CDT Action Center

Although the CDT was designated as a National Scenic Trail nearly fifty years ago, about 160 miles of the trail are still routed on highways and busy roadways. Not only are these “gap areas” incompatible with the purposes for which the trail was designated under the National Trails System Act, they also make for an unsafe journey for long-distance hikers and horseback riders seeking a continuous footpath between Mexico and Canada.

As our team heads to Washington D.C. to speak to lawmakers about the importance of the National Trails System, here’s how you can take action to support them.

Preparations have begun for the construction of a barrier at the U.S. Mexico border in the area that encompasses the southern terminus of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT). This is a continually evolving situation, and CDTC will continue to advocate for access to public lands, the preservation of the character of the CDT, and the beneficial outdoor experiences offered throughout southern New Mexico and the Continental Divide.

Across the country, nonprofit organizations and communities are grappling with how to respond to attempts to undermine hard-won environmental laws. Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act was upended, limiting input from local voices in the management of public lands. The US Forest Service is also in the process of revoking the overwhelmingly supported 2001 Roadless Rule.

The CDT Completion Act heads to the full United States Senate for a vote after passing out of committee on a bipartisan vote.

Over the last few months, the BLM has introduced a number of potential changes to how it manages land, which could have significant impacts on the experience of hikers and horseback riders on the CDT.

In April of 2025, the US Department of the Interior transferred control of over 100,000 acres of land along the US-Mexico border in New Mexico to the US Army for three years for the purported purpose of establishing control of the border.