Audrey Payne is the second of two hikers to complete the legendary 1,600-mile Carson City to Canada Quest. Visit Carson City awarded her $5,000 for her awe-inspiring feat during a celebration at the Kings Canyon Trailhead Friday, Sept. 26.
Before starting the Quest from the steps of the Nevada State Capitol Building July 3, 2025, Payne first walked 1,100 miles along the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail from the Southern Terminus monument at the U.S.-Mexico border to Carson City, Nevada.
Payne completed her adventure at the Northern Terminus monument at the U.S.-Canada border Sept. 20, 2025. In total, she traveled approximately 2,600 miles on foot, taking on challenging terrain, pushing through sore muscles, soaking in breathtaking views and showcasing her perseverance and courage as an outdoor adventurer.
“Being from the east coast and now living in Colorado, coming to the West Coast was new for me,” said Payne. “But I felt like I had so much support the entire way, and it made me feel right at home with the Quest and in Carson City.”
The Quest was first announced in March 2024 to celebrate the new 16-mile Capital to Tahoe Trail. Payne is a celebrated pioneer of the trail, which is a gateway to the Tahoe Rim Trail, connecting to the PCT.
Along her journey, Payne trekked through world-class hiking trails and breathtaking scenery accessible from Nevada’s capital city. She shared highlights from the Capital to Tahoe Trail on Visit Carson City’s Instagram, @visitcarsoncity, noting the well-maintained condition of the trail, the vibrant wildflowers, and the change in scenery from sun-baked desert to shady pine forest. She shared that participating in the Quest allowed her to pursue her dream of completing the PCT.
Out of more than 350 applicants, Payne was selected as one of two participants to take on the 1,600-mile hike and earn a $5,000 reward. Julianne Mahoney was the other participant and she completed the Quest Aug. 26, 2025. The selected hikers demonstrated their adventurous spirits and proven trail grit on their video applications, which are available for viewing here.
To learn more about Payne, check out her bio on the Visit Carson City website, and watch the videos she shared chronicling her epic journey on her YouTube channel, Audrey Adventures.
About Visit Carson City
Carson City is where history lives and adventure awaits. Carson City boasts an array of outdoor adventures, restaurants, golf courses, historical attractions, museums, gaming opportunities, and a plethora of events and entertainment. Visitors will find plenty of exciting activities and experiences to choose from. In the heart of the action, Carson City is nestled just minutes from the legendary Lake Tahoe, electrifying Reno, historic Virginia City and the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range. For more information, go to Visit Carson City’s website at visitcarsoncity.com.
About the Capital to Tahoe Trail
The Capital to Tahoe Trail provides the first non-motorized singletrack connection from Carson City, NV to the Tahoe Rim Trail and trails in the Lake Tahoe region. From the steps of the Capitol building in Carson City, a hiker is now able to quickly reach a singletrack trail that could take them on an incredible journey of 1,152 miles to Mexico or 1,606 miles to Canada. The trail required partnerships from Carson City, Nevada Division of State Parks–USDA Forest Service and private property owners. Muscle Powered, the nonprofit organization responsible for the creation of the trail, was formally recognized for this achievement on March 6, 2024 in Washington D.C.
