‘Tracker’ Season 4 Episode 2 Release Date, Time and Where to Watch as Colter Hunts for a Missing Hiker
Colter Shaw is back on the road, and fans are already looking past the opener to what comes next. The new season of ‘Tracker‘ premieres tonight, Sunday, October 4, on CBS. That means the wait for the next case is a short one.
The second episode, ‘Switchback,’ drops Colter into a tense wilderness search that looks like classic ‘Tracker’ at its most gripping. Here is everything you need to know about the release date, air time, streaming options and story setup before ‘Switchback’ arrives.
‘Tracker’ Release Date for the Next Episode
‘Switchback’ premieres on Sunday, October 11, 2026. Viewers who catch the opener tonight will only have to wait one week for the follow-up.
The show is rolling out weekly rather than dropping all at once, so there is no binge option here. That slow-burn schedule has been a big part of how the series built its loyal audience on broadcast television.
CBS has not confirmed the total episode count for the new season, so a full release calendar is still unavailable. For context, the first season ran for 13 episodes, the second expanded to 20, and the third stretched to 22.
Air Time for “Switchback” on CBS
Beginning October 11, the series moves into its usual Sunday slot at 9 PM ET/PT. Paramount+ also lists a regular time slot of Sundays at 9 PM ET/PT. That is a half hour earlier than the opener on the East Coast.
Eastern viewers see the premiere 30 minutes later than the show’s regular weekly time. The later start is a one-time shift tied to premiere week, so set your reminders for the earlier time from here on out.
One outlet lists a weekly time of 9:30 PM ET/8:30 PM CT. Since the network and Paramount+ both point to 9 PM for the regular slot, that later time appears to match the opener only. Either way, ‘Marshals’ airs immediately before ‘Tracker’ on Sundays, so you can simply stay tuned after the lead-in.
Where to Watch ‘Tracker’ Online or on TV
The easiest option is a standard TV setup. The show airs on CBS and streams on Paramount Plus. You can also catch it live through the streaming service, depending on your plan.
Paramount Plus Premium, which costs $14 a month, includes your local CBS station so you can watch live, while the $9 Essential plan puts the episode on demand the following day. That puts the on-demand release of the second episode on October 12.
If you are catching up first, the first three seasons remain on Paramount+ for subscribers to either plan. Premium subscribers can also download episodes in the app on supported mobile devices and watch them offline.
“Switchback” Preview and What Comes Next for Colter
The official synopsis sounds like a survival thriller through and through. Colter searches for a mother and daughter who disappear while hiking the Pacific Divide Trail, and he learns that someone had been following them. A missing person case is one thing, but a stalker on the trail raises the stakes considerably.
The episode after that looks just as intriguing. ‘Original Parts’ arrives October 18 and has Colter looking for a woman who vanished after arguing with her husband in an abandoned Texas town, while Reenie reconnects with an old friend named Adam Shevlin.
The larger story is simmering in the background too. Jensen Ackles has been confirmed to return as Russell. Last season’s finale tied the Shaw brothers’ father, Ashton, to the government’s Chrono Stasis program, but the series is reportedly putting Ashton’s file on the back burner for now. There is also a visual refresh to look forward to, since production has moved from Vancouver to Los Angeles.
With someone stalking a mother and daughter on the Pacific Divide Trail, do you think Colter can catch the follower before the hike turns deadly, or will Russell’s secrets pull his attention away from the search?
