Peaks & views · Colorado
Knife Edge / San Juan high route zone
MI ≈790 · ≈10,674 ft
Dramatic exposed San Juan scenery
3,100-mile national scenic trail along the Continental Divide from the New Mexico-Mexico border to the Montana-Canada border, crossing five states and dozens of separately permitted park and forest units.
“3,100 miles along the spine of the Rockies from a New Mexico Army installation to a Canadian border crossing that needs a passport, five states and no single permit.”
Plan your Continental Divide Trail trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Walk-up permit
How to get CDT
CDT is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we alert on.
CDT permit season
- route distance, point to point
- 3100mi
The passes of the CDT
3100 miles from Crazy Cook Monument (Southern Terminus) to Waterton Lake / Goat Haunt (Northern Terminus), over 15 passes.
Mile 0 at Crazy Cook Monument (Southern Terminus)
Pass
Cumbres Pass
- MILE
- ≈827.5
- ELEVATION
- ≈10,025 ft
From Vaquero Tank · mi ≈742.4+1,867 ftover 85.1 mi
MILE ≈827.5 OF 3100
CDT key landmarks
Also on the route
CDT elevation
MILES 0 TO 3100 · 4,209 TO 14,271 FTMap of the Continental Divide Trail, Crazy Cook Monument (Southern Terminus) to Waterton Lake / Goat Haunt (Northern Terminus)
21 of 21 places in this section
This device cannot draw the interactive map.
Terrain USGS 3DEP · Water USGS NHD · Trail © OpenStreetMap contributors
How to get a CDT permit
As of September 2026, CDT in Continental Divide Trail, Colorado requires a permit issued via walk-up. CDT rates 6/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. The CDT route covers 3100 miles, rated expert.
- Type
- Thru-Hike
- Location
- Rocky Mountains, CO
How this permit is issued
Get this permit in person at the trailhead or ranger station, or by phone.
Official permit page →Step 1: Check the agency page for the process
This permit is not sold online. Confirm where and when it is issued (and any fee) at continentaldividetrail.org before your trip.
Step 2: Arrive early
Walk-up permits are issued first-come, first-served. Where the agency sets a daily quota, popular trailheads can run out on weekends and holidays.
Step 3: Have backup plans
Popular trailheads fill fast. Know alternate routes or dates.
Learn more:
More on CDT: Live availability activityContinental Divide Trail permit itinerary
How much a CDT permit costs
CDT permit fee: Varies by unit; no single trail-wide fee. Glacier NP wilderness permit and Blackfeet Nation permit both carry separate costs (see permitsAlongTrail).
The CDT hike
- Distance
- 3100 miles
- Route Type
- Point to Point
- Duration
- 5-7 months
- Difficulty
- Expert
3,100 miles along the spine of the Rockies from a New Mexico Army installation to a Canadian border crossing that needs a passport, five states and no single permit.
About this permit
The Continental Divide Trail runs 3,100 miles from the Mexican border in New Mexico to the Canadian border in Montana, following the Rocky Mountains' spine across New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. There is no single permit for the trail. Hikers assemble a chain of separate permits and rules from Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Blackfeet Nation, national forests and BLM districts. Since 2025 the trail's own southern terminus sits inside an active U.S. Army installation, and crossing it requires federal clearance.
The route
From Crazy Cook Monument on the New Mexico border the trail runs north through the Gila Wilderness, the San Juan Mountains and Grays and Torreys Peak in Colorado, the Great Divide Basin and Wind River Range in Wyoming, Yellowstone, and the Anaconda-Pintler and Bob Marshall wildernesses in Montana, finishing through Glacier National Park's wilderness zone to Waterton Lake or the seasonal Chief Mountain border crossing.
Why it matters
You are assembling a chain of separate permits from Glacier, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Blackfeet Nation, national forests and BLM districts, not applying for one CDT permit, and since 2025 the southern terminus itself needs federal clearance to cross.
How hard the CDT hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required5/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity3/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5
Best for: Experienced hikers with excellent fitness and relevant technical skills.
Recommended experience: Should have completed 10+ mile day hikes with significant elevation gain.
When to hike CDT
Best time to visit
Most northbound hikers start in New Mexico in April or May and finish in Montana by September; a typical trip runs 5-7 months.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
🌫️
44°
34°
Wed
🌧️
42°
34°
40%
Thu
☁️
52°
30°
Fri
☁️
58°
34°
Sat
☁️
58°
37°
Sun
☀️
59°
35°
Mon
🌧️
58°
37°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
CDT rules, gear and safety
Hazards & considerations
- Grizzly country from Yellowstone north through Glacier
- Water scarcity across the Great Divide Basin in Wyoming
- Afternoon lightning above treeline in the San Juans and Wind River Range
- Unmarked and unofficial route sections requiring real navigation skill
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for CDT.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for CDT · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
CDT FAQ
Do I need one CDT permit to thru-hike the Continental Divide Trail?
No. There is no single Continental Divide Trail permit. You need a Glacier National Park wilderness permit, a Blackfeet Nation Conservation/Recreation Use Permit, and separate permits inside Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Parks if your route enters their backcountry.
Can I still reach the CDT's southern terminus at Crazy Cook Monument?
Only with federal clearance. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition states the monument now sits inside a New Mexico National Defense Area run by the U.S. Army, and hikers must submit ID and, if not a U.S. citizen, accept a government escort.
Do I need a passport to finish the CDT at the Canadian border?
Yes. Valid travel and identification documents are required entering the U.S. or Canada, and hikers crossing at Waterton must check in through the CBP ROAM app before proceeding.
Is the Chief Mountain border crossing open year-round for CDT hikers?
No. It is a seasonal port of entry, roughly mid-May through September, which is why some late-season hikers prefer it to the Waterton route for its lower elevation.
Does the Glacier National Park wilderness permit cover the whole CDT through the park?
It covers the roughly 115-mile stretch inside Glacier, CDT miles 2923.5 to 3038, for overnight camping only.
How long does a Continental Divide Trail thru-hike take?
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition states it can take 5 to 7 months to complete the entire 3,100-mile trail.
CDT trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
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Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a CDT permit
Where to stay near CDT
- Tigiwon Community HouseWhite River National Forest
- Yeoman CampgroundWhite River National Forest
- Camp Hale Memorial campgroundWhite River National Forest
- All Colorado campgrounds
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
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