View source for Continental Divide Trail

{{short description|Long-distance scenic trail in the western United States}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
 |name         = Continental Divide Trail
 |location     = United States
 |designation  = [[National Scenic Trail]] in 1978
 |photo        = ContinentalDivideTrailLogo.png
 |photo_size   = 205px
 |map          = Condivm.png
 |length_mi    = 3028 
 |trailheads   = Northern: [[Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta]], [[Glacier National Park (U.S.)|Glacier National Park, Montana]] at the [[Canada–United States border|U.S.–Canada border]]<br />Southern: Crazy Cook Monument, [[Big Hatchet Mountains, New Mexico]] at the [[Mexico–United States border|U.S.–Mexico border]]
 |use          = [[Hiking]]<br />some [[Horseback riding]]<br />some [[Mountain biking]]
 |elev_change  = 
 |highest_name = [[Grays Peak|Grays Peak, Colorado]]
 |highest_ft   = 14278
 |lowest_name  = [[Lordsburg, New Mexico]] and Waterton Lakes, Alberta 
 |lowest_ft    = 4200 
 |months       = April to October
 |sights       = [[Continental Divide]]
 |hazards      = [[Avalanche]]s<br />[[American black bear|Black bears]]<br />[[Dehydration]]<br />[[Falling (accident)|Falling]]<br />[[Grizzly bear]]s<br />[[Hypothermia]]<br />[[Landslide]]s<br />[[Lightning]]<br />[[Cougar|Mountain lions]]<br />[[Severe weather]]<br /> [[Snow]]
}}
The '''Continental Divide National Scenic Trail''' (in short '''Continental Divide Trail''', '''CDT''') is a [[United States]] [[National Scenic Trail]] with a length measured by the Continental Divide Trail Coalition of {{convert|3,028|miles}} between the U.S. border with [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua, Mexico]] and the border with [[Alberta, Canada]].<ref name="CDT Interactive Map">{{cite web |title=CDT Interactive Map |url=https://continentaldividetrail.org/cdnst-interactive-map/ |website=Continental Divide Trail Coalition}}</ref>  Frequent route changes and a large number of alternate routes result in an actual hiking distance of {{convert|2700|miles|km}} to {{convert|3150|mile|km}}.<ref name="PMags">{{cite web |title=A Quick and Dirty Guide to the Continental Divide Trail |url=https://pmags.com/a-quick-and-dirty-cdt-guide |website=PMags |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref> The CDT follows the [[Continental Divide of the Americas]] along the [[Rocky Mountains]] and traverses five [[U.S. state]]s &mdash; [[Montana]], [[Idaho]], [[Wyoming]], [[Colorado]], and [[New Mexico]]. In Montana near the Canadian border the trail crosses [[Triple Divide Pass]] (near [[Triple Divide Peak (Montana)|Triple Divide Peak]], from which waters may flow to either the [[Arctic Ocean]] (via Hudson Bay), [[Atlantic Ocean]] or [[Pacific Ocean]]).

In 2021, the CDT was about 70 percent complete, with a combination of dedicated trails and dirt and paved roads. Hikers can continue north into Alberta and [[British Columbia]] via the [[Great Divide Trail]] to Kakwa Lake in [[Kakwa Provincial Park and Protected Area]], B.C., north of [[Jasper National Park]]. 

The CDT was described in 2013 by a [[Triple Crown of Hiking|Triple Crown]] hiker as "Raw, wild, remote and unfinished; it is a trail that will make use of all the skills of an experienced backpacker. It is also a trail that is beautiful, stunning and perhaps the most rewarding of the major long-distance hiking trails."<ref name="PMags"/> Distances given are approximate as sections of the trail are uncompleted and the trail is sometimes re-routed.

Two-time CDT thru-hiker and professional backpacker, Jeff Garmire, trail name Legend, described the trail by saying, "If you’re into suffering in solitude, the CDT is a perfect match."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Continental Divide Trail: America’s Most Challenging Hike? |url=https://57hours.com/review/continental-divide-trail/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=57hours - Discover amazing outdoor adventures |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==

The establishment of the [[Appalachian Trail]] and the [[Pacific Crest Trail]] inspired proposals to create a Continental Divide Trail. The first section of the proposed trail was laid out in Colorado in 1962 by the Rocky Mountain Trails Association.  In 1965, President [[Lyndon Johnson]] proposed a national system of trails and in 1968 the U.S. Congress adopted the [[National Trails System]] Act. 

In 1978, the Continental Divide Trail was formally established with the responsibility for management given to the [[United States Forest Service|U.S. Forest Service]]. Portions of the trail already existed and a few hikers claimed to have walked from Mexico to Canada on the informal trail,<ref name="History of the CDT">{{cite web |title=History of the CDT |url=https://continentaldividetrail.org/history-of-the-cdt/ |website=Continental Divide Trail Coalition}}</ref> among them Jim Wolf, a Baltimore lawyer who had hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1971, and whose account of that journey appears in the two-volume book, ''Hiking the Appalachian Trail.'' Wolf envisioned a similar trail running along the Continental Divide, and in 1978, he organized the Continental Divide Trail Society, which advocated for the newly designated National Scenic Trail and published several early guidebooks.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Continental Divide Trail Society|url=http://www.cdtsociety.org/jim-wolf.html|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208062919/http://cdtsociety.org:80/jim-wolf.html |archive-date=2012-12-08 }}</ref>

Progress in completing the trail was slow and interest in hiking the complete trail was minimal. By 1995, only 15 people were recorded as having hiked the whole trail, still largely unfinished. In that same year, the Continental Divide Trail Alliance (CDTA) was created and with volunteers built or improved the route of the trail.  In 2012, the [[Continental Divide Trail Coalition]] replaced the CDTA to coordinate the efforts of several regional partners engaged in constructing and maintaining the trail.<ref name="History of the CDT"/> Thru-hikers increased from four in 1999 to more than 150 in 2019, and uncounted thousands hiked sections of the trail every year. Horseback riding is permitted on the trail; mountain biking is permitted on 65% of the trail.<ref name="Kurt Refsnider completes thru-ride of the Continental Divide Trail">{{cite web |title= Kurt Refsnider completes thru-ride of the Continental Divide Trail |url= https://bikepackingroots.org/2023/11/13/kurt-refsnider-completes-cdt/ |website=Bikepacking Roots}}</ref>

Thru-hikers of the Continental Divide Trail, the [[Appalachian Trail]] (AT) and the [[Pacific Crest Trail]] (PCT) achieve what is known as the [[Triple Crown of Hiking]]. As of the end of the application period in late 2021, 525 hikers have been designated Triple Crowners since 1994 by the American Long Distance Hiking Association—West.<ref>[https://www.aldhawest.org/faq "Triple Crown"], American Long Distance Hiking Association–West</ref> More than 1,000 thru-hikers completed either the AT or PCT in 2019 compared to 150 completing the CDT, a reflection of the isolation and difficulty in hiking the CDT.<ref name="PCTA">{{cite web |title=2600 miler list |url=https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/thru-hiking-long-distance-hiking/2600-miler-list/ |website=Pacific Coast Trail Association |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="AT">{{cite web |title=2,000 milers |url=https://appalachiantrail.org/explore/hike-the-a-t/thru-hiking/2000-milers/#:~:text=Hikers%20of%20a%20wide%20range,above%20have%20completed%20thru%2Dhikes. |website=Appalachian Trail Conservancy | date=11 May 2020 |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>

==Thru-hiking==
Successfully thru-hiking the entire Continental Divide Trail takes an average of five months. The definition of a thru-hike is left to the judgment of the hikers. The purists hike a "continuous and unbroken footpath between Mexico and Canada," but about 50 percent of the thru-hikers admit to having skipped small sections of road-walking or because the trail was closed, mostly due to forest fires or snow. All hikers must replenish their food every few days, often [[hitchhiking]] from a road crossing of the trail into a town to buy food and supplies. Most hikers occasionally take a "zero", a day without hiking, or a "nearo" ( from "near zero"), a day with little hiking, to rest and recuperate. "Trail angels" (volunteers) at locations along the trail assist hikers with food, water, and transportation to and from resupply points to trail heads. A few hikers, especially those attempting to set speed records, are "supported," meaning they have helpers who meet or accompany them along the trail and perform non-hiking tasks, such as food preparation.<ref name="3000 Milers">{{cite web |title=CDTC Official List of 3000 Milers |url=https://continentaldividetrail.org/cdtc-official-list-of-cdt-thru-hikers/ |website=Continental Divide Trail Coalition}}</ref><ref name="CDT Survey">{{cite web |title=The Continental Divide Trail Thru-Hiker Survey (2019) |url=https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/continental-divide-trail/cdt-thru-hiker-survey-2019/ |website=Halfway Anywhere |date=8 January 2020 |access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref> Permits are required to hike or camp along some sections of the trail and a [[passport]] is needed to cross the Canadian border.<ref name="About the Trail">{{cite web |title=About the Trail |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails/cdt/about-the-trail |website=U.S. Forest Service |date=26 February 2019 |access-date=4 March 2021}}</ref>

Most thru-hikers begin the hike in April in New Mexico, hike northbound, and finish at the Canadian border in August or September. If hikers begin too early they may encounter heavy and near impassable snow conditions in the southern San Juan and [[San Juan Mountains]] of Colorado, and if the hiker finishes too late they may encounter heavy and near impassable snow in [[Glacier National Park (United States)|Glacier National Park]] near the Canadian border. A few thru-hikers hike southbound (SOBO) from the Canadian border beginning in June and finishing in October or November. They may also encounter adverse weather conditions. A few hikers "flip-flop," hiking different sections of the trail when the weather is most favorable rather than sequentially. The most common problems reported by thru-hikers are injury and snow. The average base weight of a thru-hiker's backpack in 2018 was {{cvt|16.4|lb|kg}}. Added to that, the thru-hiker carries up to a one-week supply of food weighing about {{cvt|2|lb}} per day and, in drier areas especially New Mexico, up to five liters of water weighing {{cvt|11|lb}}. Extra equipment carried might include an [[ice ax]] and [[bear spray]].<ref name="CDT Survey"/>  

In 2019, the respondents to a survey of CDT thru-hikers were two-thirds male with a median age of 31. Three-quarters were from the United States and the remainder came from eleven other countries. The average number of days (including "zeros") to complete the hike was 147.<ref name="CDT Survey"/>

Although there are earlier claimants, Dave Odell is the first hiker officially credited with completing the still-undefined CDT in 1977.<ref name="ALDHA">{{cite web |title=Triple Crown of Hiking Recipients |url=https://www.aldhawest.org/past-recipients |website=American Long Distance Hiking Association |access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="Cheating">{{cite web |last1=Bland |first1=Alistair |title=Cheating their Way to Fame: The Top 9 Adventure Travel Hoaxes |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/cheating-their-way-to-fame-the-top-9-adventure-travel-hoaxes-24473354/ |website=Smithsonian Magazine}}</ref>  In 1978 three women hiked the entire trail: Nancy Andujar and the team of Jean Ella and Lynne Wisegart.<ref name="3000 Milers"/> In 2007, [[Francis Tapon]] became the first person to do a round backpacking trip "yo-yo" on the Continental Divide Trail when he through-hiked from Mexico to Canada and back to Mexico on the CDT.<ref name="backpackerOnionMagoo">Tilin, Andrew. (June 2008) [https://www.backpacker.com/june_2008_feature_onion_mr_magoo_cdt/articles/12430?page=1 "The Onion vs. Mr. Magoo - On your mark, get set ... hike. Inside a 5,600-mile footrace on the country's hardest trail."]. ''Backpacker Magazine''. Retrieved November 2, 2013.</ref><ref>M. Biggers, Ashley. (March 2008) "There & Back Again", ''New Mexico Magazine''</ref><ref name="bastone">Bastone, Kelly (August 2008) "Taking the High Way: Thru-hiking the Continental Divide Trail," ''5280'', pp. 70-73. Denver magazine reports on Francis Tapon's first-ever yo-yo of the CDT.</ref> This seven-month journey spanned over 5,600 miles.<ref>Stienstra, Tom. (March 9, 2008). [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/09/SPRRVE84U.DTL&hw=tapon&sn=002&sc=096 "Good time to take inventory on gear - and yourself"]. ''San Francisco Chronicle''. Retrieved November 2, 2013.</ref> Tapon took the most circuitous, scenic, high, difficult route north and while returning south, took the more expedient route.<ref>Manning, John. (April 8, 2008) [https://www.francistapon.com/images/press/TaponProfileTGO.pdf "Francis Tapon: The first person to yo-yo America's wildest trail talks heating, eating and the philosophy of lightweight"]. ''TGO Magazine''. Retrieved November 2, 2013.</ref> [[Andrew Skurka]] completed the trail as part of the 6,875-mile [[Great Western Loop]] in 2007.<ref name="natgeo">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/best-of-adventure-2008/achievements/andrew-skurka.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130190148/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/best-of-adventure-2008/achievements/andrew-skurka.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 30, 2007 |title=2007 Adventurer of the Year: The Walking Man |last=Duane |first=Daniel |website=National Geographic Adventure |access-date=2012-02-10}}</ref> Olive "Raindance" McGloin, yo-yoed in 2020 becoming the first woman on her second attempt (McGloin also yo-yoed the PCT in 2014).

The youngest person to thru-hike the trail is Reed Gjonnes, who hiked the trail with her father Eric Gjonnes from April 15, 2013 to September 6, 2013 in one continuous northbound hike at age 13.<ref name="columbian">[https://www.columbian.com/news/2013/nov/04/salem-13-year-old-youngest-hike-triple-crown/ "Salem 13-Year-Old Youngest to Hike Triple Crown"]. ''Columbian''. 4 Nov 2013.</ref><ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/27/young-hiker-triple-crown/3282981/ "Ore. Girl, 13, Youngest to Claim Triple Crown"]. ''USA Today''. 27 Oct 2013.</ref>

==Route==
The Continental Divide Trail closely follows the Continental Divide, but has a large number of approved alternate routes, some of which are more utilized than the official trail. The trail is incomplete in a few sections, especially in New Mexico, which requires walking on roads. Ninety-five percent of the trail is located on public land, including [[National Parks]], [[United States National Forests|National Forests]], and land managed by the [[Bureau of Land Management]].<ref name="U.S. Forest Service">{{cite web |title=About the Trail |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails/cdt/about-the-trail |website=US Forest Service |date=26 February 2019 |access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref> There are few facilities along the trail itself, and it is usually necessary for the hiker to leave the trail to resupply or find lodging.

Seventy percent (2,170 miles) of the trail is through land managed by the U.S. [[United States Forest Service|Forest Service]]. The [[Bureau of Land Management]] manages 12% or 372 miles of the trail, the [[National Park Service]] manages 10% or 310 miles, and state and private lands total 8% or 248 miles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Working Together, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails/cdt/working-together |website=U.S. Forest Service |date=26 February 2019 |access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref>

===New Mexico===
[[File:Continental Divide Trail, 2012 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|The official CDT trail marker on a pine tree in Cibola National Forest, New Mexico.]]
[[File:Gila River Middle Fork.2.jpg|thumb|upright|Most CDT hikers take an alternate route through the [[Gila Wilderness]], New Mexico rather than following the official CDT.]] Forest fires are a danger to hikers. Sections of the trail are often closed to hikers because of fire danger. In 2022, for example, more than 300 miles of the CDT were closed for one month due to drought conditions causing fire hazards.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Elizabeth |title=Fires Have Closed the CDT in New Mexico |url=https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/fires-shut-down-continental-divide-new-mexico/ |website=Backpacker Magazine |date=23 May 2022 |access-date=1 April 2023}}</ref>

The official route of the CDT in [[New Mexico]] is {{convert|794.5|mi|km}} long,<ref name="CDT Interactive Map"/> although many alternate routes shorten or lengthen that distance. The lowest elevation of the trail in New Mexico is {{convert|4189|ft|m}} in the town of [[Lordsburg]]<ref name="Continental Divide Trail Data Book">{{cite web |title=Continental Divide Trail Data Book |url=https://www.postholer.com/databook/Continental-Divide-Trail/2 |access-date=22 February 2021}}</ref> and the highest elevation in New Mexico is {{convert|11301|ft|m}} at the summit of [[Mount Taylor (New Mexico)|Mount Taylor]]. Much of the CDT route in New Mexico traverses desert and dry mountains. Finding drinking water is a challenge for hikers.<ref name="CDTS">{{cite web |title=Where is the trail in New Mexico? |url=https://cdtsociety.org/newmexico.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021225071010/http://www.cdtsociety.org/newmexico.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=December 25, 2002 |website=Continental Divide Trail Society |access-date=22 February 2021}}</ref> 

Three southern termini of the trail exist: 1) Crazy Cook Monument, the official CDT southern terminus, east of the [[Big Hatchet Mountains]]; 2) [[Antelope Wells, New Mexico]]; and 3) near [[Columbus, New Mexico]]. The Crazy Cook Monument in [[New Mexico Bootheel|New Mexico's bootheel]]  is the most commonly used starting or finishing point of the CDT, but due to its remote location lacks lodging and other services. In northernmost New Mexico, the CDT crosses into [[Colorado]] near [[Cumbres Pass]] at an elevation of {{convert|10022|ft|m}}. The trail is unfinished and many miles of the hike require road walking.<ref name="about/newmexico">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cdtrail.org/page.php?pname=about/newmexico |title=New Mexico |date=May 2008 |publisher=Continental Divide Trail Alliance |access-date=2008-10-20}}</ref>

Notable points on the CDT in New Mexico from south to north include:<ref name="Julyan et al">{{cite book |last1=Julyan |first1=Bob |last2=Till |first2=Tom |last3=Stone |first3=William |title=New Mexico's Continental Divide Trail: The Official Guide |date=2001 |publisher=Westcliffe Publishers |pages=50–305 |isbn=1565793315}}</ref> 
*Crazy Cook Monument. The CDT begins here at the border with Mexico at an elevation of {{convert|4297|feet|m}} and is accessed only by a dirt road. 
*[[Animas Valley|Animas]] and [[Playas Valley]]s. In the [[Chihuahua Desert]] water is scarce and the trail route is mostly informal.  
*[[Big Burro Mountains]]. The first wooded areas on the CDT for the north-bound hiker. 
*[[Silver City, New Mexico]]. The CDT passes through the town, a rest and resupply center. 
*[[Gila Wilderness]]. Ninety-five percent of thru-hikers take the [[Gila River]] alternate trail which goes through the scenic canyon of the river. Voted third among favorite sections of the CDT by hikers in 2019.<ref name="CDT Survey"/> 
*[[Pie Town, New Mexico|Pie Town]]. A hiker and biker-friendly hamlet on the trail with a hostel (the "Toaster House") supported by hiker's donations and a restaurant which serves [[pie]].  
*[[El Malpaís National Monument]]. Most hikers take a shorter alternate route by-passing many of the [[lava field]]s of El Malpais. 
*[[Grants, New Mexico]]. A rest and resupply center. The CDT crosses [[Interstate 40]] here. 
*[[Mount Taylor (New Mexico)|Mount Taylor]]. Most thru-hikers summit Mount Taylor, the highest point on the CDT in New Mexico.   
*[[San Pedro Parks Wilderness]]. North bound hikers find here the first sizeable accumulations of snow on the trail until about 1 June at elevations of more than {{convert|10000|ft|m}}.  
*[[Ghost Ranch]]. A retreat and education center, the former home of artist [[Georgia O'Keeffe]], and a popular site for filming [[Western movies]].  
*[[Chama, New Mexico]]. A resupply center and near the beginning of the long and difficult hike through the [[San Juan Mountains]] of southern [[Colorado]].

===Colorado===
[[File:SanJuanMountainsMap.png|thumb|right|220px|The San Juan Mountains and the Continental Divide in southern Colorado.]] 
[[File:Continental Divide Trail, Torreys to Grays.jpg|thumb|220px|Grays Peak, Colorado is the highest point on the CDT (4 July 2016).]]
[[File:Backpacking across Europe (Unsplash).jpg|thumb|220px|A hiker near [[James Peak]], Colorado.]]

The official route of the CDT in Colorado is {{convert|735.5|mi|km}} long,<ref name="CDT Interactive Map"/> although several alternate routes shorten or lengthen that distance. The lowest elevation of the trail in Colorado is {{convert|8044|ft|m}} along the Middle Fork of the [[Elk River (Colorado)|Elk River]] near the border with Wyoming<ref name="Continental Divide Trail Data Book"/> and the highest elevation in Colorado is {{convert|14278|ft|m}} at the summit of [[Grays Peak|Gray's Peak]]. Several additional mountains with elevations of more than {{convert|14000|ft|m}} are near the trail

Colorado was voted the most difficult state for thru-hikers by 81.2 percent of 235 respondents in a 2022 survey.<ref>{{cite web |title=Continental Divide Trail Survey (2022) |url=https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/continental-divide-trail/cdt-survey-2022/ |website=Halfway Anywhere|date=16 January 2023 }}</ref> The CDT traverses many of the highest and wildest mountain ranges of Colorado, frequently at elevations near or above [[wikt:timberline|timberline]] which is about {{convert|12000|ft|m}} in southern Colorado and {{convert|11000|ft|m}} in northern Colorado. In most areas the CDT is well marked. It is concurrent with the [[Colorado Trail]] for approximately {{convert|200|miles}}. [[Mountain bikes]] are allowed on parts of the Colorado Trail. Depending on any given year's snow-pack and a hiker's individual schedule, alternative routes are available. Forest fires often result in parts of the trail being closed and the hiker must take alternative routes. Another hazard to hikers is Colorado's 'monsoon season' with violent afternoon thunderstorms that are common in July and August on high mountain ridges<ref>{{cite web |title=Colorado |url=https://continentaldividetrail.org/explore-by-state/colorado/ |website=Continental Divide Trail Coalition |access-date=24 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="Horror & Heartbreak">{{cite web |title=Horror & Heartbreak on the Continental Divide Trail (2018 Edition) |url=https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/continental-divide-trail/|website=Halfway Anywhere |access-date=25 February 2021}}</ref>

Notable points on the CDT in Colorado from south to north include:<ref name="CDT Planning Guide">{{cite web |title=CDT Planning Guide 2018 |url=https://www.continentaldividetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/CDT_Planning_Guide_2nd_Edition.pdf |website=Continental Divide Trail Coalition |access-date=25 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="Julyan et al"/><ref name="CDT Interactive Map"/>

* [[Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad]]. The CDT crosses the [[narrow-gauge]] [[heritage railroad]] {{convert|3|mile|km}} inside Colorado.
* [[South San Juan Wilderness]]. The hiker entering the southern San Juan Mountains until mid-June often finds nearly impassable snow-packs and hazardous conditions. Many take a lower and less difficult route. 
* [[Wolf Creek Pass]]. The CDT crosses U.S. Highway 160 near a ski area.  
* [[Creede]] cut off. Due to snow or forest fires in the [[San Juan Mountains]] many hikers choose to take this lower and shorter route which follows the [[Rio Grande River]] through Creede and rejoins the main CDT at [[Spring Creek Pass]]
* San Juan Mountains and [[Weminuche Wilderness]]. The CDT follows high ridgelines at elevations of more than {{convert|12000|ft|m}}. In a 2019 survey, the San Juans were voted fourth among favorite sections of the CDT.<ref name="CDT Survey"/> Snow can be a major problem for hikers, requiring alternate routes, until late June and again in October.   
* [[Salida, Colorado|Salida]]. In a 2019 survey, Salida was voted the most popular resupply town near the CDT.<ref name="CDT Survey"/> 
* [[Collegiate Peaks Wilderness]]. [[Mount Harvard]], [[Mount Yale]], [[Mount Princeton]], [[Mount Columbia (Colorado)|Mount Columbia]] and [[Mount Oxford (Colorado)|Mount Oxford]], all more than {{convert|14000|ft|m}} in elevation, are near the CDT. 
* [[Twin Lakes, Lake County, Colorado|Twin Lakes]]. At mile number 369 in Colorado for north-bound hikers, Twin Lakes is the first town in Colorado located on the CDT and is a rest and resupply center. 
* [[Mount Elbert]] and [[Mount Massive]]. Colorado's highest peaks are near the CDT.
* [[Grays Peak]]. The highest summit on the CDT has an elevation of {{convert|14,278|ft|m}} 
* [[Grand Lake, Colorado|Grand Lake]]. The CDT follows the shorelines of [[Lake Granby]], [[Shadow Mountain Lake]], and [[Grand Lake (Colorado)|Grand Lake]] to the rest and resupply village of Grand Lake.  
* [[Rocky Mountain National Park]]. The CDT passes through a corner of the park. Numerous side trails lead to other locations. 
* [[Parkview Mountain]]. The {{convert|12301|ft|m}} peak is the most northern place where the CDT reaches an elevation of {{convert|12000|ft|m}} (although peaks near the trail in Wyoming exceed that elevation). The trail to the summit is the steepest mile on the official CDT, a {{convert|1400|ft|m}} climb in {{convert|1.1|mile|km}}. (Some approach and alternate trails of the CDT are steeper.)<ref name="Steepest climbs">{{cite web |title=What are the steepest climbs on the AT, PCT, and CDT? |url=https://atlasguides.com/steepest-climbs-at-pct-cdt/ |website=Guthook Guides |date=5 January 2015 |access-date=26 February 2021}}</ref>
* [[Elk River (Colorado)|Elk River]]. The lowest elevation of the CDT in Colorado is {{convert|8044|ft|m}} near the border with Wyoming<ref name="Continental Divide Trail Data Book"/>

===Wyoming===
[[File:Lightning and hail storm in the Great Divide Basin.jpg|thumb|Lightning and hail storms appear with little warning in the Great Divide Basin of Wyoming; there is no place to hide.]]
[[File:Cirque of the Towers.jpg|thumb|220px|right|The Cirque of the Towers in the [[Wind River Range]] of Wyoming is one of the scenic highlights near the trail.]] 
The official route of the CDT in Wyoming is {{convert|513|mi|km}} long,<ref name="CDT Interactive Map"/> although several alternate routes shorten or lengthen that distance. The lowest elevation of the trail in Wyoming is {{convert|6522|ft|m}} about {{convert|12|mile|km}} north of [[Rawlins, Wyoming|Rawlins]].<ref name="Continental Divide Trail Data Book"/> and the highest elevation in Wyoming is {{convert|11115|ft|m}} at Lester Pass in the [[Bridger Wilderness]] of the [[Wind River Range]].<ref name="Continental Divide Trail Data Book"/>

The Rocky Mountains of Colorado terminate in southern Wyoming and the CDT passes through a long section of desert range-land in the middle of the state, known as the [[Great Divide Basin]]. Hikers must decide on a route through the [[Great Divide Basin]] as the actual Continental Divide forks, forming an [[endorheic basin]]. The shortest route is through the middle where water availability is uncertain in most years. Leaving the Basin, the CDT traverses the remote and rugged 'bench' of the [[Wind River Range]], climbing to above timberline which is about {{convert|10000|ft|m}} in this area, and then through the [[Absaroka Range]] in the northwest portion of the state. The grand finale of the CDT in Wyoming is [[Yellowstone National Park]]. The trail exits west to Idaho. [[Grizzly bear]]s become a possible danger from the Wind River Range northward, especially in and near Yellowstone Park.<ref name="Julyan et al"/>

Notable points in Wyoming on the CDT from south to north include:<ref name="CDT Planning Guide"/><ref name="Julyan et al"/><ref name="CDT Interactive Map"/>

* Bridger Peak. At {{convert|11,004|ft|m}} the last major summit of the Rocky Mountains before descending into the [[Red Desert (Wyoming)|Red Desert]]. 
* [[Rawlins, Wyoming|Rawlins]]. The CDT passes through this resupply center and crosses [[Interstate 80]]. 
* [[Great Divide Basin]]. For more than 100 miles from Rawlins to the Wind River Range, the CDT runs through the gently-rolling, water-scarce Red Desert.  
* [[South Pass (Wyoming)|South Pass]]. The [[Oregon Trail]], the [[California Trail]] and the [[Mormon Trail]] traversed this area in the 19th century. 
* [[Wind River Range]]. More than {{convert|120|mile|km}} of the CDT runs along the flanks of the rugged Winds, voted in 2019 the favorite section of the CDT.<ref name="CDT Survey"/> Wilderness areas comprise {{convert|730000|acre|ha}} of roadless land dotted with lakes, glaciers and peaks rising near the trail to a maximum of {{convert|13810|ft|m}}   
* [[Cirque of the Towers]]. {{convert|3|mile|km}} from the CDT, regarded as the most scenic vista of the Wind River Range.
* Lester Pass. At an elevation of {{convert|11315|ft|m}}, the highest point reached by the CDT in Wyoming.     
* [[Teton Wilderness]]. Near the CDT is the most remote place in the contiguous United States, {{convert|18.76|mile|km}} from the nearest road.<ref name="Peakbagger">{{cite web |title=Most Remote Spots in U.S. Wilderness Complexes |url=https://www.peakbagger.com/report/report.aspx?r=w |website=Peakbagger.com |access-date=28 February 2021}}</ref>
* [[Yellowstone Park]]. Traversing the southern part of the Park, the CDT passes by [[Old Faithful]] and numerous other geysers and hot springs.

===Idaho/Montana border===

[[File:Lemhi Pass.jpg|thumb|Crossing the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass; the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] traversed the pass on August 12, 1805]]
Northbounders leaving [[Yellowstone National Park]] in Wyoming enter the [[Centennial Mountains]] of Idaho. For the next {{convert|358|mile|km}} the trail closely follows the border of Idaho and Montana, which is also the Continental Divide. The lowest elevation of the trail on the Idaho/Montana border is {{convert|5764|feet|m}} along the North Fork of Sheep Creek in Idaho and the highest elevation is {{convert|10091|feet|m}} at the summit of Elk Mountain.<ref name="Continental Divide Trail Data Book"/> Timberline along this section of the trail is {{convert|8500|feet|m}} to {{convert|9000|feet|m}} in elevation. Much of the CDT follows high, grassy ridges with some walking on dirt roads required. Water can be scarce and grizzly bears are found near Yellowstone Park.<ref name="Julyan et al"/>

Notable points on the CDT from south to north along the Idaho/Montana border include:<ref name="Julyan et al"/><ref name="CDT Interactive Map"/>
:
* Targhee Peak. The peak is near the CDT and has an elevation of {{convert|10300|ft|m}}. 
* [[Interstate 15]]. The CDT crosses the highway at an elevation of {{convert|6756|ft|m}}.  
* [[Lemhi Pass]]. In 1805, [[Meriwether Lewis]] of the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] traversed this pass.<ref name="Lemhi Pass">{{cite web |title=Lemhi Pass |url=https://www.nps.gov/places/lemhi-pass-mt-id.htm |website=National Park Service |access-date=1 March 2021}}</ref>
* Elk Mountain. The CDT achieves an elevation of {{convert|10091|ft|m}}, the most northerly place on the trail to reach an elevation of more than {{convert|10000|ft|m}}.<ref name="Continental Divide Trail Data Book"/> 
* Homer Young's Peak. The peak, near the CDT, is the highest along this section of the CDT with an elevation of {{convert|10621|ft|m}}.<ref name="Google Earth">Google Earth</ref>  
* North Fork of Sheep Creek. The CDT drops {{convert|3000|ft|m}} from the Continental Divide to the lowest point on the Idaho/Montana trail, {{convert|5764|feet|m}}. 
* [[Chief Joseph Pass]]. [[Chief Joseph]] and the [[Nez Percé War|Nez Percé]] people, pursued by the U.S. Cavalry, crossed from Idaho into Montana near this pass in 1877 during their flight toward Canada.<ref name="Chief Joseph Pass">{{cite gnis |id=781220 |name=Chief Joseph Pass}}</ref>

===Montana===
[[File:Volunteer on the CDT.JPG|thumb|Volunteers hike to camp in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana. The Montana Wilderness Association coordinates free volunteer vacations through its trail program, CDT Montana.]]
[[File:Chinese Wall from below looking south.jpg|thumb|220px|right|The Chinese Wall looms over the CDT in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area (8 July 2017).]]
[[File:Waterton lakes national park.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Many hikers begin or end their journey at Waterton, {{convert|4|mile|km}} inside Canada.]]
Leaving the Idaho/Montana border, the [[Montana]] portion of the CDT is {{convert|627|mile|km}} in length although several alternate routes shorten or lengthen that distance. The lowest elevation of the trail in Montana after leaving the Idaho/Montana border is {{convert|4215|feet|m}} at [[Waterton Lake|Upper Waterton Lake]] which straddles the U.S./Canada border. The highest elevation is {{convert|9324|feet|m}} in the [[Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness]].<ref name="Continental Divide Trail Data Book"/> Timberline can be as low as {{convert|6000|feet|m}} in [[Glacier National Park (U.S.)|Glacier National Park]] at the Canadian border<ref name="Life Zones">{{cite web |title=Life Zones, Glacier National Park |url=https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/education/life_zones.htm |website=National Park Service |access-date=1 March 2021}}</ref> and as high as {{convert|9000|feet|m}} in the southern part of Montana.<ref name="Backpacker">{{cite web |title=Hidden Montana: Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness |url=https://www.backpacker.com/trips/hidden-montana-anaconda-pintler-wilderness/ |website=Backpacker |date=7 August 2013 |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref> The [[Montana Wilderness Association]] is the leading non-profit partner for the northern section of the CDT. MWA staff work to maintain the CDT in Montana and Idaho with the help of volunteers and agency partners.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wildmontana.org/our-work/programs/cdt-montana/ |title=CDT Montana Volunteer Trail Stewardship Program |publisher=Montana Wilderness Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225153055/http://wildmontana.org/our-work/programs/cdt-montana/ |archive-date=2013-02-25 |access-date=2013-04-20}}</ref>

The CDT trail goes east from the Idaho border, circles around the city of [[Butte]], then turns north toward [[Glacier National Park (U.S.)|Glacier National Park]] via the [[Lewis and Clark National Forest]] and through three [[National Wilderness Preservation System|National Wilderness]] areas. Several alternate trails shorten the meandering route of the official CDT in Montana. Some road walking is required on the alternate routes. Frequent forest fires in late summer often force closure of sections of the trail and early snowfalls in late September may make the trail in [[Glacier National Park (U.S.)|Glacier National Park]] impassable.<ref name="Julyan et al"/><ref name="CDT Interactive Map"/>

Notable points from south to north on the CDT in Montana include:<ref name="Julyan et al"/><ref name="CDT Interactive Map"/>
* [[Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness]]. West Goat Peak, {{convert|10793|feet|m}}, is the highest point near the trail in Montana.<ref name="Google Earth"/>
* Anaconda cutoff. Most thru-hikers take this alternate route, which is {{convert|60|mile|km}} shorter than the official CDT and passes through the town of [[Anaconda, Montana|Anaconda]]. 
* [[Interstate 15 in Montana|Interstate 15]]. The CDT crosses the highway at an elevation of {{convert|5684|ft|m}}.  
* [[Interstate 90]]. The CDT crosses the highway at an elevation of {{convert|6359|ft|m}}.  
* Interstate 15. The CDT crosses Interstate 15 again at an elevation of {{convert|6299|ft|m}}.<ref name="Google Earth" /> 
* [[Bob Marshall Wilderness]] complex. Most of the {{convert|177|mile|km}} between the CDT crossings of Highways 200 and 2 are in the [[Scapegoat Wilderness|Scapegoat]], "The Bob," and [[Great Bear Wilderness|Great Bear]] wilderness areas The only resupply point near the CDT is the Benchmark Wilderness Ranch, {{convert|57|mile|km}} north of Highway 200. 
* [[Chinese Wall (Montana)|Chinese Wall]]. In the Bob Marshall Wilderness the [[limestone]] cliffs of the Chinese Wall rise {{convert|1000|ft|}} above the CDT for {{convert|22|mile|km}}.<ref name="Bob Marshall">{{cite web |title=Bob Marshall Wilderness |url=https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=64 |website=Wilderness Connect |access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref>
* [[East Glacier Park Village]]. At the entrance of Glacier National Park, the CDT is routed through the village and hikers resupply here for long treks whether going north or south. 
* Glacier National Park. The park was voted second among favorite sections of the CDT by hikers in 2019.<ref name="CDT Survey"/> The trails in the park are well-maintained and sometimes crowded. Grizzly bears are present. Due to snow in late September north-bound thru-hikers may take alternate routes to reach the Canadian border by road walking. 
* [[Waterton Park]]. The village, four miles inside Canada in [[Waterton Lakes National Park]], is the official starting and ending point of the CDT.

==See also==
{{portal|Environment|Geography|Mountains|United States|Montana|Idaho|Wyoming|Colorado|New Mexico}}
;Other [[Triple Crown of Hiking|Triple Crown]] trails
*[[Appalachian Trail]]
*[[Pacific Crest Trail]]
;Connected [[National Scenic Trail]]
*[[Pacific Northwest Trail]] - Shares a common start/end point with the CDT in Glacier National Park.
;Connected [[National Historic Trail]]s
*[[California Trail]]
*[[Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail]]
*[[Mormon Trail|Mormon Pioneer Trail]]
*[[Nez Perce National Historic Trail|Nez Perce Trail]]
*[[Old Spanish Trail (trade route)|Old Spanish Trail]]
*[[Oregon Trail]]
*[[Pony Express National Historic Trail]]
;Connected [[Long-distance trails in the United States|U.S. long-distance trails]]
*[[Colorado Trail]] - the two trails coincide for about {{convert|200|mi|km}}
*[[Great Divide Mountain Bike Route]] - parallel, sometimes shared tread
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{clear}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130217050631/http://www.cdtmontana.org/ CDT Montana, Montana Wilderness Association]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20020926053136/http://www.cdtsociety.org/ Continental Divide Trail Society]}}
* [https://www.continentaldividetrail.org/ Continental Divide Trail Coalition]
* [https://archive.today/20130616131240/http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/divide.htm Continental Divide National Scenic Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park] (National Park Service)
* [http://www.phlumf.com/cdt/cdt.htm Jonathan Ley's CDT Hike] - a hiker's website
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/b-d/recreation-trails/cdnst.htm Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest web site] - Describes the northernmost parts of the trail
* [https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/national-scenic-and-historic-trails/continental-divide Continental Divide National Scenic Trail] - BLM page
* [http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/cdt-l CDT-L] - Continental Divide Trail Mailing List
* [http://www.soruck.net/cdt/ Mailing Label Maker] - Continental Divide Trail Mailing Label Maker
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080926192515/http://cdt.justinwp.com/resources/ CDT Thru hiking Resources] - Listing of important resources to thru hike the CDT
* [https://pmags.com/a-quick-and-dirty-cdt-guide A Quick & Dirty CDT Planning Guide] - A general overview of the CDT for planning purposes
* [http://www.francistapon.com/cdt Francis Tapon's CDT Yo-Yo hike] - a website of the first person who made a round-trip on the CDT
* [http://www.trailjournals.com/journals/continental_divide_trail Hiking Journals from people on The Continental Divide Trail]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUH6CwaemP4&list=UUxmVsgK1kQrIix9lMimKV2Q CDT Photo Montage] to music by Walkin Jim Stoltz  
* [https://trailofhighways.com/continental-divide-trail-is-a-tree-with-many-branches Trail of highways resources] - Continental Divide Trail is a Tree with Many Branches
* {{YouTube|ajCwFsH1lCs|Video (04:52) - Hiking the CDT}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1Wj-eZ9btU], a documentary by the first two women to hike the CDT in 1978. 
Map Resources
* [http://continentaldividetrail.org/cdnst-interactive-map/ CDT Coalition Zoomable map.] Uses Bear Creek quality points.
* [http://www.bearcreeksurvey.com Bear Creek Survey] High Quality Professional GPS Mappers and Maps. Some are free.
* [https://www.postholer.com/maps/Continental-Divide-Trail/2 Postholer] Various High Quality some free.
* [http://www.phlumf.com/travels/cdt/cdtkml.shtml Johathan Ley.] Map resources page. The KML version has many alternates.
* [https://hiking.waymarkedtrails.org/#route?id=921198 Way Marked Trails.] Uses OpenStreetMap CDT data. With GPX/KML downloads.
{{TrailSystem}}
{{Rocky Mountain National Park}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:National Scenic Trails of the United States]]
[[Category:Hiking trails in Montana]]
[[Category:Hiking trails in Idaho]]
[[Category:Hiking trails in Wyoming]]
[[Category:Hiking trails in Colorado]]
[[Category:Hiking trails in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Great Divide of North America|Trail]]
[[Category:New Mexico Bootheel]]
[[Category:Long-distance trails in the United States]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Units of the National Landscape Conservation System]]
[[Category:Rocky Mountain National Park]]