Atlas of the CDT

CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL COALITION

ATLAS OF THE CDT

Contents

4 6 8 10 12 14 16

The Continental Divide Trail Parting of the Waters A National System of Trails CDT by the Numbers Federal Lands Federally owned lands and special management areas

Native Lands Indigenous territories and communities

Watersheds Watersystems originating at the Continental Divide

18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Ecosystems The diverse landscapes of the Rocky Mountains

Wildlife Habitat for big game, keystone mammals, and critical species

Forests Canopy cover, species diversity, and forest loss risk

Fire Major wildfires and future fire risk for the CDT corridor

Community Trail communities, local and global access to the CDT

Stewardship Historic CDTC trail projects and critical gap areas to be closed

Protecting the Trail

CDT Landmark

Continental Divide Trail

3

The Continental Divide Trail The idea of a trail through the West’s most scenic, rugged, diverse, and historic landscapes won the approval of Congress in 1978 when the Continental Divide Trail was officially designated as a National Scenic Trail. The vision for the trail was to create a 3,100-mile predominantly non-motorized trail for all people on or near the Continental Divide—the backbone of America—to allow people to experience the scenic beauty of the Rocky Mountains and to conserve the nationally significant scenic, historic, natural, and cultural qualities critical to the trail’s experience.

The CDT is the highest—14,270’ at Grays Peak, the trail’s highest point—and most remote of the eleven National Scenic Trails, offering exceptional wildlife viewing and dramatic and diverse landscapes. The trail is a window into our past and an open door for adventure and exploring.

The CDT is home to working ranches, small towns, and generations of Americans whose lives are forever etched on the land. It traces the path of lava bridges built by Ancestral Puebloans to travel from one pueblo to another, and the Ooq’ aalx’ Iskit where the Nimiipuu people followed the “Road to the Buffalo.”

It crosses the paths of Mormon families in search of religious freedom, and intersects with the stories of countless prospectors in search of wealth. The trail traverses a changing panorama of crystal clear alpine lakes, glorious mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls, sheer cliffs, glaciers, dense forests, arid deserts, and fields of brilliant wildflowers. The CDT allows modern day explorers to journey among thousands of plant and animal species in their natural settings: through ancient stands of bristle cone pine, aspen groves strewn with columbine, and remote rugged alpine terrain along the spine of the continent.

A CDT Hiker walks along the divide in the Weminuche Wilderness in Southern Colorado. Photo: Matt Berger

Original CDT Planning Map from 1966 Trails for America Report.

5

Parting of the Waters The Continental Divide of the Americas is the principalhydrological divide of the North and South American continents. The Continental Divide extends from the Bering Strait to the Strait of Magellan, and separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from river systems that drain into the Gulf of Mexico and, along the northernmost reaches of the Divide, those that drain into the Hudson Bay.

Triple Divide P

Pacific Ocean

(Near Triple Divide Peak in Glacier N.P.)

In Wyoming, the Continental Divide splits in two for more than 90 miles, creating the Great Divide Basin. Rain that falls over the basin flows neither to the Pacific nor the Atlantic Ocean, but instead simply drains into the arid ground.

In Montana’s Glacier National Park, Triple Divide Peak marks the convergence of the Continental and Laurentian Divides. From this point, water flows to the Huds Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans. on B a y

Peak

The Great Basin Grays Peak

Atlantic Ocean

Crazy Cook

Gulf of Mexico

7

A National System of Trails The United States National Trails System originated as a result of the National Trails System Act of 1968, which called for the establishment of trails in both urban and rural settings for people of all ages, interests, skills, and physical abilities. With it, the Appalachian and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails were established, with the Continental Divide Trail to come 10 years later as the 3rd in the system.

Today there are 11 designated National Scenic Trails and 19 National Historic Trails. Scenic Trails are primarily continuous routes over 100 miles long for non-motorized travel, while Historic Trails are linear networks that recognize original trails or travel routes of historic significance.

Among National Scenic Trails, the Continental Divide Trail is the 2nd longest behind the North Country National Scenic Trail.

It is also the National Scenic Trail that reaches the greatest elevation, with its high point atop Colorado’s Grays Peak and a low point higher than 4,000’ above sea level.

Map: National Park Service.

9

CDT By the Numbers The Continental Divide Trail is a unique product of collaborative management. Offiically administered by the US Forest Service, the trail exists on land managed by three federal agencies, three state governments, and one Native American nation. It travels through 36 special management areas in conditions ranging from untouched wilderness single-track to multi-use motorized trail. Due to the diversity of stakeholders and trail experiences on the CDT, non-government partners, like the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, have played a crucial role in advocating for and facilitating the completion and protection of the trail.

Timeline of the CDT 1966

Public Lands Omnibus bill was passed 2009 giving agency’s willing seller authority to acquire lands for the CDT.

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is proposed to Congress.

The CDT is designated as a National Scenic

1978 Trail by the National Parks and Recreation

2012 Continental Divide Trail Coalition Formed.

Act, which amended the National Trails System Act. Silver City becomes the first CDTC

1978

2014 Gateway Community.

Jean Ella Smith and Lynn Wisehart become the first women to thru-hike the trail from Mexico to Canada.

2018 1985

The CDT Comprehensive Management Plan is approved providing resource protection and the identification of trail corridor.

First dedicated US Forest Service

Memorandum of Understanding signed with US Forest Service naming CDTC as lead national partner.

40th Anniversary of the Continental

2018 Divide Trail.

Interagency Memorandum of

2020 Understanding signed.

1998 funding allocated to the CDT.

U S F S M an

Length of the CDT by Management Status

S USF

42.9%

1312 Miles

ss rne e d l Wi

% 19.3Miles 592

aged Trail

l US Tota

d anage vice M r e S st Fore 7%

Discrepancies in federal land ownership and trail type data were evaluated and re-classified according to CDTC institutional knowledge to create a combined management dataset for the purpose of this analysis. These data may not reflect the perspective of individual management agencies, and both management and allowed use status on the CDT are subject to regular change.

70.

Miles 2164

CD T

The total length of the CDT in 2020 is

3059 Miles

Primary Route - 3028 Miles Chief Mountain Border Crossing Official Alternate - 27 Miles Rocky Mountain National Park Official Alternate - 4 Miles

Trail Conditions

2.7% 0.6% 2 .0%

Management by State

%

14

1.3% 0.2% 2.0%

The trail travels over 600 miles through 24 unique areas managed as wilderness. This includes 22 US Forest Service wilderness areas, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the BLM West Malpais Wilderness.

18

%

1012

7.7%

MILES IN

MONTANA & IDAHO

0.4% 2.5%

51%

17 % %

740

23

COLORADO 2.3%

46%

794 NEW MEXICO

95%

42%

PROTECTED

9.

Approximately 95% of the trail is protected on public land. Land acquisitions or easements are needed to protect the remaining 5% (164 miles) of the trail corridor.

ail

13.3%

408 M iles

CDT

The number 3100 is a rounded estimate of the length of the physical continental divide from Mexico to Canada. It is the symbolic trail mileage used to promote the idea of a continuous route along the spine of the continent. However, advances in collaborative trail management and geographic information systems since 1978 allow us to calculate the exact mileage of the designated CDT on an annual basis as we move closer and closer to completing the trail.

5

260 % Mile s

5.

iles

io 0.2 n 6M %

otor 97 M iles

Nati ona l Par k Se rvice 8.

il G aps

M Ma nage d

3.2%

Tra

Total BL

ized

ed Tr

7.1%

218 M iles

1.9

Why is the CDT not exactly 3100 miles?

3.0%

93 Mile s

BLM M

8.5%

260 Mile s

Mana g

rized

BLM

USFS Moto

BLM W il Wilde derness & rness Study

5.1%

Sta te L and Bla s ckf eet Nat

15%

MILES IN

1%

NON MOTORIZED

7.8%

%

15

3.0 1.6%% 0.6%

73%

The trail is to be managed as primarily nonmotorized. Approximately 27% of the trail exists on routes potentially open to motor vehicle use.

MILES IN

57 % Mile s

%

%

18

CONSTRUCTED TRAIL

The CDT is optimally a well-maintained, constructed single-track trail traversing the most scenic route possible along the continental divide.

29

MILES IN

WYOMING

69%

2.0%

5.0% % 0.3

15%

513

% 25

%

13

21%

MANAGED WILDERNESS

164 4% Mil es

Data: Continental Divide Trail Coalition, US Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management.

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Ca nada

Mon t ana

Idaho

Wyom ing

Colorado

New Mexico

Data: USGS, US Forest Service.

Continental Divide Trail

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Federal Lands As European colonists expanded westward, the U.S government laid claim to vast expanses of “public domain land� taken from or ceded by Native American Tribes. Over 190 million acres of that land became forest reserves managed by the U.S. Forest Service, 250 million acres managed for multiple use by the Bureau of Land Management, and 80 million acres protected for conservation by the National Park Service.

Notwithstanding their inglorious history, today these federal lands are crucial to the preservation of vital and threatened ecosystems across the nation. The Continental Divide Trail, while officially managed by the Forest Service, almost 93% is located on land managed and protected by these three government agencies alone.

United States Forest Service

Bureau of Land Management

408 miles or 13% of the CDT route passes through land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. BLM lands are also managed for multipleuse, but with varying priorities and emphases on conservation.

BLM lands are open rangelands, mineral-rich hillsides, rivers, conserved areas for recreation, and much more. Traveling on the CDT through BLM land may be following faint tracks through 561 miles or 19% of the CDT route open lands or hugging the side of a BLM road. passes through 22 Wilderness The CDT also passes through Areas managed by the U.S. 1 Wilderness and 9 Wilderness Forest service. These areas Study Areas managed by the are closed to motorized and BLM. BLM Wilderness areas mechanized travelers as well as are managed much like Forest commercial forestry and mining to preserve untouched natural Service Wilderness, while habitats. Travel in Forest Service Wilderness Study Areas are Wildernesses is restricted to designated areas with the potential to become Wilderness hikers or equestrians.

Areas or be opened up to nonwilderness use.

2164 miles or 71% of the CDT passes through 20 National Forests managed by the U.S. Forest Service. National Forests are managed for multiple uses including lumber, grazing, mineral extraction, and recreation while prioritizing conservation.

Travel on the CDT through National Forests can range from single track trail to dirt roads open to vehicles, but all through protected public lands.

Other Land

National Park Service 260 miles or 8.5% of the CDT route passes through 3 National Parks and 1 National Monument managed by the U.S. National Park Service.

12 miles of CDT in El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico, crosses the volcanic badlands including part of the historic ZuniAcoma Trail.

37 miles of CDT in Rocky Mountain National Park loops through montane and sub-alpine ecosystems on the western slope of Flattop Mountain.

71 miles of CDT in Yellowstone National Park passes within feet of renowned geothermal sites including Old Faithful in one of the last intact temperate ecosystems in the nation.

140 miles of CDT in Glacier National Park climbs from deep U-shaped valleys up terraced passes to two breathtaking terminuses at Chief Mountain and Waterton Lakes, Alberta.

The Continental Divide Trail also passes through small portions of state-held lands, particularly in New Mexico. These lands may be managed for conservation similar to US Forest Service or BLM land, or reserved for state-owned resource operations.

In places where trail is not easily connected by means of public lands, the offical CDT route directs trail users to hike along roads to avoid crossing private lands. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is dedicated to pursuing easements and helping the US Forest Service acquire land to fully connect the entirety of the CDT route with constructed trail across public land.

13

Ca nada

Mon t ana

Idaho

Wyom ing

Colorado

New Mexico

Data: Native-Lands.ca.

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Native Lands While the Continental Divide Trail is both a remarkable product of the protection of American public lands and a powerful mechanism for further ecological conservation in the Rocky Mountains, it is crucial to recognize that much, if not all, of the land that the trail passes through was taken from Native ownership.

Today the CDT touches Native American trust or fee land only on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in East Glacier, Montana. As the trail is further established and increases in popularity among users of all types, stewards of the CDT have the opportunity and obligation to increase the visibility of Native histories and stories about the CDT corridor.

This map references data compiled by native-land.ca from a variety of sources including: territory maps according to indigenous nations themselves, historical research or maps pertaining to specific nations, conglomerate map sources found online, and colonial map sources. The tribes represented here are not comprehensive and in cases may be defined or grouped according to Western assumptions - however, this map begins to inform a better sense of the historic Native American territories on which the CDT is located.

As work is done to better recognize Native lands along the trail, a very actionable step that steward organizations and users alike can take is to learn more about how tribes expect visitors to respectfully use trails on their land by connecting with present day tribal leadership and historians.

Native Land of the Continental Divide Trail Chiricahua Apache Territory: 57,227mi CDT Length: 598mi States: NM Info: chiricahuaapache.org

2

Pueblos Territory: 8,300mi2 CDT Length: 72mi States: NM Info: indianpueblo.org/19-pueblos

Eastern Shoshone Territory: 71,124mi2 CDT Length: 666mi States: CO, WY, ID, MT Info: easternshoshone.org

Lemhi Shoshone Territory: 5,647mi2 CDT Length: 24mi States: ID, MT Info: easternshoshone.org

Ktunaxa Territory: 107,221mi2 CDT Length: 339mi States: MT Info: ktunaxa.org

Western Apache Territory: 36,509mi CDT Length: 10mi States: NM Info: Multiple contacts

2

Ute Territory: 192,487mi2 CDT Length: 1,046mi States: NM, CO, WY

Info: utetribe.com

Shoshone-Bannock Territory: 101,107mi2 CDT Length: 702mi States: WY, ID, MT Info: sbtribes.com

Salish Kootenai Territory: 21,271mi2 CDT Length: 374mi States: MT Info: csktribes.org

Tsuu T’ina Territory: 69,454mi2 CDT Length: 2mi States: MT Info: ktunaxa.org

Zuni Territory: 15,694mi2 CDT Length: 115mi States: NM Info: ashiwi.org

Cheyenne Territory: 312,183mi2 CDT Length: 795mi States: CO, WY Info: cheyennenation.com

Apsaalooké (Crow) Territory: 132,151mi2 CDT Length: 314mi States: WY Info: crow-nsn.gov

Niitsítapi (Blackfoot) Territory: 100,566 CDT Length: 543mi States: MT Info: blackfoot.org For more maps and information about Native Lands in the United States, Canada, and around the colonized world visit Native-Lands.ca.

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Bighorn

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Wyom ing North Pla t

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iss ou

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Platte

Riv er

South

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ve

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Idaho

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Cl ark

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Green

Colorado Arkansa s River

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Juan River

Ca

San

River Pe co

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New Mexico

Gi

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Continental Divide Trail

Mexico

an de

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Data: USGS.

dia na

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The uniqueness of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail begins with its namesake - the Great Continental Divide of the Americas. While other trails traverse crests that divide watersheds of the same water systems, the Continental Divide Trail intends to follow as closely as possible the hydrologic divide separating all watersheds in North and South America between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Divide tends to follow the highest points of the continent and stretches in its entirety from the Bering Strait in Alaska to the Straight of Magellan in Chile.

Travelers on the Continental Divide Trail traverse the headwaters of 5 major watersheds as well as the Great Divide Closed Basin in Wyoming. Additionally, the trail crosses a third significant divide at Triple Divide Peak in Glacier National Park: the Laurentian Divide separating watersheds flowing to the Atlantic Ocean and the Hudson Bay. Together, water that originates on CDT tread will flow into watersheds that cover 1.8 million square miles of North America and serve almost 80 million people in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

River

Watersheds of the Continental Divide Trail Mississippi River* Terminus: Atlantic Ocean Population: 30 million CDT length: 1000mi Ka

ns as

Riv

*Represents the western Mississippi River system comprised of the Missouri and Arkansas River watersheds.

Missis sip pi

er

r ve Ri

Os age R iv e r

Colorado River Terminus: Pacific Ocean Population: 30 million CDT length: 845mi

Rio Grande

Arkansas R i ve r

Red River

White River

er

Re

uri

Watersheds

Terminus: Atlantic Ocean Population: 10 million CDT length: 662mi

Columbia River Terminus: Pacific Ocean Population: 6 million CDT length: 439mi

Nelson River* Terminus: Hudson Bay Population: 0.4 million CDT length: 92mi *Visible in this map are the tributaries Red River and Old Man River.

Great Divide Basin Terminus: Closed Basin Population: 451 CDT length: 42mi

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Ca nada

Mon t ana

Idaho

Wyom ing

Colorad o

New Mexico

Data: The Nature Conservancy.

Continental Divide Trail

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Ecosystems Beyond providing a scenic experience for human users, the Continental Divide Trail serves as an opportunity to prioritize the conservation of a network of wild lands that create a united landscape corridor along the spine of the continent. Connecting the diverse landscapes and ecosystems of the trail establishes habitat continuity for migratory animals and protects the important ecosystems of the American West.

Major Ecoregions of the Continental Divide Trail

Apache Highlands

Arizona-New Mexico Mountains Southern Rockies

CDT length: 94mi

CDT length: 567mi

CDT length: 929mi

Mountain ranges dubbed “Sky Islands,� covered in pine and conifer forests, rise abruptly from surrounding basins of grassland and shrub.

Interspersed ranges known for large Ponderosa and more species of birds and animals than any other places in the southwest.

An ecoregion spanning diverse forest types, steep elevation gradients and some of the highest peaks in the conterminous United States.

Wyoming Basins

Utah-Wyoming Rockies

Middle Rockies

CDT length: 182mi

CDT length: 321mi

CDT length: 660mi

A sea of sagebrush interspersed with unusual rock formations, sand dunes and sagebrush communities including the Great Divide Closed Basin.

Glacial lakes and geothermal activity are abundant in this region home to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the world’s last intact temperate ecosystems.

Abrupt elevation changes of 3,000ft4,000ft define a rugged landscape of sagebrush grasslands, coniferous forest, and sub-alpine meadows.

Significant Neighboring Ecoregions Chihuahuan Desert The most biologically diverse desert in the western hemisphere and one of the oldest and richest centers of plant evolution in North America.

Colorado Plateau Extensive plains, deep canyons, buttes, mesas and badlands dominate this region defined by the Colorado River watershed.

Northern/Canadian Rockies CDT length: 308mi

Entirely glaciated as recently as 11,400 years ago, this region is defined by high mountain ranges separated by intermontane, U-shaped basins.

Fescue-Mixed Grass Prairie A transitional grassland spanning the American-Canadian border separating shortgrass prairie to the south from boreal forests to the north.

Ecoregions are defined by distinctive geography and uniform environmental conditions.

Those featured here are as defined by the Nature Conservancy.

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Ca nada CROWN OF THE ROCKIES A unique post-glacial ecosystem and the the largest intact habitat for grizzly bears in the United States.

Mont ana

GREATER YELLOWSTONE Considered the most diverse ecosystem in the Rocky Mountains, is the only area containing habitat for all nine species, including large herds of American Bison.

Wyom ing Idaho

NORTH PARK

1

Colorad o

0.04%

0.61%

13.2%

18.7%

18.2%

29.0%

13.7%

5.7%

One of the most diverse big game habitats in Colorado, is also the location of the highest-priority gap along the entire length of the CDT.

8

New Mexico

Habitat Suitability by Number of Species* *Gap Species Data unavailable for Grizzly Bear Habitat

Critical Grey Wolf Habitat Critical Grizzly Bear Habitat Critical American Bison Habitat

GILA RIVER HEADWATERS An incredibly unique montane ecosystem in southern New Mexico, the Gila is the southernmost area where grey wolves can be found in North America.

Focus Area Data: USGS Gap Analysis Species Data, USGS Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team, US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Continental Divide Trail

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Wildlife Protecting the Continental Divide Trail does not just benefit travelers but establishes a corridor that aids in the conservation of habitat for myriad wildlife unique to the Rocky Mountains. This map shows the trail in relation the suitable habitat of nine critical large mammals: four prominent big game species, two nonthreatened keystone species, and three species of significant conservation status.

Critical Large Mammals of the Continental Divide Trail

Elk

Pronghorn

Cervus Canadensis CDT length: 2,664mi

Antilocapra Americana CDT length: 1,458mi

Bighorn Sheep Ovis Canadensis CDT length: 2,319mi

Amazingly adaptable, elk can be found in a wide variety of Rocky Mountain ecosystems and are easily identifiable by their size and distinctive bugle.

Able to run up to 60mph, pronghorn are the fastest land animal in North America and are known for far-ranging migration across open grassland ecosystems.

Found primarily in steep alpine environments, bighorn sheep use their skills as adept climbers to find ideal grazing spots and avoid predation.

Moose

Mountain Lion

Black Bear

Alces Alces CDT length: 1,802mi

Puma Concolor CDT length: 3,059mi

Ursus Americanus CDT length: 2,646mi

The largest member of the deer family, moose can be found in high-mountain meadows or marshes eating up to 70lbs of grasses, reeds and wildflowers a day.

While mountain lions (or cougars) can be found across the trail, encounters are incredibly rare as they are stealth hunters and mostly want to avoid human contact.

Often brown or cinnamon colored when encountered on the CDT, the biggest threat to black bears is human conflict and habituation related to food storage.

Grizzly Bear

Grey Wolf

Ursos Arctos Horribilis CDT length: 720mi

American Bison

Canis Lupus CDT length: 1,580mi

Bison Bison CDT length: 78mi

Once nearly eradicated in the lower 48, grey wolves have been successfully reintroduced in the Northern Rockies and Gila River ecosystems.

Having come back from the edge of extinction since the 19th century, the largest and most important herd in the U.S. can be found in Greater Yellowstone.

Listed as a threatened species, grizzly bears have one of the lowest fertility rates of North American mammals and require habitats of up to 600mi2 for success.

21

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Mont ana

Idaho

Wyom ing

Colorado

New Mexico 6%-15% Predicted B.A. Loss 16%-25% Predicted B.A. Loss 26%-35% Predicted B.A. Loss Greater than 35% Predicted B.A. Loss Data: USDA Conterminous U.S. and Alaska Forest Type Mapping Using Forest Inventory and Analysis Data, USFS 2013-2027 US Forest Service National Forest Risk Assessment study.

Continental Divide Trail

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Forests Forest health significantly impacts the ability to travel safely within the CDT corridor. Across the West, large areas of forest have been impacted by insects and disease. These impacts have been accelerated by the effects of climate change, leaving many forests littered with dead and dying trees. These areas pose an even greater risk of future wildfires, as well as years of deadfall to be cleared by overburdened agency staff and volunteers.

Forest Type Distribution and Risk

28% little to no risk 31% moderate risk 41% severe risk

Ponderosa Pine The primary pine forest type of southern and low-elevation CDT forests, Ponderosas are extremely fire-resistant due to their thick outer bark.

30% little to no risk 60% moderate risk 10% severe risk

3%

Lodgepole Pine

Douglas Fir

The most common species on the CDT, Lodgepole affected by pine beetle account for a large portion of basal loss risk for canopy across the trail.

54% little to no risk 13% moderate risk 33% severe risk

Piñon/Juniper

34%

Aspen

24%

20%

NO PREDICTED BASAL AREA LOSS

1%-5% PREDICTED LOSS

24% little to no risk 66% moderate risk 10% severe risk

20%

Rare Deciduous and Evergreen Oak Woodlands, Cottonwood, Mesquite, and other conifer varieties found sporadically in primary CDT forest types.

44% little to no risk 31% moderate risk 25% severe risk

31%

6%-15% PREDICTED LOSS

A common high alpine mixture in the forests of Colorado northwards, often including blue spruce and other relatives.

Other Forest Type

The most iconic deciduous species of the CDT, the Aspen forests of Colorado’s western slope represent some of the largest organisms on earth.

8%

Englemann Spruce/ Sub-Alpine Fir

36% little to no risk 39% moderate risk 25% severe risk

55% little to no risk 21% moderate risk 24% severe risk

A slow-growing mix primary to high mountain deserts from Colorado south, trees grow dense and short, rarely providing cover for CDT travelers.

47% little to no risk 43% moderate risk 10% severe risk

A popular christmas tree variety, Douglas firs are the primary fir species found in CDT alpine forests as far south as northern New Mexico.

8%

11%

6%

16%-25%

26%-35%

12%

3%

1.6%

Whitebark Pine The only primary species on the CDT classified as endangered, Whitebark are typically the highest-elevation pine from Wyoming northwards.

19% GREATER THAN 35%

Basal Area is the cross-sectional area at breast height used to quantify timber as an agricultural product. Percentages here represent risk to immediate CDT corridor canopy as measured by zonal statistics at intersection of CDT centerline and USFS raster dataset. In species descriptions above, 0%-5% represented as “little to no risk,” 6%-25% represented as “moderate risk,” greater than 26% represented as “severe risk.”

Major Forest Threats in the Continental Divide Trail Corridor Douglas Fir Beetle

Mountain Pine Beetle

Spruce Beetle

Dendroctonus pseudotsugae

Dendroctonus ponderosae

Dendroctonus rufipennis

The Douglas fir beetle is the single greatest bark beetle enemy of Douglas fir tree. When outbreaks occur, it can kill thousands of seemingly healthy trees, striking groups ranging from a few trees to several hundred.

The mountain pine beetle is the most important biotic change agent in western forests. It has been responsible for contributing to the death of many millions of acres of trees in lodgepole and ponderosa pine forests.

The spruce beetle is the most significant biotic disturbance agent of mature spruce. Outbreaks of spruce beetles have dramatically changed the structure and composition of North American spruce forests.

Root Diseases The most damaging group of diseases affecting forest trees in the US - root diseases kill trees, decay wood, slow tree growth, predispose trees to other risk agents, and cause trees to fail or fall over. They impact timber volume, forest composition and structure, ecosystem function, personal safety, and carbon sequestration.

23

Ca nada

Fool Creek Canyon Creek Mont ana

Mussigbrod North Fork Lake Creek Idaho

Wyom ing

Colorado

Canopy Cover

New Mexico

Historic Burn Areas Burn Year

Burn Size 0 - 16,250 acres 16,250 - 32,500 acres

1984

32,500 - 65,000 acres 65,000 - 130,000 acres 2015

Silver

130,000 - 565,115 acres

Data: US Forest Service, USGS.

Continental Divide Trail

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Fire Wildfire plays a large role in shaping on-trail experience and year to year accessibility of hiking on the Continental Divide Trail. Between 1984 and 2015, 340 miles of the CDT were directly affected by fire according to data from the U.S. Forest Service - causing trail closures and reroutes primarily between the months of June and September. Hikers on the CDT can experience the effect of burns decades after they occur, as entire landscapes are wiped of tree cover and vegetation that stabilizes soil and prevents erosion.

It is estimated that 2017 was one of the most destructive wildfire years in the history of the Continental Divide Trail. The Meyers Fire in the Pintler Range, the Scalp Fire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and the Big Red Fire in northern Colorado caused the official closure of a combined 65 miles of trail and forced hikers to circumnavigate roughly double that on road walks out of National Forests. Fires also destroyed the historic Sperry Chalet in Glacier National Park and will necessitate large amounts of restorative trail work in years to come.

Major Wildfires in Continental Divide Trail History

Silver Fire

Lake Creek Fire

North Fork Fire

Date Started: June 7, 2013 Acres Burned: 137,884 CDT Affected: 13.7mi

Date Started: July 11, 1988 Acres Burned: 564,643 CDT Affected: 53.2mi

Date Started: July 22, 1988 Acres Burned: 565,116 CDT Affected: 22.6mi

Started as a result of a lightning strike on the Silver City Ranger District of the Gila National Forest. Water-retaining groundcover on steep slopes were greatly affected within the burn area, significantly increasing erosion risk.

A dry summer and unusually high winds contributed to the landmark 1988 fire year in Yellowstone National Park. The Lake Creek Fire Perimeter represents a series of fires that primarily affected the southern portion of the park.

Also belonging to the 1988 Yellowstone fires that affected 36% of the park, the North Fork Fire began outside the park in the Targhee National Forest. In its course it would move as far south as to threaten the historic Old Faithful Area.

Mussigbrod Fire Complex

Canyon Creek Fire

Fool Creek Fire

Date Started: July 31, 2000 Acres Burned: 64,077 CDT Affected: 15.4mi

Date Started: June 25, 1988 Acres Burned: 167,875 CDT Affected: 12.1mi

Date Started: June 28, 2007 Acres Burned: 53,912 CDT Affected: 15.5mi

Started as a result of a lighting strike near Lake Mussigbrod in the Windom Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the fire largely affected vegetation and groundcover in the Big Hole River watershed.

A lightning strike in the heart of the Scapegoat Wilderness started a fire that was allowed to burn freely in the Scapegoat and neighboring Bob Marshall Wilderness, eventually affecting nearby forest and rangeland as well.

Started by natural causes in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, local foresters eventually pursued “suppression management� after it was deemed that there was a 100% certainty that future wind events would cause the fire to spread.

25

Ca nada

Mont ana

Lincoln Helena Anaconda BOZ

Lemhi County Wyom ing Boise Idaho

JAC

Pinedale Rawlins

Encampment /Riverside

Steamboat Springs

Grand Lake

Cheyenne

DEN

Denver

Leadville/ Twin Lakes

Salida

Colo rado

Lake City South Fork Pagosa Springs Chama Cuba Santa Fe

Grants ABQ

CDT Gateway Communities

New Mexico

101,427 people in 18 communities

Communities within 50 miles 4,855,776 people in 678 communities

Communities within 100 miles 7,183,796 people in 1,234 communities State Capitals

Major Airports

Silver City

Data: US Census American Community Survey 2013-2018 5-Year Estimates.

Continental Divide Trail

Mexico

Community The impact of the CDT on the people that live alongside it cannot be overstated, and it’s been the communities and stakeholders along the trail that have served as its caretakers since its designation in 1978. The trail runs near to 4 state capitals, 2 large metropolitan areas, airports directly serving 50 states and a number of foreign destinations and dozens of rural communities who rely on the CDT as a valuable economic and cultural resource. Designated CDT Gateway Communities along the trail provide unique resources to trailtravelers and partner with CDTC in the promotion and stewardship of the Trail. .1% 40

95.

2%

%

7

W

2.08m

m 100

1.66m

i

80.1%

TOTAL STATE POPULATION AS OF 2019

New Mexico

Idaho

Capital: Santa Fe

Capital: Boise

68mi to CDT at Martinez Canyon

294mi to CDT at Monida Pass

Busiest Airport: Albuquerque

Busiest Airport: Boise

20 domestic destinations 80mi to CDT

24 domestic destinations 292mi to CDT

Colorado 3

Capital: Denver 55mi to CDT at Herman Gulch

% 2.7

%

6.0

1

5.44m

% 4.2

17.

1.03m

Busiest Airport: Denver 187 domestic destinations 28 international destinations 85mi to CDT

68

583k

5%

5

% 68.2

N HI IT

W IT

H

IN

i 0m

.

69

. 7%

Montana

Over half of people living within 100mi of the CDT live in the state of Colorado. With Denver International Airport as the 5th busiest airport in the country and the 20th busiest airport in the world, the most globally accessible spots on the CDT can be found in the Front Range along the I-70 corridor and in Rocky Mountain NP.

Wyoming

Capital: Helena

Capital: Cheyenne

16mi to CDT at MacDonald Pass

130mi to CDT at Rocky Mountain NP

Busiest Airport: Bozeman

Busiest Airport: Jackson Hole

20 domestic destinations 100mi to CDT

13 domestic destinations 47mi to CDT

Continental Divide Trail Gateway Communities Lincoln, MT

Anaconda, MT

Helena, MT

Lemhi County, ID

Pinedale, WY

Population: 748 Distance to CDT: 18mi

Population: 9,131 Distance to CDT: 18mi

Population: 30,345 Distance to CDT: 16mi

Population: 3,126 Distance to CDT: 0mi

Population: 2,003 Distance to CDT: 15mi

CANADA

Grand Lake, CO

Steamboat Springs, CO

Encampment & Riverside, WY

Rawlins, WY

Population: 220 Distance to CDT: 0mi

Population: 12,520 Distance to CDT: 13mi

Population: 554 Distance to CDT: 12mi

Population: 9,112 Distance to CDT: 0mi

Leadville & Twin Lakes, CO Population: 4,580 Distance to CDT: 23mi

Salida, CO

Lake City, CO

South Fork, CO

Pagosa Springs, CO

Population: 5,565 Distance to CDT: 23mi

Population: 418 Distance to CDT: 17mi

Population: 474 Distance to CDT: 21mi

Population: 1,927 Distance to CDT: 23mi

Silver City, NM

Grants, NM

Cuba, NM

Chama, NM

Population: 9,882 Distance to CDT: 0mi

Population: 9,094 Distance to CDT: 0mi

Population: 660 Distance to CDT: 0mi

Population: 1,068 Distance to CDT: 12mi

MEXICO

18 designated CDT Gateway Communities with a combined population of 101k as of Feb 2020.

27

2017

2019 VOLUNTEER PROJECTS

2018

2018

2017

Mon t ana ALICE CREEK

ALICE CREEK MULLAN PASS

CDT HAUL REROUTE CDT HAUL REROUTE YELLOWSTONE

LEMHI PASS YELLOWSTONE

Monida Pass

YELLOWSTONE GREEN RIVER LAKES

Wyom ing

Idaho COLORADO COLLEGE JUNCO CABIN X2 KNIGHT RIDGE

EAST SHORE TRAILHEAD

Muddy Pass HAMILTON CREEK

GRAND LAKE

DEVIL’S THUMB KNIGHT RIDGE BERTHOUD PASS JONES PASS X2

BREW CREW

Colorado

HERMAN GULCH MONARCH CREST

LAGUNITAS MARTINEZ CANYON

HOPEWELL LAKE CANJILLON LAKES

Cuba

New Mexico Pie Town To Grants

Trail Constructed Trail Maintained Feature Constructed Feature Maintained Trail Signed Data: Continental Divide Trail Coalition.

Continental Divide Trail

GILA ALTERNATE SADDLEROCK CANYON

Mangas Valley

Mexico

Stewardship The Continental Divide Trail Coalition works closely with federal and local partners across the trail to actively contribute to the completion and protection of the trail in organizing routine trail maintenance and projects as well as connecting major gap areas in constructed trail. Pictured here is a snapshot of CDTC’s stewardship over the past three years, as well as major project areas that will be the focus of work to come.

2017 CDTC Project Outcomes

2018 CDTC Project Outcomes

2019 CDTC Project Outcomes

13,200ft Trail Constructed

900ft Trail Constructed

480ft Trail Constructed

49,120ft Trail Maintained

64,486ft Trail Maintained

99,161ft Trail Maintained

125 Features Constructed

167 Features Constructed

69 Features Constructed

65 Features Maintained

12 Features Maintained

275 Features Maintained

48 Unique Signage Installed

83 Unique Signage Installed

54 Unique Signage Installed

Major Gap Areas of the Continental Divide Trail Mangas Valley

Muddy Pass

Pie Town to Grants

Gap Length: 19mi

Gap Length: 15mi

Gap Length: 83mi

New Forest Service-built sections await connection north of where travelers must currently leave the Burros for a dangerous journey back to trail in the Gila NF.

Travelers must connect trail in the Medicine Bow-Routt NF Parks District with Rabbit Ears TH across high-speed highway in wildlife-abundant North Park.

A diverse patchwork of land ownership creates a challenging series of gaps in connecting the Gila NF with El Malpais NM and the Cibola NF over public lands.

Mt Taylor

Grants Muddy Pass

Silver City

Chain of Craters WSA

Monida Pass

Cuba

Gap Length: 10mi

Gap Length: 6mi

Travelers must use dirt roads to connect existing built trail sections on either side of I-15 in Idaho’s Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

Connection across BLM and NM state lands is all that is needed to link travellers coming from Mesa Portales to new Forest Service trail in the Santa Fe NF.

El Malpais National Monument West Malpais Wilderness

San Pedro Parks Wilderness

Pie Town

Monida Pass

Cuba

Official Trail

Forest Service

Connecting Route

Bureau of Land Management

Construted Reroute

National Park Service

Potential Reroute Area

State Lands

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Protecting the Trail Trail Completion Projects One of CDTC’s primary goals is to help establish a continuous route for the CDT that is 100% protected on public lands. CDTC works directly with federal agencies, local partners, tribes, landowners, and stakeholders in a handful of high-priority project areas to identify, plan, and execute construction of optimally-located, highly-scenic connecting trail.

Muddy Pass Colorado

PLANNING LAND ACQUISITION CONSTRUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE

$60,000 $2.5 MILLION $227,500 $9,000

$2.9 MILLION

Connecting the trail across Muddy Pass will require cooperation between the Forest Service, BLM, Colorado State Lands, and local landowners willing to sell small tracts of land or negotiate easements. The hazardous condition of the current road walk makes this project CDTC’s highest priority, both for human safety as well as the potential to create ecosystem connectivity and hunting access in one of the most significant big-game habitats in Colorado.

Cochetopa Hills Colorado

PLANNING CONSTRUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE

$26,000 $78,000 $4,700

$280,825

While already protected on public land, the CDT segment in the Cochetopa Hills is coaligned with motorized use that is not compatible with the intended nature and purpose of the trail. Working directly with the Forest Service and local stakeholders, CDTC intends to assist in rerouting the trail to a more optimal alignment.

Cuba New Mexico

PLANNING LAND ACQUISITION CONSTRUCTION BRIDGE & PEDESTRIAN ACCESS

$15,000 $50,000 $75,000 $500,000

$1.5 MILLION $640,000

With a high-quality reroute already constructed on the Santa Fe NF south of San Pedro Parks Wilderness, CDTC will be working with agency partners and landowners over the next 1-2 years to secure access and construct trail connecting Mesa Portales and the new reroute.

Pie Town to Grants New Mexico

PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION LAND ACQUISITION CONSTRUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE

$69,000 $1 MILLION $390,000 $12,500

$1.5 MILLION

This large project area contains several, smaller gaps that must be addressed individually to connect trail from the Gila National Forest to the Mt Taylor TH. Collaboration between the NPS, BLM, and Pueblo of Acoma is underway to create trail betrween El Malpais and Grants, while an alignment is proposed to route trail through the BLM’s Alamocita Creek property south of El Malpais.

Mangas Valley New Mexico

PLANNING CONSTRUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE

$26,000 $78,000 $4,700

To address a 19-mile road walk on US Highway 180, BLM and State Trust Lands are in negotiations to provide easements to connect already-built reroutes in the the Burro Range and near Bear Mountain, west of Little Walnut TH. Access across nearby private parcels is requisite for the project to succeed, so local support for the CDT is critical.

$108,700

$128,200

$48,700 $44,100 $20,000 $15,400

PROGRAM MANAGER PROGRAM COORDINATOR SEASONAL TRAIL CREW LEADER CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE

Field Programs

CDTC works with dozens of land agencies and local partners along the CDT to actively move the CDT closer to completion and protection.

Annually, Field Programs organizes trail maintenance & construction projects along all 3,100 miles of trail and builds & trains a cohort of committed Trail Adopters who steward the CDT in their regions.

$62,200

$46,400 $15,800

GATEWAY COMMUNITY MANAGER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EXPENSES

Gateway Community Program

The CDT Gateway Community Program builds mutually beneficial relationships with communities along the Trail to implement placebased stewardship initiatives while bolstering the local outdoor recreation economy. This community-driven program continues to grow and expand the grassroots network of CDT advocates and stewards.

Corridor Protection & Conservation $22,900

$10,000 $10,000 $1,650 $1,250

PROJECT PLANNING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION CITIZEN SCIENCE MONITORING TOOLS OTHER SUPPLIES

Pilot Wildlife Inventory Project Gila National Forest

CDTC and land agency partners have identified other critical needs that will help ensure the long-term resilience of the CDT landscape, including large-scale wildlife studies, climate change impact analysis, and specific watershed protection measures. Additional funding capacity has the potential to open the door for a dedicated conservation program, specialized internships, and more. Above is an example project that can be made possible if funding becomes available.

How to Help The Continental Divide Trail Coalition relies on new relationships and ideas to realize our mission of completing, promoting and protecting the CDT. Whether you’re interested in volunteering individually or as a group, or in contributing financially to any of these important initiatives, CDTC is excited to partner with you in working to protect and complete the trail for generations to come.

31

Matt “Sheriff Woody” Berger Front Cover: Kate Bobal

CONTACT

PARTNERSHIPS

Continental Divide Trail Coalition 710 10th Street, Suite 200 Golden, CO 80401 info@continentaldividetrail.org

Lauren Murray - Development Director lmurray@continentaldividetrail.org

visit www.continentaldividetrail.org

GATEWAY COMMUNITIES CDTC Gateway Community Coordinator gateway@continentaldividetrail.org

or contact any and all programs listed here to learn more about how to support the Continental Divide Trail.

STEWARDSHIP

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MAPS & GIS

Teresa Martinez tmartinez@continentaldividetrail.org

CDTC GIS Program Manager gis@continentaldividetrail.org

CDTC Field Programs volunteer@continentaldividetrail.org

©CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL COALITION