10 hikers and 10 vendors will face off against each other! The first person to finish their watermelon will win the grand prize. The second person to finish (from the other team) will win the runner-up prize. But there’s a twist… Hikers and vendors will not just have to eat the watermelon; they will have to open it themselves with an object of Next Adventure’s choice.
3 – 4 pm: Presentation in the Pavilion by Trail Keepers of Oregon: The Power of Community on Trails. Did you know that almost all of our hiking trails were built more than 80 years ago, and that they are almost all cared for by volunteers? Join TKO to learn about the power of communities to grow and improve trail systems and how you can get involved.
3 – 3:30 pm: Headline Sponsor Featured Activity by Big Agnes: Spin to Win. Stop by the Big Agnes booth to try your luck at spinning our wheel of infinity who knows maybe you can win one of our big prizes. In the end everyone is a winner so maybe you just walk away with a koozie to keep your drink cold. You’ll need to sign up for a chance at the wheel so be one of the first 50 and you’re in! Good Luck!
3:30 – 4:30 pm: Title Sponsor Activity by Ford Bronco: Built Wild Presentation at the Stage. Join the Bronco Ambassadors and dive deep into the Bronco Ecosystem, explore gear essentials, off-roading tips, get the scoop on upcoming Bronco events and experience a live Overlanding installation. Plus, a chance to win exclusive Bronco swag. This isn’t just a presentation—it’s an adventure waiting to happen!
5:30 – 6:30 pm: PCT DAYS Raffle #2 at the Stage. There will be a LOT of great products to win and lot’s of laughs as Scott “Squatch” Herriott and the PCT DAYS staff will MC the activity. Raffle tickets are $2.00 each and will be available for sale on Friday & Saturday at the Info Booth area. You must be present to win or have someone present with your tickets. Raffle proceeds are donated to the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West, the Pacific Crest Trail Association and Trail Keepers of Oregon. If you didn’t win on Friday, your ticket is still good for the raffle on Saturday!
8 – 9:30 pm: Live Music on the Stage – Scott Pemberton: Scott Pemberton’s sound is much like the vibe of his native Portland: freaky, fun and just the right amount of weird. The best way to categorize his music is with the moniker “Timber Rock”. The deep jazz, NW rock/grunge, blues roots and the west coast funk. The mastery of his guitar playing combined with the fun recklessness of his songwriting show that the rules of songwriting and playing the guitar no longer exist for him. Scott plays with the uninhibited joy and intensity of someone who recognizes that every time we make music is an honor and a gift: https://www.bluesunartists.com/artists/scottpemberton-o-theory
10 pm: Everyone except for sponsors, vendors, and staff must vacate the fenced in / main festival area.
9 am – 11am: PCT DAYS is over – Event Site Breakdown.
All sponsor booths in the main area and attendee tents must be taken down on Thunder Island by 10am. Please practice Leave No Trace and clean up your camp area by disposing waste in the proper receptacles. Thank you for attending, safe travels and please join us next year for the 18th annual PCT DAYS on August 15 & 16, 2025!