A method and system are described for providing hitless protection in a packet switched network having source nodes and destination nodes. The method includes enabling a working path and a protecting path between the source and destination nodes. The working path is non-overlapping with respect to the protecting path. The method further includes replicating traffic in a given one of the source nodes to generate replicated traffic. The method also includes forwarding the traffic and the replicated traffic through a working path and a protecting path, respectively, from the given one of the source nodes to a particular one of the destination nodes. The method additionally includes delivering a hitless-protected service in the particular one of the destination nodes by selecting traffic packets received from either the working path or the protecting path.