Everything Thru-Hikers Need to Know About the CDT: Continental Divide Trail Q&A

Today I wanted to answer as many questions about the Continental Divide Trail as possible. After thru-hiking in 2022, I remember all too well the feeling of overwhelm that can come before taking on this extremely exciting but daunting trail. It certainly is a beast with more unknowns and logistical concerns than the other triple crown trails, so in hopes of helping prospective thru-hikers I wanted to share a little bit of what I know about the Continental Divide Trail.

This video goes over a lot of common CDT questions, including: Should you hike the CDT nobo or sobo? When’s the best time to start the CDT? What is resupply like on the CDT? Where should you send boxes on the CDT? What gear do you wish you’d brought on the CDT? What are the water sources like on the CDT? What alternates should you take on the CDT? How do you find alternates on the CDT? What are the trail towns like on the CDT? What are the BEST trail towns on the CDT? How do you prepare for the CDT? How do you stay motivated on the CDT? How do you deal with bears on the CDT? AND SO MUCH MORE.

If you have any MORE questions, please leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer.

Getting the Jonathan Ley maps:
Download the Avenza Maps App from the App store. Search for “Jonathan Ley” and download the map sets you’ll need for each section. The maps are available for free, but I encourage you to donate to Jonathan to thank him for all of his meticulous work. You can do so by sending money via PayPal to his email: [email protected].

Getting the Farout CDT Alts:
Download the FarOut app: https://bit.ly/3Km90wY from the app store and purchase either the CDT maps or a FarOut subscription. Alts will be obvious once you are looking at each section.

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Blog version: https://www.eliseott.com/backpacking-...

My CDT Series following my 2022 thru-hike:    • Continental Divide Trail Thru-Hike Se...  

My favorite CDT alternates:    • Beyond the CDT: Must-See Alternate Ro...  


*These links are affiliate links which means I receive a small commission if you use them to purchase, at no cost to you! Thanks for your support!

CDT Gear List: https://www.eliseott.com/cdt-gear-list

Specific gear mentioned in this video:
Ursack: https://app.rockporch.com/prd/2frX2zksbW
Sun Umbrella: https://bit.ly/4afF3J8


Remember to always follow LNT!