Legislation to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail was heard before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

GOLDEN, CO (December 1, 2022) —

Today, the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act (S. 4995) received its first hearing in the United State Senate before the Energy and Natural Resources committee. The legislation will help support agencies, partners, and local communities to coordinate the stewardship of lands where gaps still exist along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT), prioritizing completion by the trail’s 50th anniversary in 2028. Introduced by Senator Martin Heinrich (NM) and Senator Steve Daines (MT) in September of this year, the bill’s sponsors both delivered glowing comments in support of the bill. Participating as expert witnesses, Deputy Director of Policy & Programs Nada Wolff Culver, from the Bureau of Land Management, also publicly voiced the agency’s support for the bill for the first time. 

“The clear bipartisan support for this bill reflects exactly the excitement and urgency we see on the ground from communities, recreationists, volunteers, and other partners who want to see completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail become a reality,” says Teresa Martinez (she/her/ella), Executive Director of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC). “As CDTC enters into our second decade of stewardship, the coalition of champions, stewards, community members, and volunteers who want to see a fully connected CDT has continued to grow alongside the popularity of the trail and public lands in the Rocky Mountain West. As the broad support for this legislation demonstrates, the CDT continues to be a common ground that has the ability to unify and inspire a shared vision for the future on the Continental Divide. We could not be more grateful for champions like Senator Heinrich and Senator Daines who share our vision for a completed CDT, and we look forward to working with all our partners to ensure the CDT continues to be a place people of all backgrounds can explore, learn, and connect.” 

After more than four decades of dedicated stewardship from agencies, communities, partners, and volunteers, approximately 160 miles of the 3,100-mile long CDT remain incomplete in the trail states of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Priority gaps include an area surrounding Muddy Pass near Steamboat Springs, Colorado; a section connecting the CDT near Butte, Montana; and a large gap in the area of Pie Town, New Mexico. Many of these gaps are sections of the trail where recreationists are diverted onto roads and busy highways, which are not safe or enjoyable for trail travelers or motorists. 

Among prospective projects for land managers and partner agencies, this legislation will encourage prioritization of these gap sections, and it will ensure coordination and collaboration are emphasized between communities, private landowners, and local leaders, who are all crucial to the successful stewardship of the Continental Divide and the CDT. In a 2022 survey of businesses in CDT communities, one of the top priorities of business owners was the completion and connectivity of the trail. As a vital economic and cultural resource for rural Rocky Mountain communities, once completed, the trail will provide a 3,100-mile greenway corridor connecting five states, 20 National Forests, 25 Wilderness Areas, three National Parks, one National Monument and 20 CDT Gateway Communities. 

Included in the materials provided to the Senate committee on Energy and Natural Resources were more than 40 letters of support for the CDT Completion Act, including letters from:

Montana

• Anaconda Trail Society (Anaconda, Montana) 
• Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce (Lincoln, Montana) 
• East Ridge Foundation of Rotary Club Butte (Butte, Montana) 
• Pintler’s Portal Hostel (Anaconda, Montana)
• Downtown Helena Inc. (Helena, Montana) 
• Helena Tourism Business Improvement District (Helena, MT) 
• The City-County of Butte-SIlver Bow (Butte, Montana) 
• Jocelyn Dodge, CDT Gateway Committee (Butte, Montana) 
• Butte-Silver Bow Convention & Visitors Bureau & Butte-Silver Bow Tourism Business Improvement District (Butte, Montana) 

Idaho 

• Salmon Valley Stewardship (Salmon, Idaho) 
• The Village at North Fork (North Fork, Idaho) 

Wyoming

• Carboy Country Visitors County  (Carboy County, Wyoming)
• Sublette County Visitor Center (Pinedale, Wyoming) 

Colorado 

• Salida Chamber of Commerce (Salida, Colorado)
• Steamboat Springs Chamber of Commerce (Steamboat Springs, Colorado)
• Town of Grand Lake (Grand Lake, Colorado) 
• Lake City/Hinsdale County Chamber of Commerce (Lake City, Colorado) 
• Hinsdale County (Lake City, Colorado) 
• San Juan Solstice (Lake City, Colorado) 
• Lake County (Leadville, Colorado) 
• Simple Lodge & Hostel (Salida, Colorado) 
• South Fork Visitor Center (South Fork, Colorado)
• Community Presbyterian Church (Lake City, Colorado)
• Twin Lakes General Store (Twin Lakes, Colorado) 
• Wood’s High Mountain Distillery (Salida, Colorado) 
• Basecamp Co-Pack (Denver, Colorado)
• Mountainsmith (Golden, Colorado)
• Otherside Gear & Coffee Shop (Grand Lake, Colorado) 
• PACT Outdoors (Crested Butte, Colorado) 
• Carboy Wintery (Littleton, Colorado)

New Mexico 

• Shuttle Taos (Taos, New Mexico)
• Enchanted Circles Trails Association (Northern New Mexico) 
• Trail Runners Do It In The Dirt 

National 

• Continental Divide Trail Coalition
• Partnership for the National Trails System 
• Backcountry Horsemen of America 
• The Next 100 Coalition 
• Trust for Public Land 
• GreenLatinos
• Greening Youth Foundation 
• The Conservation Foundation 
• The Appalachian Trail Conservancy 
• American Hiking Society
  

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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.

Media Contact:

Katie Hearsum
Communications Coordinator
[email protected]
(513) 505-9553
Photos available upon request.