Closures and Alerts

On Tuesday, July 23, at about 10:19 a.m., a localized hydrothermal explosion occurred near Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin, located just north of Old Faithful.

• Biscuit Basin, including the parking lot and boardwalks, are closed for the 2025 season. The Grand Loop Road remains open.
• The Park Service is recommending hikers utilize the Upper Geyser Basin (UGB) Biscuit Basin Trail as a reroute option as shown below in blue.

Click for closure map.

The Two Medicine area will be undergoing a construction project in mid September that will affect the following:

1. The Two Medicine Wilderness Permit Office will close on September 14, 2025. Wilderness Permits will be available at the East Glacier Ranger Station in East Glacier, MT from September 14th through September 30th.
   • East Glacier Ranger Station
     108 Midvale St
     East Glacier Park, MT 59434
2. Normal Availability at Two Medicine Wilderness Campground: Backpackers can reserve Two Medicine Wilderness Campground, as per usual, through the end of the normal season.
3. CDT Hiking Access to TM Valley via Scenic Point Trail: Hiking access into the Two Medicine Valley is normal. There are no detours or closures to navigate while hiking. The only closures/construction is east of the entrance station, well away from trails and campgrounds. The Dry Creek Trailhead will be inaccessible during the Fall 2025 construction.
4. Water is turned off on 9/16. Backpackers will use pit toilets and treat water out of natural water sources after 9/16.
5. No Vehicle Access after 9/30: Vehicle access into Two Medicine Valley closes on 10/1. All access to the valley is by trail only.
6. CDT Hiking Access to TM Valley via Scenic Point Trail (aka the CDT): Hiking access into the Two Medicine Valley should be via Scenic Point (CDT). The Dry Creek Trailhead will be inaccessible during the Fall 2025 construction.

Click here for more info

The footbridge across North Fork Elk Creek is out in the Routt National Forest. The USFS is recommending a short 1.5 mile detour to the west following Stiletto Rd and the Main Fork Trail.

Northbound

• Take Stiletto Rd west from the CDT crossing of Stiletto Rd (mile 1516.5)
• Continue north on Stiletto Rd until you reach the Diamond Park North Trailhead
• Take the Main Fork Trail north until you meet back with the CDT at mile 1518

Southbound

• Exit the CDT at the Main Fork Trail junction at mile 1518
• Continue south on the Main Fork Trail until you reach the Diamond Park North Trailhead
• Take Stiletto Rd south until you reach the CDT crossing of Stiletto Rd (mile 1516.5)

Due to recent and continued reports involving aggressive dogs along the route within the Cuba, NM gap, a new suggested route is in place (see below). This route leaves/joins Hwy 126 and follows Old Hwy 44 and Duke City road, in and out of Cuba. It is 4.1 miles long, compared to the old route of 3.9 miles, and passes by the Sandoval County Fairgrounds and USFS Cuba Ranger District office. While the new route avoids several residencies, users should remain vigilant and report any uncontrolled or aggressive animal behavior immediately to local authorities.

To learn more about the Cuba, NM gap click here.

The CDT has reopened. The Green River Lake Campground remains closed. Updated 10/15/2025

The Dollar Lake Fire has now closed the CDT from the Trail Creek Park Trail Head (m. 1856) to Union Pass Road (m. 1886.5). In addition Green River Lakes Road is closed, and there is no access in or out of the Green River Lakes Trail Head.

Due to the location of the closure, there is no recommended reroute at this time. If hikers choose an alternative route that enters the Wind River Reservation, please be aware a “Trespass permit” may be required. Permits can be purchased at the Wind River Outdoor Company in Lander (307-332-7864).

For the most up-to-date information please contact the Dollar Lake Fire Public Information Officer:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 307-395-2365
Hours: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Dollar Lake Fire Closure 9/5/25

Due to ongoing construction at Copper Mountain Resort, ~2.5 miles of trail is currently closed and can be bypassed via a ~2.5 mile detour.

Southbound travelers:
– Do not cross the bridge into the parking lot.
– Turn right to head north on the paved recreation path.
– In ½ mile turn left (west) to cross over 10 Mile Creek.
– Travel west on the recreation path (cross Highway 91 at traffic light) ¾ mile to Ten Mile Circle.
– Turn left at 10 Mile Circle and travel ¼ mile into Copper Mountain Center Village.
– Follow the trail past the American Flyer, Woodward Express, and Kokomo Express lifts into the West Village base area ; follow signs to end of detour.
– Turn left uphill just after the Kokomo Express lift
– Turn right onto the CDT.

Northbound travelers:
– Follow signs into the Copper Mountain Center Village (it will take you left and then past the Kokomo Express, Woodward Express, and American Flyer lifts into the center village).
– Pass Eagle BBQ, Copper Sports & turn right to exit Village at the roundabout.
– Travel N/W on Ten Mile Circle ¼ mile to Copper Road.
– Turn right (east) on Copper Road. Walk along the paved recreation path adjacent to Copper
Road.
– In ¾ of a mile cross highway 91 at stoplight. Turn right to cross 10 Mile Creek on paved
recreation path (if you pass the Conoco station, you went too far).
– Turn right on recreation path and travel ½ mile south to end of detour.
– Turn left onto CDT.

Delays Expected

Update: 10/11/25

From Monarch Mountain

We will be conducting helicopter ops at Monarch Mountain once again on Friday-August 29^th.  This should be a fairly quick fly day lasting approximately 2-3 hours at most. We will post guards with radio comms on the north and south ends of the flight path to hold traffic during flight operations.  We will also have guards in our parking lot stopping any vehicle or uphill pedestrian traffic during the day.  Aerial operations will start early around 7am.

We will be holding traffic for roughly one-hour intervals and allowing hikers to pass through between the trail guards during helicopter fuel cycles as needed (5-10 minutes of stoppage time to get across).

Guards will be placed at approximately either end of MM 1088 & MM1087 with the closure in between.  Based on the preferred flight path of the helicopter pilot due to weather and winds, we will shorten this closure span as we can to reduce the time needed to get across safely.

We also have a powerline project coming up starting next week.  We plan to lay the de-energized power cables (4 of them) down the lift line and across the trail ahead of trenching activity.  We will cover these with a black traction mat where they cross the trail until we can get these fully buried.

We will use a detour onto our adjacent ski way and summer road (just a few hundred feet to the south) to bypass this section of trail while these operations are occurring.  This will likely be a one to two day operation.  Likely Mon/Tues (Aug 25/26) or Tues/Wed(Aug 26/27) of next week.

After towers are flown and the de-energized cable is pulled down the lift line and laying on the ground, we will be trenching in this powerline down the lift line.  This will affect the trail and we will close this 700’ section of trail that was built last summer and once again implement the short detour using the adjacent road and skiway to bypass the trenching operations.

We will sign and/or staff this short detour while these power run projects affect the trail corridor.

Update 8/25:
CDT closure between Flesher and Roger’s Pass in Montana has been lifted. The trail is once again open thanks to the quick work of fire personnel on the Sandbar 2 fire.

The Sandbar 2 Fire east of Lincoln, Montana is now 75 acres. We are using a full suppression strategy with two helicopters, ground crews and more resources on order. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is closed between Roger’s and Flesher Pass for public safety. 

Update: 8/4 130pm

The Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District is implementing a fisheries project on North Fork Elk Creek in the Routt National Forest near the Wyoming Trail #1101.1/Continental Divide Trail from August 5-9. Trail users are advised to NOT DRINK ANY WATER from the river between miles 1512 to 1514.5 during this time period.

Update: 8/11

The Gila National Forest has lifted area closures for the Trout Fire and Goose Fire now that fire operations are largely complete, reducing threat to public safety. All motorized routes designated on the current Motor Vehicle Use Map, designated trails, recreation sites, and National Forest System lands within the areas have been reopened.

Update: 7/16

The Goose Fire in the Gila National Forest has now closed a portion of trails that connect the CDT to the Middle Fork of the Gila River. In addition, the Turkeyfeather fire is burning on portions of the north end of the Middle Fork trail near Snow Lake.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/gila/alerts/goose-fire-area-closure

Update 6/16
The CDT has closed from Hwy 15 and Hwy 35 (CDT miles 182- 204.5) due to the Trout Fire, in the Gila National Forest. As this is an active growing fire, there is no recommended reroute at this time.

The fire was reported Thursday, June 12, in the Trout Creek area of the Gila National Forest. Driven by hot, dry weather, the fire quickly grew and crossed NM-15 in the afternoon. Command of the fire transferred command to the Gila/Las Cruces Type 3 team Thursday evening. Saturday morning, command will again transfer to a complex incident management team, Southwest Team 4. Resources working the fire include hot shot crews, type 2 hand crews, dozers, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

The Gila National Forest has implemented a closure order. (See below)

For more info contact the Gila National Forest: 575-388-8211. [email protected]

The Trout Fire was 100% contained on July 24 and the associated area closure was lifted as of Thursday, July 31. The public should be aware of hazards that exist within the burned area, including stump holes and loosened soil, rolling rocks, logs, and other debris, fire-weakened trees, and roads or trails that may be impassable due to fallen trees or flood impacts. There is potential for flash flooding within the burned area, especially where soil and vegetation burned at higher intensity. 

Update 7/10:
Jericho Mountain Fire Closure is now rescinded. Closure Order Number 01_15_12_25_11 has been rescinded as of 07-10-2025. The closure order was lifted for all roads and trails, including the Continental Divide Trail. Use caution near or in burned area due to unstable surfaces and fire weakened trees.

Reroute:

Jericho Fire CDT reroute map and directions

For more info: Inciweb

The CDT has reopened from the Buck fire (New Mexico BLM Socorro district: mile 291.5-332.5). Please be aware of potential post fire hazards and navigation challenges.  

For more info: InciWeb

Update 6/12: The Gila National Forest now advises anyone recreating in this area to ensure proper store storage of food and scented items.

Update 5/15: Gila National Forest has received numerous reports of a human-habituated bear frequenting the Jordan Hot Springs area of the Gila Wilderness. The bear has charged at hikers, harassed campers at a campsite, destroyed a tent, and entered the hot spring while visitors were soaking in it.

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is advising visitors to avoid the area until the department has had an opportunity to investigate and respond appropriately. Signs will be posted at local trailheads while this hazard exists. Learn more about living with bears at Keeping Bears Alive and Yourself Safe.

Jordan Hot Springs is along an undesignated “Gila Alternate” route along the Middle Fork trail used by many CDT hikers.

For more information contact:

Maribeth Pecotte, Public Affairs Officer
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
www.fs.usda.gov/r03/gila