• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Colorado Brands
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Mine Tours
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Public Parks
      • Scenic Drives
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos with Lodging
    • Dude Ranches
    • Hot Spring with Lodging
    • Wineries with Lodging
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Hiking Colorado
Hiker on the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado. Photo: BLM

Continental Divide Scenic Trail – Rockies

FacebookTwitter

The Continental Divide is the spine of the Western Hemisphere, from Alaska’s Brooks Range to the Andes in South America. It creates a natural division for rivers. The national trail runs approx. 3,100 miles from the Canadian border south to the Mexican border.

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail might well be considered as the most challenging and rigorous of the continent’s triple crown of long trails – the other two being the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. Designated in 1978, it’s known to have the longest trail distance.

Hiking the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado

Continental Divide Trail
Overlook on the CDT.

Its entire length traverses the Great Divide through five states, namely Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. It will require some four to five months of trekking to finish the entire trail. Trekkers can expect a variety of ecosystems, an abundance of wildlife and thousands of natural, historical and cultural treasures.

Its total extent passes through 25 National Forests, 21 Wilderness Areas, 3 National Parks, 1 National Monument, 8 Bureau of Land Management Resource Areas. The Colorado section of the trail holds the highest peak, which is the Grays Peak, having an elevation of over 14000 feet. Glacier National Park, with an elevation of 4,200 feet, is its lowest and is situated in Montana.

About 800 miles of its length is situated in Colorado. It interestingly coincides with The Colorado Trail for about 200 miles, and passes through many of the highest mountains in Colorado, such as the Sawatch Mountain Range, Mount Elbert, Mount Massive and the San Juan Mountain.

Other interesting places along the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado include:

  • Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
  • Rabbit Ears Pass
  • Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Wolf Creek Pass
  • North, Middle and South Park

Grand Lake is a great spot for getting replenishments for the through-the-state Continental Divide Trail hikers.

Continental Divide Trail at Berthoud Pass. Photo: Tony Webster

Day hikes on Continental Divide Trail

The Continental Divide Trail in Colorado also has plenty of options for doing day or just short hikes:

Berthoud Pass to Stanley Mountain (1,594 feet vertical) – 6.9 miles round trip, with trailhead access from I-70 to US 40 by Berthoud Pass.

Herman Gulch (1,919 feet vertical) – 7.5 miles round trip, with trailhead access from I-70

Parkview Mountain (2,913 feet vertical) – 10 miles round trip, with trailhead access from Willow Creek Pass on CO-125

Mount Edwards (2,950 feet vertical) – 7 miles round trip, with trailhead access from Argentine Pass

Continental Divide Trail
Sunset and horses on the Continental Divide Trail.

Camping on Continental Divide Trail

Whether trekking the trail for a few hours or a few days, some considerations must always be kept in mind. Arctic weather conditions typically lasts for nine months (September to May), which may make the adventure on the continental divide dangerous.

Wilderness permits are required for doing an overnight camping in the Glacier National Park (Montana), the Yellowstone National Park (parts of Idaho, Wyoming and Montana), the Blackfeet Reservation (Montana), the Indian Peaks Wilderness (Colorado) and the Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado). Self-contained stoves (for cooking) and metal grates (for camp fires) are also required. Pets, especially dogs, are not allowed in most wilderness areas.

Fishing on Continental Divide Trail

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail River
Continental Divide Trail river crossing.

Aside from camping, fishing (license required) is another popular activity, especially in the Rocky Mountain National Park. To protect wildlife, hunting is strictly prohibited in these wilderness areas.

Continental Divide Trail
El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico on CDT.

Details

Address: New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana

Passes through: Grand Lake

Map: Continental Divide Trail (jpg)

Length: 3,100 miles, 800 miles in CO

Highest Point – 14,278 feet (Grays Peak in CO)

Trail Difficulty – Rigorous

Season: late June – early October

Website: continentaldividetrail.org

Latest in Continental Divide Trail

Continental Divide Loveland Colorado

The Continental Divide through Colorado

Everyone has heard of the Continental Divide that runs north and south throughout North America. But…

The Continental Divide through ColoradoRead More

Colorado Trail Hiking in La Garita Mountains

15 Best Hiking Trails in Colorado

The Centennial State is home to some of the best hiking trails in the world, from…

15 Best Hiking Trails in ColoradoRead More

Continental Divide Trail Wolf Creek Pass

9 Terrific Hiking Trails around Creede

Surrounded by rugged, mountainous wilderness, Creede is a near perfect home base for hiking excursions of…

9 Terrific Hiking Trails around CreedeRead More

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Recent Posts

  • Upcoming Spring Festivals in Colorado
  • 8 Great Springtime Colorado Festivals
  • 9 Colorado Ski & Snowboard Companies
  • Brief Timeline of Colorado’s Ski and Snowboard History
  • Fly Directly to these Colorado Ski Resorts with Airports Nearby

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 · Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise