2 days ago
This trail in New Mexico will take you across the country
**Note: The southern terminus at Crazy Cook Monument may no longer be accessible due to it becoming a National Defense Area.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A total of 3,100 miles. That's how long some people travel to conquer one of the longest trails in America. Whether hikers are just starting their trek or celebrating the end of it, the Continental Divide Trail brings many travelers to New Mexico.
The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail was officially established by Congress in 1978 and traverses five states, situated between Mexico and Canada.
Poll: Where is the best place to go hiking in New Mexico?
The hike is not an easy one, but 150 to 400 hikers will attempt an end-to-end trek each year, according to the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. Some others choose to complete portions of the trail, which also runs through Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
Focusing on New Mexico, the CDT spans about 820 miles in New Mexico from the southern terminus at Crazy Cook Monument in the bootheel of New Mexico to Cumbres Pass in the northern part of the state, next to Colorado.
Hikers will pass through four of New Mexico's national forests: Gila, Cibola, Santa Fe, and Carson, and the ancestral lands of numerous Native American tribes.
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition recommends completing the New Mexico portion of the trail during late September and October when monsoon season is over and the weather is cooler.
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