[2] The CDT follows the Continental Divide of the Americas along the Rocky Mountains and traverses five U.S. states — Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.

The CDT was described in 2013 by a Triple Crown hiker as "Raw, wild, remote and unfinished; it is a trail that will make use of all the skills of an experienced backpacker.

In 1978, the Continental Divide Trail was formally established with the responsibility for management given to the U.S. Forest Service.

As of the end of the application period in late 2021, 525 hikers have been designated Triple Crowners since 1994 by the American Long Distance Hiking Association—West.

[7][8] Successfully thru-hiking the entire Continental Divide Trail takes an average of five months.

The purists hike a "continuous and unbroken footpath between Mexico and Canada," but about 50 percent of the thru-hikers admit to having skipped small sections of road-walking or because the trail was closed, mostly due to forest fires or snow.

A few hikers, especially those attempting to set speed records, are "supported," meaning they have helpers who meet or accompany them along the trail and perform non-hiking tasks, such as food preparation.

[9][10] Permits are required to hike or camp along some sections of the trail and a passport is needed to cross the Canadian border.

If hikers begin too early they may encounter heavy and near impassable snow conditions in the southern San Juan and San Juan Mountains of Colorado, and if the hiker finishes too late they may encounter heavy and near impassable snow in Glacier National Park near the Canadian border.

A few thru-hikers hike southbound (SOBO) from the Canadian border beginning in June and finishing in October or November.

[12] In 1978 three women hiked the entire trail: Nancy Andujar and the team of Jean Ella and Lynne Wisegart.

In 2022, for example, more than 300 miles of the CDT were closed for one month due to drought conditions causing fire hazards.

The Crazy Cook Monument in New Mexico's bootheel is the most commonly used starting or finishing point of the CDT, but due to its remote location lacks lodging and other services.

Several additional mountains with elevations of more than 14,000 feet (4,300 m) are near the trail Colorado was voted the most difficult state for thru-hikers by 81.2 percent of 235 respondents in a 2022 survey.

Forest fires often result in parts of the trail being closed and the hiker must take alternative routes.

Another hazard to hikers is Colorado's 'monsoon season' with violent afternoon thunderstorms that are common in July and August on high mountain ridges[29][30] Notable points on the CDT in Colorado from south to north include:[31][27][1] The official route of the CDT in Wyoming is 513 miles (826 km) long,[1] although several alternate routes shorten or lengthen that distance.

The lowest elevation of the trail in Wyoming is 6,522 feet (1,988 m) about 12 miles (19 km) north of Rawlins.

[24] and the highest elevation in Wyoming is 11,115 feet (3,388 m) at Lester Pass in the Bridger Wilderness of the Wind River Range.

[24] The Rocky Mountains of Colorado terminate in southern Wyoming and the CDT passes through a long section of desert range-land in the middle of the state, known as the Great Divide Basin.

For the next 358 miles (576 km) the trail closely follows the border of Idaho and Montana, which is also the Continental Divide.

MWA staff work to maintain the CDT in Montana and Idaho with the help of volunteers and agency partners.