Trail Completion
What Do You Mean The CDT Isn’t Complete?
Although thousands of people enjoy the CDT every year, it is still not complete. Approximately 5% of the trail is not located on protected, public lands; 23% is open to motorized use; and only 69% is on the optimal single-track trail along the most scenic route possible.
To complete a continuous path between the US borders with Mexico and Canada, gap routes have been identified. Gap routes represent informal connections between protected CDT tread. These routes typically require travelers to use local roads and busy highways. These routes can have safety concerns, lead to user conflict, and do not meet the CDT experience.
Legislative Timelines of CDT Completion
1978
Congress designates the CDT as a National Scenic Trail
2009
Public Lands Ominbus grants willing: seller authorization to agencies
2020
The Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act secures consistent funding for the Land & Water Conservation Fund
2021
The Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act secures consistent funding for the Land & Water Conservation Fund
2022
The bipartisan CDT Completion Act was introduced to the U.S. Senate by Senator Hannach and Senator Daines
118th Congress Progress Report
House
March 2023: Introduced by Rep Neguse (CO)
Co Sponsors: Rep. Neger Fernandez (NM), Rep. Stansbury (NM), Rep. Vasquez (NM)
Senate
March 2023: Introduced by Senator Heirnetch (NM) & Senator Daines (MT)
June 2023: Hearing in the Subcommittee on National Parks
Dec 2023: Reported favorably out of in the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee
What Is Considered A Gap In The Trail?
CDTC’s Trail and Lands Conservation Program is working on closing these gaps. Following the Optimal Location Review process, working groups have been formed to find solutions for completing the CDT in Mangas Valley, Pie Town, El Malpais, Cuba, and Muddy Pass.
Notable minor gaps are FR236 north of Mt. Taylor, Cochetopa Hills in southern Colorado, and the checkerboarded lands north and south of Rawlins, WY. CDTC is working with partners: Cibola National Forest, Colorado Trail Foundation, and BLM Rawlins Field Office to move these segments off of motorized routes and onto scenic, single-track trail.
Major Gap
A gap route that follows roads through unprotected lands such as private lands. Approximately 165 miles are located in major gaps (see map).
Minor Gap
A gap route that follows motorized roads through public lands such as a Forest Service or BLM road. (insert mileage of minor gaps/motorized sections from SOTT statistics)
Challenges We Face
Challenges for completing the CDT through major gaps include private lands and sensitive wildlife habitat. Acquisition of easements or land for completing the Trail may require a long or uncertain wait. The collaboration between CDTC, working groups, and partners continues to move closer to completing the CDT! Notable accomplishments and tools that help with completion include:
- Permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund
- Great American Outdoors Act
- Dingell Act Priority Public Access Program
- Creation of National Scenic Trail budget line item for the Bureau of Land Management
- Inventory and Monitoring for National Scenic and Historic Trails
Link to current policy:
- CDT Completion Act
- Fix CRUS
- Others
Your support for the CDT through volunteering for trail maintenance, donating to CDTC, supporting CDT policy, and spreading the love of the CDT helps complete the trail.
| Gap Name | Length | State | Closest Town | Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lordsburg | 2 | New Mexico | Lordsburg | Private land, Highway right of way |
| Mangas Valley | 25 | New Mexico | Silver City | Private land, wildlife and ranching |
| Pie Town | 47 | New Mexico | Pie Town | Private land |
| El Malpais NW | 9 | New Mexico | Grants | Sensitive resources |
| El Malpais NE | 27 | New Mexico | Grants | Private land, Sensitive Resources |
| Cuba | 10 | New Mexico | Cuba | Private land |
| Muddy Pass | 15 | Colorado | Steamboat Springs | Private land, Wildlife |
| Rawlins South | 1.4 | Wyoming | Rawlins | Private land |
| Rawlins North | 1 | Wyoming | Rawlins | Private land |
| Big Hole | 1.4 | Montana | Anaconda | Private land |
| Butte I-15 South | 9 | Montana | Butte | Private land |
| Butte I-15 North | 5.7 | Montana | Butte | Private land |
| Monida Pass | 10.5 | Idaho | Monida | Private land |
| Cadotte Pass | 1 | Montana | Lincoln | Private land |
New Mexico – El Malpais Trail Gap
Overview
South of Grants, a CDT Gateway Community, the El Malpais section of the CDT passes through El Malpais National Monument (NPS) and El Malpais National Conservation Area (BLM). These are stolen lands of the Zuni and Acoma people. The existing CDT through this section follows the physical Continental Divide through the Chain of Craters and Wilderness areas for 31 miles.. The Trail also follows the Zuni-Acoma trail (7.5 miles), a route that has connected these communities for at least a thousand years. More about the Zuni-Acoma Trail
The El Malpais gap is part of a larger trail “gap” between Pie Town and Grants, NM. The Pie Town to Grants gap is a total of 83 miles. The El Malpais gap addresses approximately 36 miles of motorized dirt and paved roads through unprotected lands. These roads include high traffic and high-speed roads such as highways NM117 and NM53. The working group is in the process of scouting routes and working with adjacent landowners to complete the CDT in El Malpais.
A popular alternative for long distance users is Sand Canyon, NM117, Narrows Rim trail, and La Ventana arch. However, this unofficial route has caused impacts to sensitive resources and erosion from user created trails. Long term these impacts and alternative route may be addressed as a side and connecting trail to the CDT, making an El Malpais loop.
Partners and stakeholders
Bureau of Land Management – Rio Puerco Field Office , El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA), and NM State Office; NPS – El Malpais National Monument, Cibola National Forest – Mt. Taylor District, Pueblo of Acoma, City of Grants, Cibola Trails Alliance, CDTC
Colorado - Muddy Pass
Between the communities of Kremmling, Walden, and Steamboat Springs lies the Muddy Pass section of the Continental Divide within Colorado’s North Park landscape. The current Continental Divide Trail route in this area forces users along US HWY 40 and CO HWY 14 for a stretch of about 14 miles. Jake Warnica, the Field Technician Intern based in Granby, CO has been focused on creating a story map of this “gap” along the CDT. This project highlights the history of Muddy Pass and its surrounding communities as well as provides information for the public regarding why the gap remains today and the challenges involved in CDTC’s efforts to close it. The use of a story map helps to visualize these issues for the public by combining data from organizations like the Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This data highlights factors such as wildlife habitat, environmental sensitivities, and public vs non public lands in the region. Through collaboration with the local communities and land managers alongside these types of initiatives, CDTC hopes to secure a protected and safe route within the North Park region for future generations.