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Continental Divide Trail

The Continental Divide Trail ( short CDT and its name stands for main watershed trail) is the longest and least-travelled of America's trio of long-distance trails.

It connects Mexico to Canada via a 3,100 mile / 4,898 km footpath following the Continental Divide across the United States and thereby passes through five states: New Mexico (820 miles / 1'320 km), Colorado (740 miles / 1'120 km) , Wyoming (500 miles / 805 km) , Idaho and Montana ( 1'030 miles / 1'658 km)

As the PCT, it is one of the US National Scenic Trails and was officially designated in 1987. 2022 marks the tenth anniversary of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition! The trail is composed of dedicated trails and smaller roads and by 2018 about 76% of the trail was completed. On the parts that are not yet fully completed, one has to make its one way through the terrain or hike on driving roads. 

Only about 200 hikers attempt the entire trail each year (= thru hikers). But 2022 stands for a high hiker season, where many more hikers are expected to try their luck!  It takes about 5 to 6 month to complete the CDT. Most of the thru hikers start in April in southwestern New Mexico and hike North Bound (NoBo), while only a few start their hike in a South Bound (SoBo) direction in Glacier National Park on the Canadian boarder in mid-June or early July. 

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