Continental Divide Trail Coalition
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition was founded in 2012. Picking up on the great work that had been accomplished by the recently dissolved Continental Divide Trail Association, the CDTC filled the gap of providing a national coordination of trail management for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT). Plans for the CDT go back to 1962 when David Maceyka and others from the Rocky Mountain Trails Association first walked and marked the proposed CDT in Colorado. By 1977 the Department of the Interior completed a study of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. This led to the amendment of the National Trails System Act in 1978 which added the CDT as well as four other trails to the National Trails System.
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition serves as the lead national partner working with land agency partners in the coordination of trail management, protection, and volunteer stewardship. By leveraging a broad community of trail partners, local communities, enthusiasts, and supporters, the CDTC continues to build built a strong coalition for the stewardship of the CDT. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition works to engender stewardship of the trail, to build a strong and diverse trail community, and to provide trail information, outreach, and education.
The mission of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition is to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The CDTC will do this by building a strong and diverse trail community, providing up-to-date information to the public, and encouraging conservation and stewardship of the trail, its corridor, and surrounding landscapes.
The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is 3,100 miles long, and it never strays more than fifty miles from the Continental Divide. The trail spans from New Mexico, through Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. This trail is the highest of the USA's national trails. At its lowest point, the elevation is 4,200 feet at Waterton Lake in Montana, and at its highest point, the elevation is 14,270 feet at Grays Peak in Colorado.
Approximately 300-400 people attempt to thru hike the trail each yeah, while tens of thousands of individuals day and section hike the CDT. The average thru hike takes six months to complete, which averages out to seventeen miles per day! In hiking the trail, you will experience mountains, lakes, forests, and deserts.
Continental Divide Trail Coalition's Work
Stewardship
Photo by Dan Stedman of the Weminuche Wilderness
CDTC is dedicated to preserving the nationally significant cultural, historic, and natural features of the CDT the trail for future generations. The trail is designed primarily for hikers and equestrians, though other non-motorized uses may be allowed in some areas. The CDTC works to bring all stakeholders together to form a model of shared stewardship for the trail, and CDTC directly supports land protection and trail completion efforts, trail maintenance, community engagement, information and resource development, and more. To date, the trail is still only 95% complete. CDTC is working to close the five major gaps along the trail corridor, each of which have unique circumstances including the need for extensive coordination and agreement, land acquisition, trail routing, and trail construction. Individual donors are paramount to helping CDTC accomplish these goals and to assure the movement to conserve the Continental Divide Trail remains grassroots based.
CDTC was formed through a grassroots movement, and investment in growing the community of advocates and stewards has always been paramount to the organization's work. CDTC strives to build a diverse and strong trail community committed to stewarding the trail, and to-date has dozens of partners along the trail who work with CDTC on trail management, maintenance, and outreach. CDTC also launched a Gateway Community program in 2014 which now includes 18 designated communities along the trail who partner with CDTC on place-based conservation initiatives and work to stimulate the local outdoor recreation economy by leveraging their proximity to the world-renowned Continental Divide Trail.
Building a Strong Trail Community
Trail Information, Outreach, and Education
Photo by Nathan Mathews of the Carson National Forest
CDTC serves as the definitive source of all trail-related information and provides rapid response to the public regarding situations that impact the trail. CDTC provides resources to the public for free, including downloadable and interactive maps, planning guides and more. CDTC is recognized by the United State Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management as the lead national partner working to manage and maintain the CDT, and providing these resources is seen as beneficial for the agencies. Additionally, to ensure the organization grows its grassroots base of support through the development of materials, CDTC provides resources for all types of user groups and experience levels, access to information that help ensure ALL people feel welcome and safe visiting the CDT, and acknowledgement of the Ancestral lands that the trail traverses to build a more cohesive perspective of and connection to the landscape.
Join us in supporting CDTC!
75% of this month's donations will go towards our partner, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition.
This month and every month, Wild Boyz Photography will be partnering with one nonprofit. 75% of any donations that we receive during the month will go to the nonprofit. Help the Continental Divide Trail Coalition continue their mission to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.