Resupply by Mail Recommendations

It’s probably not surprising, but resupplying for thru-hikers along the CDT can be much different from resupplying on the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trails. Although the towns along the CDT are farther apart and tend to be farther from the trail, resupply is not difficult. Many local businesses may already have the equipment needed by trail users and most towns along the CDT have well-stocked grocery stores, though there are a few locations where hikers will probably want to send ahead a resupply box. Some best practices include:

• Mailing to a Post Office: Always write your name on each side of the box, and include “Hold for CDT Hiker” and your ETA. Post offices will hold priority mail boxes sent via General Delivery for 15 days.
  • The format for addressing a General Delivery package :
    • Your legal name
    • C/O General Delivery
    • Name of Town, State Zip Code
• Mailing to a business: Please call any businesses before sending a box to ensure they will accept and hold your resupply. And if you end up not needing your resupply box or cannot make it there, please let the business know as well.
  • These are typically small towns with rural service and limited staff, so always allow extra time for delivery (E.g. at least 3 extra business days for USPS if possible, and remember UPS does not deliver on weekends)
  • Important note: Unless the location specifically requests that you use UPS or FedEx to ship packages, typically the most efficient way to mail yourself resupply boxes and replacement gear is using the USPS Priority Mail flat rate boxes. However, depending on the weight of what you are sending, flat-rate boxes may not be the most cost-effective way to mail lighter packages. (Here is the USPS Retail Postage Price Calculator.)

For a more complete list of resupply locations, see pages 33-38 in the CDTC Digital Planning Guide: https://cdtcoalition.org/product/cdt-planning-guide-digital-version/

Resupplying Along the Trail Recommendations (updated February 14, 2024)

What is the typical resupply strategy on the CDT? Thankfully, HalfwayAnywhere.com compiles annual surveys of CDT hikers best practices. Based on their 2022 CDT Survey and 2023 CDT Survey, a Continental Divide Trail thru-hiker resupply strategy might resemble the breakdown below. CDTC designated Gateway Communities, which have committed to the organization’s mission and provide a particularly welcoming environment for hikers, are highlighted in yellow with links to their individual web pages. 

Disclaimer from Halfway Anywhere: This is for educational purposes only and is not necessarily a good (or even decent) resupply strategy. Please do not blindly follow this; instead, use it as a guide. Mile markers in bold indicate locations where hikers have suggested mailing a resupply box. 

• New Mexico
  • Mile 84: Lordsburg (Hidalgo County)
  • Mile 158: Silver City
  • Mile 38 of Gila Alternate: Doc Campbell’s
  • Mile 415: Pie Town
  • Mile 525: Grants
  • Mile 629: Cuba
  • Mile 689: Chama via Cumbres Pass

• Colorado
  • Mile 847: Pagosa Springs/South Fork via Wolf Creek Pass
  • Mile 961: Lake City via Spring Creek Pass
  • Mile 1061: Salida via Monarch Pass
  • Mile 1144: Twin Lakes
  • Mile 1181: Leadville
  • Mile 1216: Breckenridge/Frisco
  • Mile 1290: Winter Park
  • Mile 1343: Grand Lake
  • Mile 1436: Steamboat Springs via Rabbit Ears Pass

• Wyoming
  • Mile 1520: Encampment/Riverside via Battle Pass
  • Mile 1602: Rawlins
  • Mile 1722: Lander/South Pass City
  • Mile 1799: Pinedale
  • Mile 16.1 of Old CDT Alt: Dubois via Togwotee Pass
  • Mile 1988: Old Faithful Village in Yellowstone

• Idaho/Montana
  • Mile 15 of Macks Inn Alternate: Island Park / Mack’s Inn
  • Mile 2134: Lima
  • Mile 2236: Leadore (Lemhi County) via Bannock Pass
  • Mile 2358: Darby via Chief Joseph Pass
  • Mile 27 of Anaconda Cutoff: Anaconda
  • Mile 2618: Helena and/or Butte
  • Mile 2686: Lincoln
  • Mile 2744: Augusta
  • Mile 2877: East Glacier Village

Additional Resupply Advice

• Food selection: Preparing and sending ahead resupply boxes prior to the start of your hike is really only necessary in certain circumstances. If you want to eat healthy or have specific dietary/medical restrictions, boxes may be a good idea at certain locations. Remember to get fresh fruits and veggies while in town, and FarOut comments usually have info on vegan options in nearby communities.
• Planning ahead: Research as you go, and only send boxes while on the trail when you need to. Sending boxes to a business instead of the post office can be helpful since rural post offices often have restrictive hours. But remember–businesses cannot “bounce” a box easily or offer the same level of service that post offices provide. Unless it’s a “return to sender”, there is a new postage charge for sending a box from any location that is not a US Post Office. Please be considerate of businesses in local communities that are willing to help out trail users, and keep in mind that rural areas tend to keep different business hours than larger towns.
• Frequency of stops: Based on survey results, most people agreed that 5-6 days was the sweet spot for resupply frequency since resupplying less often than that means carrying too much weight. However, frequent supply trips can cost precious time and daily mileage, especially when hitchhiking to nearby towns is required. These delays can be challenging, even more so on the CDT when daily mileage is important.
• Getting to Town: Local visitor centers and chambers of commerce, especially in CDTC Gateway Communities, typically keep track of Trail Angel contacts and other transportation options. Check out the individual community websites linked above with information on where to stay and how to get there via shuttles or other transportation services. Rather than mailing ahead all your supplies, consider supporting local businesses in these trail towns whenever possible. 
• Local Amenities: The individual CDTC Gateway Community web pages (linked above) also have a listing of updated town amenities, business partners, and local services including wi-fi, camping, showers, food, laundry, and camp supplies. Please note that ultralight backpacking products such as specialized sleeping pads, tent parts, and running shoes may not be available at all camp supply retailers, so call ahead if you have a specific question. 
• Snow Gear: In terms of mailing ahead snow gear, we first recommend checking out this post on traveling safely during spring conditions on the CDT. 

General rule of thumb (from the hiker surveys): Mail ahead resupply boxes only when you need to. And if you can buy peanut butter somewhere, it probably isn’t worth sending a resupply package there.

Featured Photo: Dana Garden, Pie Town; Article Photo: Steven Shattuck before CDT Thruhike