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Continental Divide Trail – 5,000 kilometers along the watershed

|21/10, 2026

Hiking tent on a sheltered elevation with snow-capped mountains along the Continental Divide Trail

The Continental Divide Trail, CDT, follows the watershed through the Rocky Mountains from Mexico to Canada. It is the most independent and demanding of the three classic long-distance trails in the United States: infrastructure is sparser, markings can be incomplete, and you need to actively choose your route along the way. Remoteness here means more than just long distances to the nearest community. It also means that water, weather, navigation, and conditions often have to be resolved without prompt assistance.

The trail is about 3,100 miles, or 5,000 kilometers, through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. Various sources estimate the length at about 4,900–5,100 kilometers. The difference depends on official options, detours, closures, and the route choices you make. A hike through often takes five to six months, but many need longer. Allow more planning time than on the Pacific Crest Trail, not least because the trail is remote and the route less obvious.

Time and season: the snow sets the scene

Northbound hikers, NOBO, usually start from mid-April to mid-May. This provides a compromise between the heat and drought in New Mexico and the snowmelt further north. Starting too early can mean temperatures around 40 degrees in the south and long dry stretches. Starting too late increases the risk of encountering snow in Colorado and Montana before the season is over.

Southbound hikers, SOBOs, often start from mid-June to early July to give the snow in the northern Rockies time to melt. But a late northern window can mean snow and winter weather catching up in Colorado. In Colorado, snow can linger through May and melt during June–July. In the Wind River Range in Wyoming, snowfields can remain into July. The calendar is just a starting point: check snow conditions, forecasts, fires, and trail closures before you lock down your plan.

Permits and border regulations require your own planning

There is no central CDT permit . Registration with the trail organization does not replace separate permits from landowners and authorities. Requirements depend on your actual route and whether you are staying overnight in regulated areas.

Border crossings at Waterton and Glacier are another logistical task. The CDT Coalition describes reporting to U.S. authorities via CBP ROAM , and re-reporting to Canadian authorities upon re-entry. ROAM usage and border procedures may vary by location and traveler. Therefore, check current requirements with CBP, Parks Canada, and relevant park authorities well in advance. Passports, visas, and any other entry documents must also be in order.

Five states, five different planning problems

In New Mexico, the trail passes through dry terrain with long distances between water sources. The well-known Gila River Trail is an alternative through canyons and involves many crossings. High water levels, fires, or closures may make it unsuitable. Choose it based on current conditions and your own experience, not just because it may shorten the route.

Colorado is the high alpine core. Many stretches are above treeline, with snowfields, cold nights, and rapidly changing weather. Grays Peak is one of the highest points on the trail. Thunderstorms are a definite risk on open ridges: plan your day so you don't get stuck high up when the afternoon storm builds up.

In Wyoming, the trail is about 510 miles long. The Great Divide Basin is a geographic feature and a planning trap: here the watershed divides and reunites, and the area is an endorheic drainage basin where the water does not reach the ocean. The dry landscape makes water transport particularly important. In the Wind River Range, elevation and snow are added.

Idaho and Montana offer remote stretches and, in the northern parts, grizzly bears. This requires good planning with food storage, bear spray where recommended, and awareness of local regulations.

Hiker with backpack in the dry high desert landscape of New Mexico

Navigation: apps are support, not a backup plan

The CDT is the least maintained of the Triple Crown trails. Marking is weak or absent in some sections, and official options can change distance, water conditions, and time. Get current maps and data from the CDT Coalition and follow their closures and warnings . FarOut, formerly Guthook, can provide helpful commentary on water and route selection, but use offline maps and check data against recent reports.

A map and compass are a requirement, not a luxury. You need to be able to determine your position and make decisions if a path is unclear, a spring has dried up, or an alternate route is closed. The Gila River Trail is a prime example of why route selection must be actively assessed: check flows, weather, and fire conditions before making a choice.

Resupply: plan for less frequent service

Communities are often further from the trail than on the AT and PCT, and small towns may have limited offerings or hours. Examples of possible stops include Silver City, Grants, Chama, Pagosa Springs, Leadville, Salida, Steamboat Springs, Rawlins, Dubois, East Glacier, Augusta, Lincoln, and Outlook. Exactly which ones are suitable will depend on your route.

A mixed strategy often works best: buy groceries in larger communities and send packages to post offices where supplies are low or special needs make advance planning important. Confirm in advance that packages can be received and check opening hours. The CDT Coalition’s advice on resupply is a good starting point, but local information needs to be verified before each stop.

Safety: water, altitude, weather and bears

Water is a major issue, especially in New Mexico and the Great Divide Basin. Plan carrying capacity for the longest likely dry spell, check fresh water reports, and refill when the source is reliable. Mapped sources may be dry, contaminated, or altered. Treat natural water.

Large parts of the trail are above 3,000 meters. Give your body time to adjust to the altitude and take headaches, nausea or unusual fatigue seriously. On exposed ridges, thunder, wind and rapid temperature drops pose a clear risk. Snowfields during transition periods require winter experience and the right decision; waiting or choosing between them is sometimes safer than pressing on.

Grizzly bears are found in the north, including the Glacier and Yellowstone regions. Follow local guidelines for food storage and use containers or hanging where required. Cellular coverage is unavailable on much of the trail. The emergency number in the United States is 911 , but coverage may be limited. A satellite communicator and a route map left with someone at home provide an important extra margin of safety. Make sure your travel insurance covers medical and evacuation expenses.

Equipment: protection and sleep first

At exposed altitudes, the tent needs to stand steady in the wind and be able to be pitched safely when the weather deteriorates. See HikingStore's tents and choose according to terrain, season and how exposed you expect to camp. A well-fitting backpack should also hold extra water and food without burdening your body unnecessarily.

Cold nights at altitude can occur even in the middle of summer. So choose a sleeping system that suits the lowest temperatures you can realistically face. A sleeping pad with a high R-value reduces ground chill; a pad that is too thin can cause poor sleep and poor recovery. Match it with a sufficiently warm sleeping bag . For an understanding of down, CUIN and fill weight, see our guide to bird down in sleeping bags . Use the summer mountain hiking packing list as a basis, but adapt it for desert water, altitude and longer distances between communities.

Sleeping bag in tent at a cold bivouac in the Wind River Range

What distinguishes CDT from Swedish mountain hiking?

Here you can't expect a uniform trail standard or the same kind of access to cabins and services. Permits are managed area by area. Border logistics, desert water, grizzly bears, and navigation on unmarked sections need to be included in the planning from the beginning. Accommodation often consists of camping, with community stops for recovery rather than daily service.

Before you start: check your current route, snow, fires, water, permits and opening hours. Confirm boundary rules and load offline maps. The CDT rewards independence, but that doesn’t mean you should solve everything by going ahead regardless of the conditions. The right equipment and a flexible plan are what work when the weather changes.

The next article in the series takes us to the national park trails of the Southwest – including the Grand Canyon and Zion – where desert heat, elevation changes, and local regulations shape the hike in a different way.

Sources and further reading