The proposal to complete the CDT passed the House of Representatives in the National Defense Authorization Act
GOLDEN, CO (July 15, 2022) — Today, the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act has passed the House of Representatives as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), marking the furthest the legislation has gone in its journey through Congress.
Introduced by Representative Joe Neguse (CO-3) last year, the bill directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to create a Trail Completion Team to coordinate identification and prioritization of gap sections of the trail by 2028, the 50th anniversary of the CDT’s designation by Congress. The strategy specifically directs the Completion Team to consult with local communities and landowners when working towards the trail’s completion and explicitly states that eminent domain will not be used in trail completion efforts.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this latest milestone for the CDT Completion Act,” says Teresa Martinez (she/her/ella), Executive Director of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC). “For 44 years, the stewards, volunteers, and all the members of the trail community have worked tirelessly to complete and protect the CDT, and the excitement for this bill shows that the Continental Divide landscape, and accessible ways to explore it, are more important than ever to the American public. We thank the bill’s author, Representative Neguse, for recognizing this critical need, and Representatives Leger Fernandez, Stansbury, and Beyer for supporting this shared vision of a completed CDT. ”
Agency staff, trail organizations, volunteers, Gateway Communities, and other partners have successfully brought the CDT to 95% completion since its designation as a National Scenic Trail in 1978. Currently, approximately 150 miles of the CDT are located where recreationists enjoying the trail are diverted onto roads or busy highways, making for a less safe, less scenic journey. A vital economic and cultural resource for rural Rocky Mountain communities, once completed, the trail will provide a 3,100-mile greenway corridor connecting 5 states, 20 National Forests, 25 Wilderness Areas, 3 National Parks, 1 National Monument, and 19 CDT Gateway Communities.
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.
