Closures and Alerts
CDTC posts up-to-date information as received regarding closures, restrictions, and other notices along the official route of the CDT here. Alerts are also posted to the r/CDT Reddit. If you have any information regarding new incidents, please let us know at [email protected].
Current Alerts and Closures
CDTC is committed to providing information concerning the Continental Divide Trail and pass updates to trail users from land management agencies. CDTC does not have governing authority or jurisdiction over lands adjacent to the CDT.
If you are in an emergency, call 911. If you witness or are involved a threatening or violent act, contact local law enforcement.
Montana/ Idaho
Glacier National Park | CDT temporarily closed due to bear activity | CDT Mile 4.5-15.5 (Chief Mountain Route) | 9/7/26
For more information please visit nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm
Glacier National Park | Two Medicine Permit Office, Road, and Campground Closes beginning Sept 8th | CDT Remains Open | CDT Mile 2950 | 8/31/26
A large construction project is taking place in the Two Medicine Area within Glacier National Park with the below closures/changes:
Two Medicine Permit Office Closes September 7th, East Glacier Ranger Station opens September 8th.
The Two Medicine Permit Office will not be issuing permits after September 7th. Instead, permits will be issued from the East Glacier Ranger station beginning on September 8th. The park asks visitors to not congregate or linger after acquiring their permits in East Glacier, as this is near private residences.
East Glacier Ranger Station
824 MT-49
East Glacier Park, MT 59434
Two Medicine Road Closure
Beginning September 8, the Two Medicine Valley Road will be closed at Running Eagle Falls to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic for the remainder of the 2026 summer season. As a result, visitors will not be able to begin wilderness trips from trailheads within the developed Two Medicine area.
Visitors whose wilderness trips begin before September 8 and end after the road closure begins should not leave a vehicle parked within the developed Two Medicine area, as vehicles will not be able to exit the closure area once the road closes.
Alternative Access Routes
Visitors who wish to keep their existing itinerary should be aware that alternative access routes are available:
Dry Fork Trailhead
Access is available via the Dry Fork Trailhead, located near the NPS entrance station to the Two Medicine Valley. This trail provides access to the Pitamakan Pass Trail and the developed Two Medicine area. The hike to the developed Two Medicine area is just over 5 miles. Visitors using this route should be aware that a stream crossing is required near the end of the trail before reaching the developed area. Conditions at stream crossings can vary throughout the season, including changes in water depth and flow, and some visitors may not feel comfortable making this crossing.
Parking at the Dry Fork Trailhead is limited. Additional parking may be available at the Running Eagle Falls parking area; however, this adds approximately one mile of road walking to reach the trailhead.
Mount Henry/Scenic Point Trail
Visitors may also access the area via the Mount Henry Trailhead, which is located on the Blackfeet Reservation. A Blackfeet Nation Fish & Wildlife Department Recreation/Conservation Permit is required for this route. This route involves approximately 10 miles of hiking and significant elevation gain/loss to reach the developed Two Medicine area.
Other Valley Access
Access into and out of the Two Medicine area remains possible from other valleys within the park.
Campsite Availability and Services During the Closure
All wilderness campsites in the Two Medicine area will remain open and accessible during the closure, including the temporary Two Medicine wilderness campsite. The closure does not affect campsite availability; it only changes how visitors access these areas.
The Two Medicine Auto Campground did not open during the 2026 season and will remain closed. Additionally, once the road closure begins, concession services and running water within the developed area will not be available.
Bob Marshall Wilderness | Camp Creek Fire, near Benchmark | Trail Closure & Detour | m. 2793-2804.5
The USFS has issued a closure of the CDT on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex due to an active fire. Closed trails:
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (#202) from the South Fork Sun Packbridge through Elbow Pass (m. 2793) to the Jct. with Straight Creek Trail (#212) (m. 2804.5).
At this time the USFS is recommending hikers take the Straight Creek Trail to avoid the closure. The recommended reroute is 8.28 miles long.
The CDT closure is in black, reroute is in blue. Click here to interact with the map.
Additional trails are closed adjacent to the CDT near Spotted Bear Ranger Station. If you plan to take an alternative route, check for more Camp Creek closures here.
Bob Marshall Wilderness | Silvertip Fire | Portions of Spotted Bear River Trail Closed, CDT Remains Open
The Silvertip fire is active north and west of the CDT in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The CDT remains open but a portion of the Spotted Bear River Trail that connects a route to the CDT at Spotted Bear pass (m. 2833.5) and the Big River Trail jct (m.2877) is closed. Thru hikers are encouraged to remain on the CDT in order to avoid the closure.
For more information click here.
View Interactive Map
CDT is in purple. Closed trails are in red.
Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park, Biscuit Basin | CDT Reroute | Mile 2033.5-2034 | Updated 7/7/25
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.
Colorado
White River National Forest | Warden Gulch Road & Morgan Gulch Trail Closure | CDT Mile 1269.5-1279.5 | Updated 9/10/26
The White River National Forest has extended the CDT closure now from Webster Pass (m. 1269.5) to Warden Gulch (m. 1279.5) for ongoing trail construction.
A recommended detour is in place utilizing Webster Pass Rd, Montezuma Rd, the Peru Creek High Trail and Peru Creek Rd. The detour is marked in blue on the map below, and is 7.86 miles long . Follow the marked detour and respect the closure for your safety and the safety of work crews.
For questions, contact the White River National Forest at 970-468-5400.
Click to view interactive map.
San Isabel National Forest | Willow Fire Closure & Reroute | CDT Miles 1175-1186.5| Updated 8/25/26
The closure area for the Willow fire has recently been reduced. The USFS is now recommending the below route to bypass the closure.
The reroute is 17.2 miles long utlizing the Turguoise Lake Road & trail, County rd 5, CO 300, County Rd 11, and Halfmoon Rd. The Mount Massive Trailhead and CDT miles 1175-1186.5, remain closed. Several camping options exist at the east end of Turguise Lake, which can be reserved at recreation.gov.
For more info please contact the Leadville Ranger District – 719-486-0749
Click here to interact with the map.
Black = closed, Blue = recommended reroute
Routt National Forest, Diamond Park | Detour | Mile 1516.5-1518 | Updated 10/17/25
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)
New Mexico
Carson National Forest | Mogote Ridge Fire | Trail Closure & Detour | Mile 722.25-727.25 | North of Ghost Ranch | 8/28/26
The USFS has closed the CDT in the Carson National Forest from FS rd 724 (m. 722.25) to County Rd 280 (m. 727.25) due to the Mogote Ridge Fire. A recommended 5.1 mile detour is in place utilizing FS Roads 724, 724A, and County Rd 280.
For more information please visit Inciweb
Click here to interact with map
Carson National Forest | Hopewell Lake Construction | Trail Closure & Detour | Miles 753-755
Beginning August 17th the Hopewell Lake campground and facilities, including the CDT through the area, will be temporary closed for construction. A recommended 1.3 mile detour is in place utilizing Spring Creek Rd and Hwy 64 as seen below.
Click here to interactive with map.
Southern Terminus Restricted Access | Mile 0.0 - 1.1 | Updated 3/18/26
Access to the CDT Southern Terminus is now restricted due to the establishment of the New Mexico National Defense Area (NDA) along the US-Mexico Border
Update: 3/18/26
Since the designation of the National Defense Area (NDA) at the southern terminus of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, CDTC has been working closely with the U.S. Army at Fort Huachuca, federal agencies, and elected officials to address and advocate for access to the CDT.
These efforts have resulted in the following updates regarding access to the CDT and its southern terminus:
- Anyone desiring access to the southernmost 1.1 miles of the CDT is required to obtain a free NDA pass. US citizens and non-US citizens are able to apply. Click here to apply.
- Non-US citizens may be issued a Temporary Visitors Pass, which requires an escort at all times while in the NDA.
- Any US citizen who has received an NDA access pass may serve as an escort to non-US citizens with a Temporary Visitor’s Pass. Escorts do not need to have additional Department of Defense clearance.
- The CDTC shuttle is now able to drive all riders with an NDA Access Pass, or Temporary Visitor’s Pass with appropriate escort, directly to the southern terminus monument. We will still stop at CDT mile 2.2 to drop off anyone without an NDA Pass or anyone who does not want to enter the NDA.
- The access roads to the southern terminus remain open at this time, however, this is a dynamic situation due to construction of the Southern Border Wall. Road closures are anticipated in the future as construction begins. We will communicate any road closures as they happen via our alerts page.
- Expect higher traffic including heavy construction vehicles along Commodore Road. Delays are possible. Hikers opting to walk Commodore Rd, instead of the CDT, should use caution.
- Applications generaly take 48 hours to process, but we recommend applying well in advance in case you experience delays. Once granted, a digital access badge or Termpory Visitor’s Pass will be emailed to you from the U.S. Army at Fort Huachuca
I am an international hiker with a Temporary Visitor’s Pass. How do I find an NDA escort?
If you are taking the CDTC shuttle, you may pair with a US citizen with NDA clearance during shuttle check-in the morning of your ride.
CDTC Southern Terminus Shuttle
CDTC is still operating an on-demand shuttle and water caching service with drop/off pickups at the southern terminus monument and outside the NDA at CDT mile 2.2.
For shuttle information and booking please visit this page.
For more information please call 719-749-1234 or email [email protected]
Fire Restrictions
Fire restrictions for lands the CDT passes through are listed roughly south-to-north by state.
| Location | State | CDT Mile | Type | Updated Date |
| Salmon-Challis National Forest | Idaho | Stage 1 | 8/14/26 | |
| Bridger – Teton National Forest | Wyoming | 1765-1979 | Stage 1 | 7/22/26 |
| Shoshone National Forest | Wyoming | 1762-1765 | Stage 1 | 8/13/26 |
| Carbon, Stillwater, Fremont Counties | Wyoming | 1578-1762 | Stage 1 | 7/22/26 |
| Medicine Bow National Forest | Wyoming | 1535-1578 | Stage 1 | 7/22/26 |
| Routt National Forest | Colorado | 1402-1578 | Stage 1 | 7/22/26 |
| Rocky Mtn National Park | Colorado | 1374-1402 | Stage 2 | 6/29/26 |
| Arapaho National Forest | Colorado | 1261-1342 | Stage 2 | 7/2/26 |
| White River National Forest | Colorado | 1201-1261 | Stage 1 | 6/19/26 |
| Pike Isabel National Forest | Colorado | 1069-1201 | Stage 2 | 6/16/26 |
| San Juan National Forest | Colorado | 825-950 | Stage 2 | 6/30/26 |
| Carson National Forest | New Mexico | 692-794.5 | Stage 2 | 4/23/26 |
| Cibola National Forest, Mt Taylor RD | New Mexico | 539-584 | Stage 2 | 6/18/26 |
| El Malpais National Monument | New Mexico | 488-521 | Stage 2 | 6/18/26 |
| Cibola County | New Mexcio | 445-488, 521-539 | Stage 2 | 6/18/26 |
| Catron County | New Mexico | 403-445 | Fire Ban | 3/18/26 |
| Gila National Forest | New Mexico | 98-403 | Stage 1 | 3/20/26 |
| New Mexico State Lands | New Mexico | Various locations throughout the entire state | Open Fire Restrictions | 4/6/26 |
Past Alerts
Routt National Forest | Fishhook Fire | CDT Open | CDT Mile 1476.5-1481.5 | Updated 8/11/26
The Fishhook Fire is 100% contained and the closure area has been reduced. The CDT remains open.
Indian Creek Fire, near Muddy Pass | CDT Now open | Mile 1451.5 - 1461 | Updated 8/10/26
The CDT and CO county Road 53/FSR 103 has reopened previously closed due to the Indian Creek Fire, miles 1451.5-1461.
Glacier National Park, Many Glacier | CDT Now Open, previously closed due to Flooding | Mile 3001-3012.5 | Updated 7/23/26
The entire CDT, including the Waterton and Chief Mountain routes, are now open in Glacier National Park – previously closed due to flooding.
For the most up-to-date trail status within the park please visit: www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm
Yellowstone National Park, Heart Lake | CDT Now Open for annual bear management, April 1st - June 30th | Mile 1988.5- 2006 | Updated: 7/1/26
The CDT is closed for annual bear management within the Heart Lake Bear Management area which includes CDT miles 1988.5- 2006. The closure is in place until July 1st.
For more information please visit nps.gov/yell