Southern Terminus Shuttle

Book Your Ride, Water Cache, And Support Local CDT Communities!

Located in a remote desert area on the border of Mexico and New Mexico, about 30 miles south of the town of Hachita, the southern terminus of the CDT (the “Crazy Cook” monument) is difficult to access. CDTC offers a shuttle service to assist hikers and horseback riders interested in traveling along the southernmost sections of the CDT.

Fall 2024

CDTC Shuttle

CDTC is offering a limited on-demand shuttle (October-December), driving hikers from the Crazy Cook monument to the city of Lordsburg, NM. Hikers should call 303-996-2759 (M-F 9am-5pm) to book at least seven days in advance of pickup date. Southbound hikers should call when they arrive in Silver City, NM to arrange a shuttle pickup from Crazy Cook. Pickup times from the monumnet will generally be at 8am. Three person minimum – five maximum.

Local Drivers

Tim Sharp offers on-demand rides and water caching to and from Crazy Cook in the Fall. Call Tim at 830-456-6497 to arrange a ride.

For more information about transportation between the Southern Terminus or water caches please call 303-996-2759 or email [email protected].

Each spot on the CDTC shuttle costs $175.

This Includes:

Water cache service
Completion Certificate (upon completing the entire CDT – International shipping not included)
One-year membership to CDTC, which can be used to receive generous discounts from outdoor retailers such as Gossamer Gear, Six Moons Designs Granite Gear, and more.
Plus, booking your CDTC shuttle helps support local CDT communities.

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Looking for Spring 2025? Online bookings will go live for the 2025 Spring shuttle season (March 31st-May 15th) in late November 2024. Check this page at that time to book for Spring 2025.

For questions regarding the southern terminus shuttle please email [email protected]

Water Caches

Five water cache boxes are available for individuals to cache their own water on the CDT between the Crazy Cook monumnet and Lordsburg, NM. Be sure to label your water containers with your name and ETA if you plan to cache your own water.

For those taking the CDTC shuttle water caching is included as part of your shuttle fee. Each hiker is allotted 2 gallons of water per cache.

If you are not taking the CDTC shuttle be sure to arrange your water ahead of time. Please do not take water that is allocated for others, and do not leave food or trash in the water cache boxes.

Locations of Water Cache Boxes:

Cache 1: Sheridan Canyon cache box, FarOut mile 14.1, 31.6124 N, 108.31332 W
Cache 2: Highway 81 cache box, FarOut mile 25.5, 31.73388 N, 108.41075 W
Cache 3: Highway 9 cache box, FarOut mile 45, 31.96518 N, 108.43988 W
Cache 4: Highway 113 cache box, FarOut mile 57.9, 32.08053 N, 108.55637 W
Cache 5: Animas Rd. water cache box, FarOut mile 78.2, 32.26283 N, 108.74166 W

This information is included in the CDTC map set, Bear Creek Survey CDT Map Books and GPS waypoint files, and FarOut Guides’ CDT app. You can also view a map of the water cache boxes and the route to the southern terminus here.

Directions to the Southern Terminus from Lordsburg, NM

To access the CDT’s southern terminus remote location take Interstate 10 east from Lordsburg, NM to Exit 49. Take NM 146 South to Hachita. In Hatchita, go east on NM 9 and then south on NM 81. Continue south for approximately 11 miles and just before the curve in the highway, turn left onto the graded dirt road (all roads beyond this point are dirt). Set your odometer, travel approximately 3 miles, and turn right. Go another 3 miles and turn left. Follow this road around the base of the Big Hatchet Mountains for about 20 miles to a windmill and go east for 2 miles. Within 100 yards, you will be at the international boundary barbed wire fence. At the cattle guard, there is a concrete monument commemorating the Crazy cook who murdered someone at this site. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is 200 yards north along the border fence from this monument.

Please note – The dirt road between the momument and NM 81 is rough and can wash out from flash floods. We do not recommend making this drive unless you have a high clearance vehicle with four wheel drive and good off-road tires. There is no cell reception in most of this area and making a tow expensive or difficult. If you have questions or concerns please contact [email protected].

Shuttle FAQ

How Do I Reserve a Spot on the CDTC Southern Terminus Shuttle?

For shuttle dates between mid-March and May, you must make your reservation online via our booking system. We cannot take reservations by email or over the phone in order to ensure that our online system reflects the accurate number of available spots on any given day.

For shuttle dates outside of April – May, please email [email protected] or call 303-996-2759 for shuttle options. Please note that on-demand shuttles are subject to driver availability, and we may not be able to accommodate the exact date that you request.

How Far in Advance Do I to Make a Reservation?

Spring – Many popular spring shuttle dates fill up quickly. Reservations can be made on our website starting in early November, and should be made at least two weeks in advance of your start date.

Outside of the spring season, those looking to schedule an on-demand shuttle should contact us ideally at least one week in advance; southbound long-distance hikers should contact us with an estimated request date from Silver City, NM.

Where and When Does the Shuttle Pick Me Up?

Spring
Northbound hikers will be picked up at 6:15 AM 207 Shakespeare St. (behind Lordsburg Chamber of Commerce). Look for the CDTC Shuttle sign in the window of the building.

Southbound hikers will be picked up between 9:30 and 10 AM at the Southern Terminus Monument depending on road conditions/weather.

Fall

Call to arrange your pickup time. In general pickup times will be at 8am from Crazy Cook.

How Long is the Drive?

The ride between Lordsburg and the border takes approximately 3 hours.

How Many Hikers are in Each Shuttle?

CDTC operates the shuttle under a Special Use Permit with the BLM Las Cruces Field Office. Per our permit, we can drive a maximum of 10 hikers in two shuttles to the border each day.

Fall – A minimum of three and maximum of five hikers.

Can I Bring my Dog?

Unfortunately, no. Due to the close quarters of the shuttle vehicle and the possibility that other hikers may have allergies or a fear of dogs, we cannot allow dogs on the CDTC shuttle.

What if I Cancel Last Minute?

Please email [email protected] so that we can open the seat to another hiker. We require at least 48-hours notice in order to issue a refund. Cancellations made within 48 hours of your shuttle departure are not eligible for a refund.

What if I Have to Reschedule my Shuttle?

Contact the CDTC shuttle operations at [email protected] and we will try to reschedule you to a different date, pending availability.

What if the Date I Want is not Scheduled, or is Fully Booked?

We keep a waiting list for each full shuttle date. Contact [email protected] to be added to a waitlist.

If you are not willing to leave on a different date, you can hike southbound from Lordsburg to the southern terminus and take the scheduled shuttle back to Lordsburg. This is the same cost ($175) as the shuttle to the border and includes water caches and a CDTC membership. Please call us to reserve a shuttle spot from the border to Lordsburg.

Can I Purchase Isobutane (Canister Fuel) in Lordsburg?

Isobutane (canister fuel) is commonly found at Saucedos Supermarket and the Hachita Food Mart in Hachita, NM. The shuttle will briefly stop daily at the Hachita Food Mart on the way to Crazy Cook for any last minute needs. Fuel is subject to availability and it is best to call ahead for current stock levels.

Saucedos Supermarket
810 Main St, Lordsburg, NM 88045
(575) 542-3472

Hachita Food Mart
4398 Railroad Ave, Hachita, NM 88040
(575) 436-6278

How To Hike In The Desert

The bootheel of New Mexico is hot, dry, and sits at about 4700′ above sea level. We recommend that you acclimate for at least one day before beginning your journey on the CDT in southern NM. Electrolytes will help your hydration. You will automatically lose water simply by spending time in the desert environment, and when you consider that you’ll be carrying a pack and hiking 15+ miles per day, most people need more than just water to keep them hydrated in this environment. Carry more water than you think you’ll need. To put it bluntly – a sore back and shoulders are much better than dehydration.

We suggest you hike early in the morning, take a siesta during the hottest portion of the day, and then hike a few more hours once the sun has begun to lower in the sky. This will help you conserve water, reduce sun exposure, and reduce the possibility of heat exhaustion.

Bring lots of sunscreen and SPF-resistant clothing. You may want to consider wearing a long-sleeved collared shirt and long pants, or carrying a reflective trekking umbrella to protect your skin. We also suggest that you wear gaiters to reduce the chance of blisters by keeping sand and grit out of your shoes.

Watch your step and be aware of the local residents — rattlesnakes, tarantulas, and scorpions all make their home here and are part of the Bootheel’s thriving ecosystem. Give them all some space when you see them and you’ll be fine. Like much of the CDT, the Bootheel is also home to lots of cows, as multi-use lands permit grazing along the trail. Give these cows their space, too, and don’t lingerat their water sources. Regardless of whether you’ve hiked around livestock elsewhere, take a couple of minutes and read our blog post about how to be respectful of livestock on the CDT before setting out on your adventure.

When selecting campsites along the trail, please do not camp directly next to water sources or caches. Local fauna depend on water sources overnight to drink, and may be startled by your presence, and avoiding creating worn, camped-in areas by water caches will help maintain the trail.

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Are you in trouble?

Travel To Lordsburg

Unless you have a private ride to Lordsburg, typical logistics include flying into an airport, and then either taking the Greyhound or Amtrak to Lordsburg, NM.

El Paso International Airport (TX) and Tucson International Airport (AZ) are both 2.5 hours from Lordsburg, while Albuquerque International Sunport (NM) is 4.5 hours away. Advanced Air offers flights to the Grant County Airport in Silver City, NM, just over an hour from Lordsburg.

Ground Transportation

Amtrak Train Station

The Amtrak station in Lordsburg is a good option for those traveling from El Paso, Tucson, and Albuquerque.

Greyhound Bus Station

Greyhound Bus Lines travels daily to Lordsburg from El Paso, Tucson, and Albuquerque.

Lordsburg And Hachita Services

Lordsburg KOA

The KOA in Lordsburg is on the south side of I-10 as you walk into Lordsburg and .25 mile off of the trail. It has a group tent site area, 4 individual campsites, and cabins. All options allow for free wifi, showers, water, and are within walking distance to the post office, restaurants, the grocery store and other hotels. Reservations suggested.

Lordsburg Econo Lodge

The Econo Lodge is right along the CDT south of I-10 as you walk into Lordsburg. The manager is a CDT supporter and offers a special rate for CDT travelers. They have free wifi, continental breakfast, and will let you park a car here with a reservation and one night’s stay. Please make reservations directly with them to obtain the CDT hiker rate.

Post Office

Both Hachita and Lordsburg, NM, have US Post Offices and both accept mail drops for CDT hikers and riders.
Lordsburg Post Office – 401 Shakespeare St, Lordsburg, NM 88045; (575) 542-9601
Hachita Post Office – 26 B St, Hachita, NM 88040; (575) 436-2220