The San Diego Trans-County Trail (SDTCT), aka the Sea to Sea Trail or the TCT, is an ~155-mile route from the eastern boundary of San Diego County near the Salton Sea (230ft below sea level) to the western edge of the county at the Pacific Ocean. The route connects Anza Borrego Desert State Park and Wilderness in the Colorado Desert (a part of the larger Sonoran Desert) to the world-famous Torrey Pines Natural Preserve. San Diego County is the most biologically rich county in the continental US.
The SDTCT uses a combo of existing trails, such as the California Riding and Hiking Trail. The character of the route changes from well-marked singletrack trails to bushwhacking to road walking to well-marked urban paths.
The eastern part of the SDTCT visits areas that are ancestral homes to bands of the Cahuilla people, also known as Ãviluqaletem or Ivilyuqaletem. The western part of the trail is the ancestral home to groups of the Kumeyaay people. Descendants and members of both groups are still active in San Diego and surrounding counties. The trail crosses Native American Reservations of the Iñaja and Cosmit and near reservations of other groups.
The route is best done between November and February. There is no permit required to hike the entire route.
The best resource for information is the SDTCT group on Facebook. The Facebook group provides maps, GPX tracks, and current route conditions: https://www.facebook.com/groups/542292329178926
Why is the SDTCT an excellent FKT route?
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Perfect distance: At 155 miles, it's long enough to be a significant challenge but manageable for a multi-day speed attempt.
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Varied terrain: The route offers everything from desert washes and dirt roads to mountainous terrain and coastal approaches, testing different skill sets.
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Navigation challenges: The brush can be thick and spiky during the several miles of bushwhacking off-trail on the route, making it a true test of route-finding skills.
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Water strategy: The need for water caching adds a strategic element that separates casual hikers from serious FKT candidates.
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Winter hiking opportunity: Anza Borrego State Desert Park is one of the hottest places in the country during the summer, creating a specific seasonal window from November-February to complete the route.
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Existing community and interest: The route is well-established and there's a significant community interested in it.
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Accessibility: There is no permit required to hike the entire route, making it logistically simpler than many other long routes. The route also has many access points for dropping water and supplies or to receive support.
The combination of significant distance, diverse challenges, navigation requirements, and strategic water planning makes this an ideal route for serious FKT attempts, particularly during the winter months, when few other FKT routes of that distance are accessible.
Resources:
Selected trip reports:
