Pacific Crest Trail Repeater Guide

How to hit a repeater from the trail in California

Compiled by AA6J Bill Jeffrey

Repeaters are listed south to north. Specific locations are given where repeaters have been found to work by hikers on the trail. Other repeaters might work somewhere on the trail in that area. Disclaimer: There is no guarantee that any of these repeaters will actually be in service or in range when you try to access it.

Freq. PL Location Notes (*tested locations in small print)
A: Mexican Border to Warner Springs
146.640- 107.2 Mt. Otay *South-west-facing slopes between Mexican border and Lake Morena
*Hauser Creek road junction
147.240+ 103.5 Monument Peak (Mt. Laguna) East County Repeater Association
*Trail passes right below repeater on high point of Mt. Laguna
*Almost all of trail in San Felipe Hills, including:
    *Scissors Crossing
    *Campsite in "small, sandy valley" in San Felipe Hills (Map A12)
    *Gap in San Felipe Hills at 4,395' (Map A13)
147.030+ 103.5 Palomar Mountain East County Repeater Association
*Gap in San Felipe Hills at 4,395' (Map A13)
*Barrel Springs
146.730- 107.2 Palomar Mountain Palomar Amateur Radio Club Hiker-friendly: Hiker's Net Friday nights at 9pm
*Barrel Springs
*S-2 to Warner Springs
 
B: Warner Springs to San Gorgonio Pass
146.730- 107.2 Palomar Mountain Palomar Amateur Radio Club Hiker-friendly: Hiker's Net Friday nights at 9pm
*Warner Springs north to Indian Flats, upper southern slopes of Mt. San Jacinto
*Tunnel Spring trail jct. (Map B6)
*Cedar Spring (south) trail jct. (6780') (Map B7)
*Strawberry Cienaga (Map B9)
147.030+ 103.5 Palomar Mountain East County Repeater Association
*High point (5595') on trail just east of Combs Peak
*Dirt road at State Park boundary (elev. 4110')
*Tule Canyon Road (3640')
*Tunnel Spring trail jct. (Map B6)
*Cedar Spring (south) trail jct. (6780') (Map B7)
*Tahquitz Peak Trail (Map B9)
*Strawberry Cienaga (Map B9)
*Many south-facing parts of San Jacinto
147.240+ 103.5 Monument Peak (Mt. Laguna) East County Repeater Association
*High point (5595') on trail just east of Combs Peak
146.895- 118.8 Idyllwild Great coverage from the Idyllwild area all the way to Santiago (per KG6BAO).
145.480- 107.2 Palm Springs Tramway On top the tram above Long Valley - very helpful in emergencies
*High point (5595') on trail just east of Combs Peak
*Dirt road at Borrego State Park boundary (elev. 4110')
*Fobes Saddle
*Tahquitz Peak Trail (Map B9)
*Saddle Junction
*Generally, the northeast side of Mt. San Jacinto
145.420- 88.5 Hemet (Simpson Park) Lee Deforest ARC
Repeater is on valley floor west of San Jacinto Mountains
Net Tuesdays 7:15 pm. RACES frequency.
145.220- 103.5 Santiago Peak (Orange County) *Incredible coverage of the Riverside and San Bernardino areas
*High point (5595') on trail just east of Combs Peak
*Tunnel Spring trail jct. (Map B6)
*Cedar Spring (south) trail jct. (6780') (Map B7)
*Fobes Saddle (Map B7)
*Tahquitz Peak Trail (Map B9)
*Strawberry Cienaga (Map B9)
 
C: San Gorgonio Pass to Interstate 15 near Cajon Pass
145.480- 107.2 Palm Springs Tramway On top the tram above Long Valley -
*Whitewater River (Map C2)
*East Fork Mission Creek, first crossing (~3100') (Map C2)
*Creekside camp (6100') - No repeater coverage found.
*Mission Creek Trail Camp (Map C4) (1/2 scale)
145.220- 103.5 Santiago Peak (Orange County) *Incredible coverage of the Riverside and San Bernardino areas, including parts of Big Bear and above Cajon Pass
147.330+   Big Bear *Whitewater River (1/2 scale) (Map C2)
*Unnamed wash crossing ~1 mile above North Fork Mission Creek (~6600') (Map C4) (1/2 scale)
*Mission Creek Trail Camp (Map C4)
*Ridge north of Big Bear Lake
*Cougar Crest Trail jct.
145.260- 103.5 Snow Summit *Ridge north of Big Bear Lake
*Cougar Crest Trail jct.
145.240-   Heaps Peak Located near Lake Arrowhead
146.940-   Victorville Located down in the desert below you
145.280- 131.8 Table Mountain *Ridge north of Big Bear Lake
*Cougar Crest Trail jct.
       
D: Interstate 15 near Cajon Pass to Agua Dulce
145.220- 103.5 Santiago Peak (Orange County) *Incredible coverage of the Riverside and San Bernardino areas, including parts of Big Bear and above Cajon Pass
146.940-   Victorville Down in the desert below you
145.280- 131.8 Table Mountain *Wrightwood
145.440- 136.5 Sunset Ridge Located south of Mt. Baldy N6USO
Most popular on Sunset Ridge, but may be low power - Use on the trail uncertain
New repeater should be installed summer 2005 with better coverage in mountains
147.210+ 156.7 Sunset Ridge Located south of Mt. Baldy KE6ZLZ
Doesn't receive as well as above repeater. Low power - Use on the trail uncertain
449.500- 162.2 Sunset Ridge Located south of Mt. Baldy WA6ITC
147.705- 114.8 Oat Mountain Located west of San Fernando Valley
145.300- 100.0 Mt. Disappointment  
 
E: Agua Dulce to Highway 58 near Tehachapi Pass
145.280- 131.8 Table Mountain Covers Antelope Valley, including:
*Highway 138 (Map E10)
*Cottonwood Creek Bridge (E12)
*Gamble Spring Canyon (E13)
*Ridge south of Oak Creek Canyon (E14)
*Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road jucntion (E15)
147.060+   Tehachapi  
       
F: Highway 58 near Tehachapi Pass to Highway 178 at Walker Pass
145.280- 131.8 Table Mountain *Jeep road at 6,120' (Map F2)(strength 5)
*Ridge crossing about 1 mile north of Hamp Williams Pass (F5)
*Jawbone Canyon Road (F6)
*Kelso Valley Road (F9)(strength 5)
*Junction on saddle 5,283' (Road S103) (F10)(strength 5)
*Walker Pass Campgroung (F13) (weak signal)
147.060+   Tehachapi *Jeep road at 6,120' (Map F2)(strength 5)
146.085+ 141.3 Bird Spring Pass Located near the trail
Linked to Bakersfield 145.150- (Link was RECEIVE ONLY in March 2003 - You will not be able to talk with all you hear on this repeater.)
*Jeep road at 6,120' (Map F2)(strength 5)
*Golden Oaks Spring (F4)
*Ridge crossing about 1 mile north of Hamp Williams Pass (F5)
*Jawbone Canyon Road (F6)
*Kelso Valley Road (F9)
*Junction on saddle 5,283' (Road S103) (F10)
*Bird Spring Pass ;-) (F11)
*Slopes north of road to Yellow Jacket Spring (among other locations) (F11)
*Road to McIvers Spring (F12)
146.640-   Ridgecrest Sierra Amateur Radio Club
*Ridge crossing about 1 mile north of Hamp Williams Pass (Map F5)
*Jawbone Canyon Road (F6)
*Kelso Valley Road (F9)(strength 5)
146.970- 123.0 Trona *Ridge crossing about 1 mile north of Hamp Williams Pass (Map F5)
*Jawbone Canyon Road (F6)(strength 5)
*Kelso Valley Road (F9)(strength 5)
*Junction on saddle 5,283' (Road S103) (F10)(strength 5)
145.340- 100.0 Randsburg Peak Sierra Amateur Radio Club
*Jeep road at 6,120' (Map F2)(strength 5)
*Golden Oaks Spring (F4)
*Ridge crossing about 1 mile north of Hamp Williams Pass (F5)
*Junction on saddle 5,283' (Road S103) (F10)
*Bird Spring Pass (F11)
*Slopes north of road to Yellow Jacket Spring (among other locations) (F11)
*Road to McIvers Spring (F12)
 
G: Highway 178 at Walker Pass to Mt. Whitney
146.640-   Ridgecrest  
146.085+ 141.3 Bird Spring Pass Located near the trail
Linked to Bakersfield 145.150-
*PCT 2 miles north of Chicken Spring Lake
*Siberian Pass/Rock Creek Trail junction
147.240+ 141.3 Corcoran In San Joaquin Valley. W6DCP
*PCT 2 miles north of Chicken Spring Lake
145.150-
146.910-
  Bakersfield In San Joaquin Valley.
*Gap between Trail Pass & Cottonwood Pass
*PCT 2 miles north of Chicken Spring Lake
146.760-   Visalia In San Joaquin Valley
*PCT 2 miles north of Chicken Spring Lake
*Siberian Pass/Rock Creek Trail junction
147.210+   Little Lake Linked to Mazourka Peak 146.760
146.760- 100.0 Mazourka Peak (Independence) *Cottonwood Trailhead (weak)
*Parts of Mt. Whitney Trail
 
H: Mt. Whitney to Tuolumne Meadows
146.760- 100.0 Mazourka Peak (Independence) *Parts of Mt. Whitney Trail
*Glen Pass
*Rae Lakes!
(near bear boxes on peninsula on east side of middle lake)
*Campsite just south of creek crossing above Twin Lakes (1/2 mile north of Sawmill Pass Trail junction). Find the right spot near a rock about 100 yards southwest of ford
.
*Pinchot Pass
147.240+ 141.3 Corcoran In San Joaquin Valley. W6DCP
*From some passes. Also reported to work from a point on PCT on slope above Charlotte Lake.
146.940- 103.5 Silver Peak (Bishop) Bishop Amateur Radio Club has a net every night at 9 pm which welcomes visitors
*Campsite just south of creek crossing above Twin Lakes (1/2 mile north of Sawmill Pass Trail junction). Find the right spot near a rock about 100 yards southwest of ford (Not same spot as Mazourka Peak repeater above).
*Pinchot Pass
*Upper Basin near Timberline
*Mather Pass
*Palisade Lakes
(Campsite at lower lake)
*Bishop Pass (supply trail)
- difficult to hit, move around to find best spot.
147.060+ 103.5 Silver Peak (Bishop) Bishop Amateur Radio Club
Not as active as 146.940 above.
146.730- 100.0 Mammoth Mountain *Reported to work well in many places between Selden Pass and Tuolumne Meadows.
 
I: Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass
146.730- 100.0 Mammoth Mountain *Reported to work at Tuolumne Meadows, but I could not with a HT.
None     *No repeaters found usable on PCT between Tuolumne Meadows and Dorothy Lake Pass
146.970- 131.8 Conway Summit Located between Lee Vining and Bridgeport on Hwy 395
*Dorothy Lake Pass
*PCT above Walker Meadows
*East slopes of ridge (elevation 10,000+') from Kennedy Canyon to Sonora Pass
*Sonora Pass Trailhead
*NOTE: Repeater appears to be used infrequently.
147.330+   Bridgeport No reports from hikers yet
147.610-   Casa Diablo Peak No reports from hikers yet
 
J: Sonora Pass to Echo Lake Resort
147.330+   Bridgeport *Ridge near Raymond Lake Trail junction
*Slopes east of Blue Lakes
147.150+ 123.0 Mt. Rose (Reno) *Ridge near Raymond Lake Trail junction (1/2 scale)
146.850-   Lake Tahoe  
147.240+   South Lake Tahoe *Upper Truckee River near Meiss Lake junction
 
K: Echo Lake Resort to Interstate 80
147.240+   South Lake Tahoe *Lake Aloha - east end
*Gilmore Lake Trail junction
*Middle Velma Lake
*Richardson Lake
*Barker Pass
*Benson Hut at Anderson Peak (also Bridgeport 1/2 scale)
*Crest just north of Old Hwy 40
146.850-   Lake Tahoe  
146.640- 131.8 Truckee Placer S&R repeater
*Spring south of Tinker Knob
*Benson Hut at Anderson Peak
*Crest just north of Old Hwy 40
147.150+ 123.0 Mt. Rose (Reno - SATERN) *Dicks Lake spur trail
*Phipps Creek (1/2 scale)
*Barker Pass (also 147.060)
*Ridgeline north of Twin Peaks (bottom Map K6)
*Five Lakes Creek
*Spring south of Tinker Knob
*Benson Hut at Anderson Peak
*Crest just north of Old Hwy 40
 
L: Interstate 80 to Highway 49
146.640- 131.8 Truckee Placer S&R repeater
*Paradise Valley (1/2 scale) & White Rock Creeks
147.150+ 123.0 Mt. Rose (Reno) *Grubb Hut *Paradise Valley & White Rock Creeks *Summit Lake (1/2 scale)
145.470-   Quincy (Mt. Huff/Hough?) *Grubb Hut
*Paradise Valley & White Rock Creeks *Summit Lake
145.370- 123 Chester *Map L4, road in Section 34 on right edge
NOTE: No repeater coverage noted in Sierra City.
M: Highway 49 to Highway 70
145.470-   Quincy (Mt. Huff/Hough?)  
146.880-   Hamilton Peak (Susanville)  
145.370- 123 Chester  
 
N: Highway 70 to Burney Falls
146.880-   Hamilton Peak (Susanville)  
145.150- 123 Lake Almanor  
145.370- 123 Chester *Stover Springs (lower camp near road) *North Fork Feather River bridge *Warner Valley Campground (upper loop) *Lower Twin Lake (1/2 scale)
147.030+ and 145.350-   Burney *Cassel-Fall River Road junction
*Burney Falls
 
O: Burney Falls to Castle Crags
147.030+ and 145.350-   Burney Generally good coverage from Burney Falls to Map O5
147.030 is stronger in this section than 145.350.
*Burney Falls
*Rock Creek
*Peavine Creek
*Mushroom Rock
*Road 3 miles above Ah-Di-Na Camp *Castle Crags
146.820-   Mt. Shasta (Dunsmuir) Generally good coverage from Map O6 to Castle Crags
Linked to SCARA (see below).
*Deer Creek crossing (weak)
*Grizzly Peak Road
*Alder Creek Road
*Ash Camp
*Road 3 miles above Ah-Di-Na Camp
145.150- 107.2 Lakehead Above Lake Shasta, should cover trail overlooking I-5
 
P: Castle Crags to Etna Summit
146.820-   Mt. Shasta (Dunsmuir) Linked to SCARA (see below).
*Castle Crags
*Dog Trail Jct
*Gumboot TH (weak)
*Trinity Gap
*No coverage found at Deadfall Lake outlet (After Toad Lake area switch to 146.790 below.)
145.150- 107.2 Lakehead Above Lake Shasta, should cover trail overlooking I-5
*Trinity Gap
146.790-   Gunsight Pk w/o Yreka
SCARA website has lots of local info.
Net Thursdays at 7:00 pm.
Net daily at 12:00 noon. Linked to SCARA.
(Some books show a PL of 100.0, but I have been informed there is no longer a PL on these repeaters.)
*No coverage found at Deadfall Lake outlet
*Scott Mtn Summit
*PCT west of Big Marshy Lake
*Carter Mdws Summit
*Ridge north of Lipstick Lake
*Etna Summit
147.360+   Gunsight Pk w/o Yreka *Works well past Toad Lake.
 
Q: Etna Summit to Seiad Valley
146.790-   Gunsight Pk w/o Yreka Linked to SCARA (see above).
146.910-   Slater Butte near Seiad Valley Linked to SCARA (see above).
*Will begin to work well in Marble Mountains area.
147.360+   Gunsight Pk., Yreka *Works well into the Marbles.
 
R: Seiad Valley to Interstate 5 in Oregon
146.910-   Slater Butte near Seiad Valley Linked to SCARA (see above).
146.790-   Gunsight Pk w/o Yreka Linked to SCARA (see above).
147.160+   Ashland  
147.260+   Ashland  
 

California Oregon & Washington Back Radio Station AA6J Credits

Copyright Bill Jeffrey 2000 - 2006. Rights to reproduce and use for personal or nonprofit purposes given.

Last update August 10, 2010