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 official trail is called the "Red Line." Alternates are called by other colors such as "Blue Line" or "Orange Line." 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,
National Forests, and land managed by the
Bureau of Land Management. 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.
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.
New Mexico , 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. The official route of the CDT in
New Mexico is long, and the highest elevation in New Mexico is at the summit of
Mount Taylor. Much of the CDT route in New Mexico traverses desert and dry mountains. Finding drinking water is a challenge for hikers. 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'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. As of October 7, 2025, the area near the Crazy Cook Monument has been declared a "National Defense Area" under the control of the U.S. Army. Crazy Crook is not accessible to hikers without a permit from the Army. A shuttle for hikers is permitted to approach to within 1.1 miles (2 km) of the Crazy Cook terminus. Only U.S. citizens will be granted permits to travel to the Crazy Cook terminus. In northernmost New Mexico, the CDT crosses into
Colorado near
Cumbres Pass at an elevation of . The trail is unfinished and many miles of the hike require road walking. Notable points on the CDT in New Mexico from south to north include: • Crazy Cook Monument. The CDT begins here at the border with Mexico at an elevation of and is accessed only by a dirt road. •
Animas and
Playas Valleys. 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. The CDT traverses many of the highest and wildest mountain ranges of Colorado, frequently at elevations near or above
timberline which is about in southern Colorado and in northern Colorado. In most areas the CDT is well marked. It is concurrent with the
Colorado Trail for approximately .
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 Notable points on the CDT in Colorado from south to north include: •
Elk River. The lowest elevation of the CDT in Colorado is near the border with Wyoming •
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 traversed the pass on August 12, 1805 Northbounders leaving
Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming enter the
Centennial Mountains of Idaho. For the next 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 along the North Fork of Sheep Creek in Idaho and the highest elevation is at the summit of Elk Mountain. • Elk Mountain. The CDT achieves an elevation of , the most northerly place on the trail to reach an elevation of more than . • North Fork of Sheep Creek. The CDT drops from the Continental Divide to the lowest point on the Idaho/Montana trail, . •
Chief Joseph Pass.
Chief Joseph and the
Nez Percé people, pursued by the U.S. Cavalry, crossed from Idaho into Montana near this pass in 1877 during their flight toward Canada.
Montana Leaving the Idaho/Montana border, the
Montana portion of the CDT is 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 at
Upper Waterton Lake which straddles the U.S./Canada border. The highest elevation is in the
Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. and as high as in the southern part of Montana. 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. The CDT trail goes east from the Idaho border, circles around the city of
Butte, then turns north toward
Glacier National Park via the
Lewis and Clark National Forest and through three
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 impassable. •
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. 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==