Trail Management & Cooperative Stewardship Policies 

Designated in 1978 by amendment to the National Trails System Act, the Continental Divide Trail traverses the spine of the North American continent through 21 National Forests, 4 National Park Units, 13 BLM Resource Areas, 2 National Monuments, and a patchwork of other private, local, state, Tribal, and federal lands. As the lead public partner in the stewardship of the CDT, the United States Forest Service has assembled a Management Toolbox to help provide consistent guidance across the lands and waters the CDT travels.

As the lead private partner in the stewardship of the CDT, the CDT Coalition has adopted policies to guide the organization’s work, communicate CDTC’s position on actions impacting the trail, and provide consistency in CDTC’s facilitation of the cooperative stewardship of the CDT. Policies are drafted and recommended by CDTC’s Trail and Lands Committee (TLC) composed of CDTC staff, Board Members, and volunteers. Policies are then shared with CDT partners, stakeholders, communities, Tribal governments, and visitors for review and changes are suggested to the TLC, before being submitted to CDTC’s Board of Directors for approval.