The Continental Divide Trail is a United States National Scenic Trail running 3,100 miles (5,000 km) between Mexico and Canada. It follows the Continental Divide along the Rocky Mountains and traverses five U.S. states - Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. In Montana it crosses Triple Divide Peak which separates the Hudson Bay, Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean drainages.

As of 2004, the trail, a combination of dedicated trails and small roads, is considered 70% complete. The uncompleted portions of the trail must be traveled by bushwhacking or roadwalking.

Only about two dozen people a year attempt to hike the entire trail, taking about six months to complete it.

The Continental Divide Trail along with the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail form the Triple Crown of long distance hiking.

This trail can be continued above the Canadian border to Kakwa lake North of Jasper National Park by the Great Divide Trail, which is so far described only in a few books, and carries no official Canadian status.

See also

• Colorado Trail - the two trails coincide for about 200 miles

External links

• CDT Association website
• CDT Society website
• Jonathan Ley's CDT Hike a hiker's website
• The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest web site describes the northernmost parts of the trail

Geography of Colorado | Geography of Idaho | Geography of Montana | Geography of New Mexico | Geography of Wyoming | National Trails of the United States | Hiking trails in North America

Continental Divide Trail