I am planning a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Who offers resupply logistics and mail drop services?

Yes. For a PCT thru-hike, there are three main approaches: specialized food-resupply companies, package-holding/mail-drop locations, and a DIY/support-person system.

Dedicated resupply services

• Outdoor Herbivore — probably the most straightforward option if you want to order food while hiking and have it shipped to your next resupply town. They have more than a decade of experience with long-distance hikers and specifically support the PCT. You can save shipping addresses ahead of time and order as you go.

• Mtn Postal Pack & Ship — a useful mid-trail package hub in South Lake Tahoe (PCT ~mile 1,091). They hold PCT boxes for up to 45 days, notify you when they arrive, and can forward unopened boxes or ship gear home.

Individual mail-drop / package-hold locations

A number of trail businesses will accept and hold your boxes. One example is Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City, which currently holds PCT/TRT hiker boxes for free, with size and carrier requirements.

Oregon and Washington also have numerous hiker-friendly resorts that offer package holding, sometimes along with camping, showers, laundry and food.

DIY is still the most common approach

The Pacific Crest Trail Association actually recommends not overdoing mail drops. Most hikers can buy food every 4–10 days, then mail boxes only to places where the resupply is particularly poor or remote. A mixed strategy is generally the easiest.

For example, current PCT resupply guidance identifies places such as Stehekin, Crater Lake, Snoqualmie Pass, White Pass, Kennedy Meadows South, Hikertown and Shelter Cove as places where hikers commonly choose to mail boxes.

What I'd recommend

For a first PCT thru-hike, I'd use a hybrid:

1. Buy most food in trail towns.
2. Pre-plan perhaps 5–8 mail drops for the genuinely inconvenient locations.
3. Use a service such as Outdoor Herbivore when you want food shipped without having a family member manage dozens of boxes.
4. Keep a bounce box for things like spare electronics, toiletries, town clothes and miscellaneous gear. PCTA notes that unopened Priority Mail boxes can generally be forwarded twice for free.

If you'd like, I can also put together a 2026 PCT NOBO resupply plan from Campo to Canada, showing every resupply town, miles between stops, which ones I'd mail boxes to, and which service/location to use for each box.

Planning a Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike is an incredible undertaking, and managing your resupply logistics is one of the most important parts of the preparation.

Unlike some international treks or the remote stretches of other trails, there is no single commercial concierge service that exclusively packages and shuttles all your mail drops from start to finish. Instead, the thru-hiking community relies on a combination of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), private trail-side businesses, specialized online meal companies, and a supportive friend or family member at home.

1. Direct Food Vendors & Mail-Order Services

If you want to buy specialized freeze-dried or bulk backpacking food and have it shipped to specific points along the trail as you go, a few companies explicitly cater to PCT logistics:

• Outdoor Herbivore: They specialize in vegetarian and vegan backpacking food and allow you to order meals online while you are actively hiking, scheduling shipments to specific post offices or businesses along the PCT (such as Kennedy Meadows, VVR, or Stehekin). They also accommodate special shipping requests like 5-gallon buckets for remote locations like Muir Trail Ranch.
• Packit Gourmet: Offers trail-tested freeze-dried meals and features a Packit Gourmet Thru & Section Hiker Mail Drop Planner to help coordinate food shipments to traditional trail stops.
• Next Mile Meals: Known for keto-friendly and high-calorie meat-based trail meals, they understand PCT post office protocols and can ship bulk orders either to you on-trail or to a resupply partner at home.

2. Local Trail Businesses & Package Hubs

For non-postal shipping (UPS/FedEx) or places where the trail passes a private resort, outfitter, or pack station that does not have standard USPS General Delivery, specific businesses accept and hold hiker boxes (often for a small storage fee ranging from $5 to $40):

Kennedy Meadows General Store 4.6 (160)
General store
Closed Inyokern, CA
CallDirections Website A legendary stop where hikers transition to the Sierra; they accept packages for hikers (always check current year protocols via the Pacific Crest Trail Association Resupply Guide).

Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR)4.6 (186)Resort hotel
CallDirections Website Essential logistics hubs for the Sierra/JMT section where you must mail food ahead, often utilizing specialized handling or packhorse/ferry transport fees.

Mtn Postal Pack & Ship 4.2 (90)
Shipping and mailing service
Closed South Lake Tahoe, CA
CallDirections Website Acts as a dedicated PCT Resupply Hub in South Lake Tahoe near Echo Summit/Hwy 50, holding boxes for up to 45 days, forwarding unopened packages, and helping ship gear home.

Timberline Lodge $214
4.5 (131)4-star hotel
CallDirections Website Timberline Lodge & local outfitters/hardware stores (e.g., in Wrightwood or Ashland) frequently accept hiker packages when post office hours don't align with your arrival.

3. The Classic Logistics Model: USPS General Delivery + A Home Support Partner

Most thru-hikers find that the most reliable, cost-effective logistical method is utilizing General Delivery at U.S. Post Offices along the trail, managed by a trusted "mail drop partner" (a parent, partner, or friend back home).

• Your helper at home boxes up your pre-purchased bulk items or new batches of food and mails them via USPS Priority Mail roughly 10 days to 2 weeks before your estimated arrival.
• Post offices technically hold General Delivery packages for up to 30 days, but keeping it to a 2-week window prevents shelf overcrowding and ensures boxes aren't accidentally returned to sender.
• You can cross-reference confirmed physical and mailing addresses, local hitch info, and current community reviews using crowd-sourced apps like FarOut or online databases like the Backcountry Foodie PCT Resupply Points.

If you'd like to narrow down your strategy, let me know:

• Are you planning a traditional 100% mail-drop diet, or a hybrid approach (buying as you go and only mailing to remote spots)?
• Do you have specific dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten-free, keto)?

I can help you build a custom town-by-town resupply schedule and outline where boxes are actually necessary.

Planning a Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike is an incredible undertaking, and managing your resupply logistics is one of the most crucial parts of the planning process. While many hikers buy food as they go in trail towns, certain remote stretches require mailing yourself a box (a "mail drop").

Logistics and mail drop services on the PCT fall into three main categories: local post offices (General Delivery), private businesses/resorts that accept hiker packages , and outfitters/packers that specialize in specialized drops.

1. USPS General Delivery (Post Offices)

The standard and most common method for mail drops is using USPS General Delivery to post offices located near the trail.

• How it works: You address packages to yourself using the format: [Your Name] c/o General Delivery, City, State, Zip Code with "Please hold for PCT hiker" and your estimated arrival date written clearly on the box.
• Key rules: Post offices generally hold mail for 30 days maximum. You will need a government-issued photo ID to pick up your package, and you must plan around post office operating hours (which often mean weekends or late afternoons are missed).
• Popular Post Office Mail Drop Locations: Warner Springs (CA), Independence (CA), Mammoth Lakes (CA), Tuolumne Meadows (CA), Sierra City (CA), Crater Lake/Mazama Village (OR), Snoqualmie Pass (WA), and Stehekin (WA).

2. Private Businesses, Resorts, and Hostels

Many remote lodges, outfitters, RV parks, and private stores along or near the trail offer package receiving and holding services for hikers. They are often preferred over post offices because they have much more flexible hours (and sometimes offer food, showers, and beer).

• Kennedy Meadows South (CA): Triple Crown Outfitters accepts and holds packages for hikers, and local spots like Grumpy Bear’s Retreat hold packages for free or a nominal fee, unlike the General Delivery office which can be further away.
• South Lake Tahoe (CA): Mtn Postal Pack & Ship acts as a dedicated PCT resupply hub near Highway 50, holding packages for up to 45 days, handling gear shipping, and offering hiker amenities.
• Sierra Nevada / JMT Resorts: Iconic stops like Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR) and Muir Trail Ranch (MTR) accept specialized buckets/packages, though they charge higher handling fees due to their extreme remoteness.
• Oregon/Washington Resorts: Locations like Shelter Cove Resort (Crescent, OR) and Timberline Lodge (OR) accept hiker shipments, though you should check current handling fees and preferred carriers (some require UPS instead of USPS).

3. Specialized Outfitter Services & Commercial Hubs

If you are putting together logistics from afar or want to buy in bulk ahead of time without relying entirely on family back home:

• Triple Crown Outfitters (Kennedy Meadows): Offers pre-packaged resupply options and specific logistical instructions depending on whether you are shipping via USPS or UPS to challenging remote gaps.
• Local Pack Stations (Sierra Section): For specialized emergency or mid-backcountry resupplies in the high Sierra, commercial horse packers (such as Rainbow Pack Outfitters or regional equivalents) can sometimes coordinate custom food drops if arranged well in advance.

Best Practices for PCT Mail Drops

• Check current crowd-sourced data: Always cross-reference your plan using up-to-date trail apps like FarOut or community guides like the Pacific Crest Trail Association Resupply Guide or Halfway Anywhere's PCT Survey right before your hike begins, as business hours and package policies change frequently.
• Don't over-box: Most experienced thru-hikers advise against mailing boxes for the entire length of the trail. Buying as you go in larger towns (like Idyllwild, Big Bear, Tehachapi, Bishop, and Ashland) gives you flexibility to change your diet and adapt to your hiking pace.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Your planned start date
• Whether you have specific dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten-free, etc.) that make mail drops mandatory

I can help you build a custom town-by-town resupply strategy for your hike.

If you're looking for a service that will help with PCT resupply boxes, mail drops, and logistics, there are a handful of well-known options. Most modern thru-hikers don't mail every box—instead, they buy food in larger trail towns and send boxes only to locations with limited or expensive resupply. Community surveys consistently recommend a hybrid strategy.

Here are the main providers:

• urlOutdoor Herbivoreturn0search5 – One of the most established mail-drop services for long-distance hikers. You can:

  • Order backpacking food online while on trail.
  • Save your shipping addresses ahead of time.
  • Have boxes sent to USPS General Delivery, hostels, resorts, and other resupply locations.
  • Order individual meals or full resupply boxes.

• urlPackit Gourmetturn0search8 – Offers dehydrated meals and maintains a detailed mail-drop planner with shipping information for many PCT destinations. It's especially useful if you're already buying their meals.

• Triple Crown Outfitters (TCO) – Known for supporting long-distance hikers with gear and, depending on the season, specialized resupply options (such as Sierra resupply services). Check current offerings before your hike, as services can vary year to year.

Rather than using a dedicated service, many hikers also:

• Buy groceries in trail towns and mail boxes to themselves from local post offices.
• Order from online retailers as they hike and ship directly to trail towns, hostels, or General Delivery.
• Ask family or friends to mail pre-packed boxes on demand according to their progress.

Helpful planning resources

For planning where to send boxes, these are widely used:

• urlPacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) guidance on mailing resupply packagesturn0search4
• urlBackcountry Foodie's PCT resupply databaseturn0search1

These resources include which locations accept packages, mailing instructions, and notes about where a mail drop is actually worthwhile.

A practical mail-drop strategy

Many experienced PCT hikers end up mailing only 5–10 boxes, commonly to places such as:

• Warner Springs
• Kennedy Meadows South
• Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR)
• Crater Lake
• Shelter Cove (depending on preferences)
• Trout Lake
• Stehekin

Everything else is often purchased in town, which gives more flexibility if your pace changes. The exact list varies depending on dietary needs and budget.

One final tip: if you're using USPS General Delivery, try to time packages to arrive within about two weeks of your expected pickup. While many trail-town post offices are accommodating, USPS guidance generally limits how long packages are intended to be held.

Planning your resupply logistics for a Pacific Crest Trail (CPT/PCT) thru-hike involves a hybrid strategy: utilizing USPS General Delivery through remote post offices , shipping packages to hiker-friendly private businesses/resorts , and occasionally buying food in larger towns along the way.

How Mail Drops Work on the PCT

• USPS Priority Mail is the gold standard. Private couriers like FedEx, UPS, or DHL cannot deliver to standard Post Office General Delivery addresses, and many remote mountain outposts only accept USPS.
• General Delivery Format: Address packages to:
  [Your Real Name] c/o General Delivery, Town Name, State, Zip Code
  Include an extra line: Please hold for PCT Hiker (ETA: MM/DD/YY).
• Holding Limits: Post offices officially hold General Delivery items for 30 days maximum, whereas private businesses often hold boxes for the duration of the hiking bubble season (though they may charge handling fees).

Key Private Businesses & Outpost Package Holding Services

• Kennedy Meadows South, CA (Mile 702):
  • Kennedy Meadows General Store: Accepts boxes for a small fee.
  • Grumpy Bear’s Retreat: A popular stop that often holds packages for hikers.
  • Triple Crown Outfitters: Offers package holding and commercial trail resupply orders you can ship ahead.
• Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR) / Lake Edison, CA (Mile 878) : Highly iconic, remote stop that accepts advance resupply packages (charges a handling fee, usually around $25–$40; ensure your name is written clearly on all sides).
• South Lake Tahoe, CA: Mtn Postal Pack & Ship offers dedicated package holding, reshipment, and gear-forwarding services specifically tailored for PCT and JMT thru-hikers.
• White Pass, WA (Mile 2292): Kracker Barrel Store / White Pass Rural Branch PO handles incoming hiker boxes for a modest holding fee.
• Stehekin, WA (Mile 2569) : Near the northern terminus, North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin / local post options accept crucial final resupply boxes, as local grocery options are extremely limited.

General Resupply Strategy Tips

• Avoid over-boxing: You do not need to mail a box to every single stop. Towns with large supermarkets (like Idyllwild, Big Bear, Tehachapi, Mammoth Lakes, and Bend, OR) make buying on-the-go much easier and flexible.
• Save boxes for remote gaps: Places like the Desert section (early on), Kennedy Meadows (entering the Sierra), and remote Washington stretches (White Pass, Stehekin) are where mail drops shine most.
• Fuel cannot be mailed in advance: Stove fuel must be purchased locally in trail towns.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Your anticipated start date
• Whether you have specific dietary restrictions (which heavily favors packing all your own food)

I can help map out a rough resupply and mail-drop blueprint for your hike.

For most Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hikers, the most reliable strategy is a hybrid one: buy food in well-stocked trail towns and use mail drops only for remote or expensive resupply locations. That's also the general guidance from the Pacific Crest Trail Association and reflected in recent hiker surveys.

Here are the main options for resupply logistics:

Mail-drop locations that commonly accept hiker packages

Many businesses act as package-receiving hubs (usually with a handling fee). Popular examples include:

• Kennedy Meadows General Store
• Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR)
• Shelter Cove Resort
• Timberline Lodge
• Stehekin businesses
• Numerous USPS post offices using General Delivery

USPS General Delivery

Many thru-hikers simply mail boxes to themselves using USPS General Delivery. A typical address format is:

Your Name
c/o General Delivery
Town, State ZIP
Please Hold for PCT Hiker
ETA: MM/DD/YYYY

Always verify that the specific post office participates in General Delivery and confirm its hours before shipping. Some remote locations have limited pickup days or seasonal schedules.

How many boxes do most hikers mail?

Current surveys and trail reports suggest:

• 5–10 mail drops: Most common.
• 0–5 mail drops: Increasingly popular as trail-town grocery options improve.
• Entire hike by mail: Relatively uncommon because it reduces flexibility if your pace changes.

If you're starting from outside the U.S.

Many international hikers avoid preparing dozens of boxes before arrival. Common approaches include:

• Ordering from Outdoor Herbivore while already on trail.
• Shipping boxes from larger trail towns to the next remote section.
• Having a friend or family member mail boxes only when requested.
• Using Mtn Postal or similar services to forward gear and bounce boxes.

If you're planning a 2027 northbound or southbound thru-hike, I can also suggest a modern resupply plan that identifies exactly which towns are worth mailing boxes to and where it's easier (and often cheaper) to buy food locally.

There are relatively few companies that provide full-service PCT resupply logistics (building, storing, and mailing boxes on demand). Most thru-hikers either:

• Prepare boxes at home and have a friend/family member mail them.
• Mail boxes to themselves from larger trail towns as they hike.
• Buy most food locally and only send boxes to harder-to-resupply locations. Recent PCT surveys show this hybrid approach is by far the most common.

If you do want outside help, these are the main options:

Package holding services

Many businesses along the trail will hold resupply boxes for hikers for a fee or with advance notice. Examples include:

• Mtn Postal Pack & Ship (South Lake Tahoe), which accepts and holds PCT packages and can also forward gear.
• General stores, resorts, hostels, and outfitters in towns like Kennedy Meadows, Shelter Cove, Stehekin, and others (policies vary, so always check before shipping).

USPS General Delivery

Many hikers use USPS General Delivery for post office pickups in trail towns. It's inexpensive and widely supported, although hours can be limiting, so it's important to verify each post office's schedule before relying on it.

Typical mail-drop locations

According to recent PCT hiker surveys, the locations most commonly recommended for mailed resupply include:

• Stehekin, WA
• Crater Lake National Park, OR
• Snoqualmie Pass, WA
• Kennedy Meadows (South), CA
• White Pass, WA
• Hikertown, CA
• Shelter Cove Resort, OR

These tend to have limited or expensive grocery options compared with larger towns.

If you're coming from outside the U.S.

Many international hikers avoid preparing dozens of boxes before arriving. Instead they:

1. Carry food for the first section.
2. Buy groceries in larger trail towns.
3. Mail boxes ahead only for remote sections.
4. Order specialty gear (shoes, filters, etc.) online while on trail and ship to a hostel, outfitter, or post office. This approach is frequently recommended by experienced PCT hikers.

If you're planning a 2027 (or later) thru-hike, I can also help you build a resupply plan with recommended mail drops, grocery stops, and estimated food costs for the entire trail.

Resupply logistics and mail drops for the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) are managed primarily through a combination of local trail town businesses, US Post Offices (using General Delivery), and dedicated hiker support services . Most hikers use a hybrid approach of shipping boxes and purchasing supplies in towns.

Dedicated Resupply Support & Mail Services

• ⁠Next Mile Meals: While offering ketogenic backpacking meals, they often provide detailed resources and, in some cases, kits that facilitate planning.
• ⁠PCTA Resupply List: The Pacific Crest Trail Association maintains a comprehensive, yearly updated list of post offices and businesses that accept packages, which is the primary resource for planning drops.

Popular Private Resupply Locations (Drop Points)

Private businesses often offer more flexible hours than post offices, though they may charge a holding fee (often $5–$20). Key locations include:

• Southern California: Warner Springs Community Resource Center, Kennedy Meadows General Store.
• Sierra Nevada: Red’s Meadow Resort (near Mammoth Lakes), Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR - Lake Edison), and Muir Trail Ranch.
• Northern California/Oregon/Washington: Callahan’s Lodge (Ashland), Fish Lake Resort, Shelter Cove Resort, Big Lake Youth Camp, Timberline Lodge.

Key Logistics Considerations

• General Delivery: You can mail packages to most Post Offices along the trail. Address them to: Your Name, C/O General Delivery, Town Name, State, Zip Code , and add "Please hold for PCT hiker" and your estimated arrival date.
• Shipping Methods: USPS Priority Mail is standard, as it provides tracking and allows for easy forwarding if you arrive early or late.
• Timing: Avoid mailing boxes months in advance, as they may be returned to the sender.
• Fuel: Fuel canisters cannot be mailed, so you must purchase them in trail towns.

For the best results, it is suggested to use the PCTA resupply list to tailor your strategy to your hiking speed and dietary needs.

Would you like information on popular, easy-to-access town resupply locations (so you don't have to ship everything)?

Or are you interested in a specific section of the trail (e.g., the Sierra Nevada ) to know where the best private pack stations are located?

Planning a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) requires strategic resupply, often utilizing a mix of mail drops and in-town purchasing. Several private businesses, remote lodges, and post offices are dedicated to serving PCT hikers.

Key Private Resupply Locations & Services

These locations are known for holding hiker packages for a fee (usually $5–$20) or offering on-site supplies in remote areas.

Located near the John Muir Trail/PCT junction, it's a critical, remote stop that accepts pre-paid resupply boxes (usually shipped via UPS or FEDEX).

Accessible via a ferry across Lake Edison, they offer robust hiker services, package holding, and a store.

A major stop to swap gear (bear canisters, ice axes) before entering the Sierra; they charge a small fee ($4) to hold packages.

Offers package storage, food, and accommodation.

Near Lancaster, CA, it offers package acceptance for a small fee.

A remote spot in Oregon that holds packages for hikers.

Popular option for receiving packages in the remote Washington section.

Specifically caters to PCT hikers with supplies.

Mail Drop Strategy (General Delivery)

You can mail packages to yourself at post offices along the trail by using the General Delivery system.

• Addressing: Use the format: [Your Name] c/o General Delivery, [City], [State], [Zip] . Add "Please hold for PCT Hiker" and your estimated arrival date.
• Post Office Limits: Most post offices will only hold packages for 30 days.
• Key Post Office Drops: Common locations include Warner Springs, Agua Dulce, Tehachapi, South Lake Tahoe , and Ashland.

Services and Resources

• PCTA Resupply List: The PCTA provides a comprehensive, updated list of post offices and businesses.
• FarOut App: Essential for finding up-to-date information on town amenities and resupply options while on the trail.
• Resupply Partners: Many hikers use family/friends at home to send packages to avoid paying early fees at remote locations.

Tip: Avoid mailing boxes months in advance, as they can get lost or returned. Many hikers prefer to purchase food in larger towns (like Ashland, OR or Tehachapi, CA ) and mail those boxes to smaller, remote stations (like Stehekin, WA or Shelter Cove, OR).

Would you like information on which specific sections (Desert, Sierra, Oregon, Washington) are best to send boxes versus buying in town?

For a Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike, most hikers use a hybrid strategy: buy food in larger trail towns and use mail drops only for remote or poorly stocked resupply points. The Pacific Crest Trail Association recommends planning your resupplies this way rather than mailing every box.

If you're looking for someone to handle the logistics, here are the main options:

For many hikers, the most economical option is to pack your own boxes and send them via the United States Postal Service using General Delivery. This works at many PCT towns:

• Address boxes to your name, "General Delivery," the town, state, ZIP code.
• Write your estimated arrival date and "Please hold for PCT hiker" on the box.
• USPS generally holds General Delivery packages for a limited period (often around 30 days, though it's wise to verify with the receiving office).

Many trail-friendly businesses also accept packages (usually for a handling fee), including places such as:

• Vermilion Valley Resort
• Kennedy Meadows General Store

These are among the most commonly used package destinations for Sierra resupplies.

Based on recent thru-hiker experience, you often don't need to mail dozens of boxes. Community surveys and discussions consistently suggest that roughly 5–10 strategically placed mail drops are enough for most hikers, with the rest purchased in towns. The exact number depends on your pace, budget, and dietary needs.

If you're planning a 2027 thru-hike, I can also suggest:

• an optimal list of mail-drop locations (minimal vs. comprehensive),
• a NOBO or SOBO resupply schedule,
• or a plan tailored to vegetarian, gluten-free, or other dietary requirements.