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There are eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States - one of the largest of which is the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. It follows the Continental Divide (or watershed) from the US border with Mexico at Chihuahua to Alberta in Canada.

There are plenty more national hikes to complete than just the Appalachian Trail. After completing an AT-Thru hike, consider completing the perhaps more challenging Continental Divide Trail or Pacific Crest Trail. Alternatively, if one would like to (more or less) follow the continental divide all the way through the Americas, the Pan-American Highway (the longest "motorable" road in the world) stretches from Alaska to Argentina.

Length And More Of the Continental Divide Trail

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail or Continental Divide Trail is abbreviated CDT. It crosses five American states - Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. The CDT does not entirely travel the actual Divide.

  • Length: 3,028 Miles or 4,873 Kilometers (Full Length)
  • Terminuses: Chihuahua, Mexico to Alberta, Canada
  • Abbreviation: CDT

While the total length of the trail is 3,028 miles, that includes a number of alternate routes - so the actual hiking distance is around 2,700 miles. As with other National Scenic Trails, the CDT is not yet fully complete (in 2021 it was around 70% complete). Many of the sections are challenging and not very developed.

  • CDT States: Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico
  • In Progress: The CDT Is Not Yet Fully Complete

While the CDT follows America's Continental Divide, at one place in Montana it crosses the Triple Divide Pass where water flows in three directions to the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans.

  • Triple Divide Pass: The Watershed To Three Oceans

The American trail ends at the Canadian border, but it is also possible to continue on with Canada's Great Divide Trail north of Jasper National Park in British Columbia. Although, if one would like to cross the border into Canada, then a passport is needed.

Related: These Are The Best Hikes Through Joshua Tree National Park

The Stunning National Beauty Of The Continental Divide Trail

The CDT crosses wildly different landscapes - from the deserts of New Mexico to the snow-capped peaks of the northern Rockies. This trail more than almost any other really winds its way through some of the United States' most breathtaking and diverse landscapes.

  • Landscapes: Sandy Deserts, Rocky Mountain Peaks, Wyoming Grasslands, Forests

One of the most stunning (and challenging) sections of the CDT is when it crosses the Rocky Mountain National Park. Here are some of the highest elevations where hikers are above the treeline with sweeping views of high peaks and fragile alpine tundra.

National Parks On The CDT:

  • Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Glacier National Park
  • Yellowstone National Park

The trail goes through the Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone, the San Juan Mountains, and the Glacier National Park.

Related: Is The Appalachian Trail Your Goal? Practice On These Shorter Multi-Day Hikes First

Hiking The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

As this trail follows the Continental Divide, there are parts that are very high in elevation and challenging. Remember that between altitudes of 10,500 feet (3,200 km) and 13,000 feet (3,962 km) the air is thin, and some hikers may experience difficulty.

Considerations When Planning A Hike:

  • Elevation: The Air Is Thin At High Altitude
  • Winter: Lasts Around 9 Months
  • Thunderstorms: There Is Lightning At Higher Altitudes

In places, there are the dangers of thunderstorms and lightning (that comes in afternoons) and the winters are long. The National Park Service suggests that hiking above the treeline should be accomplished early on in the day.

Adding to that, winter lasts from September to May in high altitudes - these Arctic conditions can make travel extremely dangerous or just plain impossible. It is best to plan a hike so that one is in New Mexico in months like April when there is snow blocking the Rockies to the north.

Hiking the CDT takes planning and normally requires around five months of hiking (most hikers take days off to rest and recuperate). Hikers need to replenish their food every few days with many hitchhiking into a local town to buy needed supplies.

  • Time Needed For CDT Thru-Hike: Average of Around 5 Months

Permits are also required in some sections of the trail - one example is that a wilderness permit is required in the Rocky Mountain National Park for any overnight trips.