• Living

How to See the Pacific Crest Trail Without Taking a Single Step

2 minute read

You’ve probably heard of the Pacific Crest Trail, or PCT, the 2,664-mile footpath made famous by Cheryl Strayed’s 2012 bestseller, Wild, and the Reese Witherspoon–starring movie of the same name.

You’ve probably heard that it’s gorgeous. And it is. The trail passes through seven national parks on its way from Mexico to Canada, across the deserts of Southern California, along the spine of the Sierra Nevada, and to the glacier-capped peaks of Washington.

You’ve probably heard that it’s hard, and that, too, is true. Parts require technical ice-climbing skills, and supply stations are scarce. Strayed herself never finished.

Maybe you also heard that it takes at least five months to see it all—and here’s the surprise. A cool new video, from the team at Halfway Anywhere, lets you experience the best of the PCT in a little over three minutes.

That’s armchair-travel time well spent. And a whole lot of blisters saved.

This article originally appeared on Sunset.

More from Sunset:

  • Inside San Francisco’s Hidden Gems
  • 8 Foolproof Ways to Keep Your Succulents Alive
  • Spirit of the Old West: Visit This California Ghost Town
  • More Must-Reads From TIME

    Contact us at letters@time.com