FOUR SHORT HIKES ON THE PCT

1 Castle Crags: The PCT bends west just shy of Mount Shasta, but not to worry: The views of the mountain from Castle Crags State Park and as the PCT continues toward Mount Eddy are as good as they come. But don’t ignore Castle Crags itself; the trail to Castle Dome takes you up into the wild rock formations to a soaring lookout (8 miles round trip). For a rail-to-trail adventure, Rosander recommends taking Amtrak’s Coast Starlight to Dunsmuir. The PCT trailhead at Soda Creek Road and Interstate 5 is 5 miles south of the station; a shuttle can be arranged in advance with Mount Shasta Taxi and Tours (www.mt shastataxi.com).

2 Carson Pass: Wildflower-filled meadows, alpine lakes, snowy peaks, easy hikes for kids, day hike loops or more strenuous overnights — the Carson Pass trailhead (Highway 88) is a winner for flexibility. You’re barely off the trailhead before you hit Frog Lake, followed by Winnemucca Lake and Round Top Lake in short order on a side trail branching off the PCT. Drop down from the ridge to Fourth of July Lake for instant solitude and a great midpoint for a day hike or campsite for a light backpacking trip. A loop back onto the PCT can be done from here, either a long day trip or a comfortable two-day hike (14.5 miles total). Nearby Woods Lake campground, with its own connected trailhead, can serve as base camp.

3 Sonora Pass: In place of the smooth contours of granite in Yosemite to the south, Sonora Pass (Highway 108) is a jagged landscape of slicing peaks and rocky barrens with pinpricks of vivid wildflowers. From the PCT trailhead at the pass, at just over 9,600 feet, peak-baggers can climb north to add their names to the register atop Sonora Peak at nearly 11,500 feet, on a short spur off the PCT (7 miles round trip). The trail south, a favorite of many PCT section hikers, cuts below Leavitt Peak and overlooks a series of alpine lakes. Hikers can make a detour to cool off after a hard climb (8-10 miles round trip; easily extended to an overnight backpacking trip).

4 Tuolumne Meadows: The stretch of the PCT through Yosemite’s Tuolumne Meadows (Highway 120) is one of the busiest parts of the trail in almost any season, but for a good reason: Yosemite Valley is hardly the only magical part of the national park. The gentle trail north toward Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp follows the river through sprawling meadows, and is easy for hikers of all levels. Day hikers will turn around after Tuolumne Falls or White Cascade; overnighters can stay in relative luxury at the Glen Aulin tent cabins, or push on along the PCT or into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne for wilderness camping and solitude.