Ryan Silk’s GDT Map Atlas – Ryan has developed a set of topographic maps for the entire Great Divide Trail, and he is offering them for free (thanks Ryan! The Continental Divide Trail leads from the Mexican border to the Canadian Border. New Mexico has the majority of the cow troughs and gross sources. We partner with Gateway Communities to give visitors a great experience and to continue our work completing, promoting, and protecting the Continental Divide Trail. Overall mileage can vary from 2600 up to 3100 miles. Blown down trees are often an issue—as is sun exposure. Stay informead. It is also considered the "King of Trails," more difficult than its sister long distance trails, the Appalachian and Pacific Crest. Length:2700 - 3150 miles (depending on route) Time to hike:5-6 months Start and end points: 1. It makes a great planning tool or as reference to track progress on the 3,100 plus mile length. An interactive map of the CDT complete with a state-by-state breakdown and a list of alternate routes (length, highest elevation and highlights). Don’t worry and don’t plan too much though. Waterton lake has you going into Canada but is often closed for Northbounders due to fires. Each page displays topographic information, an elevation chart, water sources, and waypoint data. The maps are. I started with a 20-degree quilt but eventually switched to a. Microspikes: Used for traction in the snow and is a good idea when icy conditions are probable. He hikes all over the world and has way too many action figures for a man of his age. To Print PDF: Step 1) Expand to full screen view (click box in top right hand corner of map). Southbounders may deal with snow in Glacier National Park at the start and therefore start around June. This is an important factor to consider when planning a trip around work or other commitments.Â. Nowadays, many hikers I use Guthook's app or BackCountry Navigator on their GPS smartphones. The Indian Peaks Wilderness and Rocky Mountain National Park require overnight camping permits if you sleep in those areas. Since 2019 it’s necessary to obtain a Recreational Access Permit to hike through New Mexico. Hikers on the CDT will deal with an array of different weather scenarios, from harsh sun exposure to freezing cold temperatures. One of the coolest things about the Continental Divide Trail is the variety of ecosystems and scenery you pass through. Each page displays topographic information, an elevation chart, water sources, and waypoint data. The Continental Divide separates the Atlantic and Pacific watersheds of North America. Please read all product information included with map downloads and refer to multiple sources, including local land managers, when preparing to travel on the CDT. Rarely will you be bored or unimpressed by your surroundings. It protected me from the bugs, rain, snow, and cold temperatures.Â, The only places it was necessary to reserve camping were in Glacier National Park and Yellowstone, as previously discussed. These are not 40 year old scanned USGS topographic maps. Continental Divide Trail Pocket Maps - Montana/Idaho by K Scott Parks (2014-12-09) Golden, CO 80401. Address: 710 10th Street, Suite 200 Golden, CO 80401. It's almost impossible to tell when you will arrive and so walk-up permits are your best option. Address: 710 10th Street, Suite 200 CDTC is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The CDT, alongside the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail make up the triple crown of hiking. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until October. 95. Address: The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail goes through BLM managed lands in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming. In Idaho, hikers are often following a fence line and hiking across rolling hills with views far off to the horizon.Â. This map set bundle covers all Montana-Idaho sections of the CDT - spanning the course of the trail between the Wyoming/Idaho Border in Yellowstone National Park and the US/Canada Border in … The trail passes through five states - New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana - and ends at the Canadian border in Glacier National Park. Signed out × Explore Maps Map Directory Contributors Add Map! The CDT Map Set is a free resource for the public thanks to generous donations and support from the CDT community. There IS water available and there is an awesome group of volunteers that cache water in the driest of spots. Northern Terminus - Both of these are official start and end points. We did find it quite difficult to organize permits for Glacier National Park and Yellowstone, but we were traveling in quite a large group. CDT Planning Guide – Digital Version; CDT Map Set; ... Other Map Resources: Bear Creek Survey Maps. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition CDT Map Set represents the entirety of the official Continental Divide National Scenic Trail route at a scale of 1 inch = 1/2 mile. You’ll likely spot some cowboys on the horizon. The most notable being the Great Divide Basin in Wyoming and New Mexico. Length: 28.2 miles Trail Begins: Forest Road 1063 Trail Ends: Along Continental Divide Area Map: Interagency Visitor Map: SW Montana USGS Map1: Elk Creek USGS Map2: Lost Trail Pass USGS Map3: Schultz Saddle Township 1S; Range 18W; Section 30 Northbounders will usually start towards the end of April so as to not arrive too early in the San Juan mountains and deal with heavy snow. You need to be prepared for all kinds of weather on the Continental divide trail. Continental Divide Trail Google Map. Similar to the Pacific Crest Trail, the CDT towns are fairly far apart. Additionally, there are a few areas that require permits for overnight camping such as Glacier National Park and Yellowstone. View Location View Map. From the high desert of New Mexico to the snow covered mountains of Montana and everywhere in between, CDT Gateway Communities span the length of the trail. NOTABLE AREAS / HIGHLIGHTS:Lemhi pass - The highest point that the Lewis and Clark expedition went through. Living in Montana allows me regular access to the beautiful hiking, boating and other attractions this great state offers and this week end I had the opportunity to hike 15 miles of the Continental Divide Trail outside of Helena. It was designated for its scenic significance. (Hunter D’Antuono/Flathead Beacon via AP) The two began … Aim for a base weight around the 15 lbs mark. About 1,900 miles (3,211 km) of the corridor contains existing trails or primitive routes. Step 2) Zoom in to your desired map section view. Montana, Idaho and Wyoming meet where the CD leaves Yellowstone Park, but the maps don't begin until you're about 60 miles into Montana. The Continental Divide Trail, commonly known by backpackers as the CDT, is a popular 3,100 mile thru-hike along the Continental Divide. If you're looking for a more solitary wilderness experience then southbound would be your best bet. But, we often waited a while and the car rides from the trailhead into the town were often 20+ minutes long. Advanced map reading and navigation skills are NOT necessary for the CDT. I carried a small compass—as did many of our group—but I don't think it came out of my backpack a single time. On my thru-hike of the CDT in 2017, our group used the Guthook App and it worked flawlessly. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (440) and (337) offers outstanding views as it follows the Continental Divide through the Helena National Forest.Area maps available are the Helena National Forest Visitor Map and USGS Map1: Elliston, Township 9N; Range 6W; Section 2. Edit this map Continental Divide Scenic Trail Map near Montana, US. Nobody used GPS. For the last two summers, MWA has partnered with CDTC to host a stewardship project on the trail. Grays Peak - The highest point on the CDT at 14,278 ft. Getting to the top of this peak gives a great sense of achievement and once you’ve caught you breathe, you can drink in the epic views. And, luckily, the CDT hits some cool spots that most tourists don’t go to. Corporate Partners. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) is a national organization focused on stewardship of the CDT, as well as raising awareness and building community for the trail. There are a lot of rolling hills and the climbs aren’t … It’s the home of one the only hiker hostels on the trail, the quirky Toaster House, as well as the Pie Town Cafe. Reflective umbrella: I'd always thought umbrellas for hiking are unnecessary but I really enjoyed having a. The Creede Cut Off passes through lower elevations with some snow still possible. Image-based PDFs without georeferencing. Lastly, you'll have to take normal precautions against rattlesnakes and other wildlife. Phone: (303)996-2759. He completed the AT in 2015 and the CDT in 2017.About Greenbelly: After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Chris Cage created Greenbelly to provide fast, filling and balanced meals to backpackers. A lot of the CDT is road walking or hiking on other trails that use a different blazing system. But, there’s no other option and you get used to it. Rain, snow and frequent summer thunderstorms are all possible. If you're unsure, take the official route but these alternates are well worthwhile. Desert hiking conjures thoughts of a lifeless hot, barren place and this is only partly true. Sign In / Up. Montana hiking map of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. It follows the Continental Divide of the Americas along the Rocky Mountains and traverses five U.S. states — Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Soak in hot springs and try not to smile. With the amount of distance you will be covering, its important to try and keep your base weight low. So, there is not a major advantage in going northbound or southbound.Â, The major difference is when people start. Prepare to be wowed by the Winds and try to avoid the crowds in Yellowstone. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition CDT Map Set represents the entirety of the official Continental Divide National Scenic Trail route at a scale of 1 inch = 1/2 mile. All information is subject to change. By the end of the trip, I was fed up with all the food in my boxes.Â, There are some trail angels on the CDT and we did get trail magic once or twice alongside cached water, especially down in New Mexico.Â. Alternate routes play a huge part in the CDT. Eventually, the trail starts heading northeast into Montana proper through the Anaconda Mountain Range. From Cumbres Pass/Chama to the Wyoming Border in the Mt Zirkel Wilderness. In Montana it crosses Triple Divide Pass (near Triple Divide Peak which separates the Arctic … The red rocks and colors of the sand and surroundings (especially during twilight) are beautiful. More information here. COVID-19 Status & Maps Daily status of the COVID-19 pandemic and its relationship to the trails. Paperback $34.95 $ 34. From the Idaho Border in West Yellowstone to the Anaconda Mountain Range. We do not do sponsored or paid posts. Chris also wrote How to Hike the Appalachian Trail. For offline smartphone or tablet use with the Avenza Maps app. The shuttle costs 120 dollars per person. Step 3) Click on the three white vertical dots and then "Print Map" from that drop down menu. Rawlins Road walk (to avoid the Great Basin) - Plenty of Hikers take the Road walk instead of hiking through the Basin, this is because there is more water available on the road. Great Divide Basin - Love it or hate, most hikers won’t forget The Basin. I never had any real problems but some of the towns on the Continental Divide Trail are poor rural towns. In Glacier, the divide follows the crest of the Lewis Range from Marias Pass to Flattop Mountain and then swings west to the crest of the Livingston Range, which it follows into Canada. One slight advantage of Heading Northbound is that you will be starting in the relatively easy, flat, rolling terrain of New Mexico. Of course, if you are looking for a social hike, the CDT isn't really the trail.  But, heading Northbound, you are much more likely to run into people. Get yourself a slice! One alternate if you want to avoid paying for the shuttle or you want a little less hassle is to hike from the town of Columbus. The water sources are notorious in NM. Get epic tips, guides and how-to's in your inbox every two weeks. Avoid the crowded spots by passing through very early or once everyone’s gone home. If you are really short on time, this is an option. Northbound hikers head off in April and southbounders start in June. The Continental Divide Trail is approximately 800 miles in length in Montana and Idaho. The nearest major city is Missoula Montana with regular buses running to East Glacier and Browning. Southern terminus: Crazy Cook Monument 2. Links to download via the Avenza Map store. These sectional breakdowns follow the point of view of a northbound hiker as most tackle the trail from this direction. We did it and I highly recommend it. I carried a single wall, trekking pole tent with a built-in bathtub floor and highly recommend that. We had to be flexible with our schedule and hike fewer—or more—miles than we wanted based on the available campsites. click for Fullsize. There are a few different alternates that can be taken on the trail although there is a generally accepted official route. The shuttle is provided for a fee for northbounders between March 1 and May 15, and on-demand for southbounders finishing in the fall. Geothermal features scattered throughout and waterfalls and bison in certain areas. The CDT is by far the most rugged of the three, being only 70% fully completed with a lot of portions of road walking and off-trail travel.Â. Trail Information, Outreach and Education. The scale of 1:38,500 is odd. Packing myself boxes and having a friend send them to me on the trail had positives and negatives. Because of the incomplete nature of the Continental Divide Trail, the route is somewhat open to interpretation. NORTHERN TERMINUS: The Waterton Lake terminus or Chief Mountain terminus can be reached from East Glacier Montana on the US side via regular shuttle buses. ... Continental Divide Trail Coalition. Affiliate disclosure: We aim to provide honest information to our readers. Hitchhiking is also a great, free option. Chief Mountain is a little bit more accessible. Prices for resupply and motels varied from state to state. Map ... Continental Divide Trail Pocket Maps - Montana/Idaho. The three nearest major cities are El Paso, TX, Phoenix, AZ, and Albuquerque, NM. Google Drive preview function doesn’t work due to the large file size of the maps (282MB) so you have to download the entire file. But, don’t let that stop you.Â. El Paso is the closest reachable by a 3 and 1/2 hour bus ride. Other useful map options for the Great Divide Trail:. Many areas use the official CDT symbol blazes but you can’t rely on them.Â. The CDT is by far the … Printed Maps & App Stay found. But do you really want to skip that much mileage? Idaho/Montana; Trip Planning Resources. I know it's 1.5 inches to the mile, but very few maps use this scale. This area is also very beautiful and is a great spot to take a break, eat a meal in the restaurant, check Wi-Fi and all that stuff before getting back on trial. This beautiful map shows the entire length of the trail from Mexico to Canada through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. Access Points from Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest: *Pipestone Pass: From Butte travel south on Continental Drive to the intersection with MT Highway 2. As mentioned above you’ll deal with blazing sunshine, snow, below-freezing temperatures, rain, summer thunderstorms, and bugs. The gear used on most long-distance hikes is about the same but here are a few things that are specific to the CDT. The entire Continental Divide National Scenic Trail corridor is approximately 3,100 miles (4,988 kilometers) long, extending from the Canadian border in Montana to the border of Mexico in New Mexico. They must also reach the end of the trail up in Glacier National Park before winter storms set in.Â. Ghost Ranch - Most people hike to Ghost Ranch to pick up a re-supply. With proper planning and paying attention to comments on Guthook and up to date water reports, you’ll be fine. These two alternates will add in difficult mileage but reward you with epic views. They cost 35 USD. Many local people in towns haven't even heard of the CDT. Times have changed. Follow good practices in the backcountry and smaller critters shouldn’t be an issue. That was plenty. The following video shows you exactly what I carried on the CDT in 2017: On the CDT it's absolutely necessary to carry a tent or tarp system with you as there are no shelters on the route. Collegiate Route - see description and map here. Whether headed Northbound or southbound, snow is the major deciding factor in planning your departure time.Â. Rarely do you walk right through them as you do on the AT. These permits can be organized well in advance but that is very impractical on a thru-hike. Starting off on easier terrain at the beginning of a thru-hike is always nice to get in shape before tackling more strenuous mountain hiking. It's reassuring to have. It follows the Continental Divide along the Rocky Mountains and crosses five states (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico). Bike the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, an off-pavement route that crisscrosses the Continental Divide for 2,768 miles from Banff, Alberta to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. Bear hangs/lockers/canisters are only a requirement in the national parks along the trail. ).The map set is 87 pages at 1:50,000 scale. From the Anaconda Mountain Range to Waterton Lake / Chief mountain and the border of Canada. Rumors suggest there is little water on the official route but this is not necessarily the case. In exchange for referring sales, we may receive a small commission through affiliate links. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is a registered National Scenic Trail that runs from Canada to Mexico through the state… The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (9) is comprised of many trails going through different National Forests. Jonathan Ley 's Maps and Yogi 's handbook was very helpful in planning out resupply options and also cheap for... Relatively easy, flat, rolling terrain of New Mexico face are somewhat similar, but very few and between! 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