GOLDEN, CO (March 18, 2022) —
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) is excited to celebrate the 8th Continental Divide Trail Days festival in Silver City New Mexico, April 22–24, 2022. The event series honoring the Continental Divide landscape and communities will include a speaker series; Friday evening outdoor fiesta; community pancake breakfast; the inaugural joint festival with Gila Earth Day in Gough Park with games, vendors, a bounce house and more; and a series of community hikes. All events are family-friendly, free, and open to the public.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be returning in-person to the CDT Gateway Community of Silver City for Trail Days this year,” says Teresa Martinez (she/her/ella), Executive Director of CDTC. “Silver City has always been a cherished place along the trail, and we’re eager to connect with the community at the many Trail Days events taking place during our celebration. From our expert panel discussions on ecology and recreation, to our Friday night fiesta, to our fun-filled festival in Gough Park, we know there’ll be something for everyone.”
This year will be the first year that Continental Divide Trail Days collaborates with Gila Earth Day on a joint festival in Gough Park, which will feature vendors, games, prizes, a K-12 found object art contest, community trash pickup, and more.
“Partnering with Gila Earth Day is a great new opportunity to unite the community in conservation and stewardship,” says Andrea Kurth (she/her/hers), Gateway Community Program Manager at CDTC. “We’re looking forward to joining together to celebrate the Gila National Forest and other incredible local landscapes and their importance as ecosystems, cultural centers, and recreational resources in the Continental Divide landscape.”
Prior to the official event series, CDTC staff will be leading a panel discussion with the Western Institute for Lifelong Learning and the Silver City Museum. Corey Torivio (he/his), CDTC New Mexico Regional Representative, and Dan Carter (he/his), CDTC Trail and Lands Conservation Manager, will present “Silver City: Gateway to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.” The event will be from 11 a.m.-noon at WNMU Global Resource Center/ABC Rm., 12th and Kentucky St., Silver City. All Lunch and Learn sessions are free and open to the public.
Continental Divide Trail Days Schedule
Speaker Series | Friday, April 22 | 9 am – 4 pm at the Old Post Office Building
The Continental Divide Trail Days festival will kick off with the Talks of the Trail Speaker series, with a thruhiking panel, discussion of fire ecology, and many more enriching conversations about the cultural, historic, and environmental resources of the Continental Divide Trail.
Evening Celebration | Friday, April 22 | 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm at the Main Street Plaza
The celebration will continue Friday evening with music, drinks, and dancing in Main Street Plaza. Those who choose to donate to support CDTC’s work to complete, promote, and protect the trail will be entered to win awesome gear and prizes to help their own CDT adventure.
Free Camping in Gough Park | Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23
Thru-hikers may set up tents in the evening and sleep in Gough Park. Tents must be removed from the park by 7 am in order to prevent damage to the lawn.
Community Pancake Breakfast | Saturday, April 23 | 9 – 10 am at Gough Park
CDTC will be partnering with the Kiwanis club for a free pancake breakfast to kick off the day.
Gila Earth Day x Continental Divide Trail Days Festival | Saturday, April 23 | 10 am – 2 pm
CDTC will be joining with partners for games and prizes, vendors, music, gear, food, a bouncy house, and much more. Gila Earth Day will also have a community trash cleanup, K-12 found object art contest, and volunteer planting event, and more. More can be found on their website,
Community Hikes | Sunday, April 24 | 8 am, pre-hike meetup at the Silver City Visitor Center
Join community members to experience the CDT and Silver City Trails for yourself! A variety of hikes for different skill levels and durations will be available.
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About the Continental Divide Trail
The CDT is one of the world’s premiere long-distance trails, stretching 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada along the Continental Divide. Designated by Congress in 1978, the CDT is the highest, most challenging and most remote of the 11 National Scenic Trails. It provides recreational opportunities ranging from hiking to horseback riding to hunting for thousands of visitors each year. While 95% of the CDT is located on public land, approximately 150 miles are still in need of protection.
About the Continental Divide Trail Coalition
The CDTC was founded in 2012 by volunteers and recreationists hoping to provide a unified voice for the Trail. Working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Forest Service and other federal land management agencies, the CDTC is a non-profit partner supporting stewardship of the CDT. The mission of the CDTC is to complete, promote and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, a world-class national resource. For more information, please visit continentaldividetrail.org.
