ANACONDA, Mt. (June 13, 2019) – While Anaconda has been known for decades as the home of The Stack, the town has recently gained fame for something else entirely – the incredible outdoor recreation potential just waiting to be discovered by visitors and locals alike. In the latest development in the town’s burgeoning reputation as a hub for those looking to get outside, Anaconda is set to become a Continental Divide Trail (CDT) Gateway Community. On Saturday, June 29th, in Washoe Park, representatives from Anaconda-Deer Lodge County and the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) will join to officially designate Anaconda as part of the growing network of towns and counties that are renowned for welcoming those traveling on the 3,100-mile National Scenic Trail.

“We are thrilled to welcome Anaconda as an official CDT Gateway Community,” said Teresa Martinez, Executive Director of the CDTC. “This designation helps us celebrate the important connections between those who travel the CDT, and the communities that live along the Trail. Anaconda is such a welcoming town, and a great place to stage an exploration of the rugged Anaconda-Pintlers – it’s a perfect fit for our grassroots movement to complete, promote and protect the CDT.”

Launched in 2013 by the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, the CDT Gateway Community program serves to help communities benefit from their proximity to the CDT. Gateway Communities are recognized for their part in promoting awareness and stewardship of the CDT and creating a welcoming environment for people traveling along the Trail. Since 2016, volunteers from the Anaconda Trail Society have run an Adventure Camp in Washoe Park to welcome long-distance hikers and cyclists to town with free bike loans, WiFi, and other resources.

“People in Anaconda truly embrace outdoor activity,” said Robin McKernan, Chair of the Anaconda Trail Society. “We love to hike, ski, and camp, and we are excited to be sharing our community and its gorgeous surroundings with those traveling through Anaconda. CDT Gateway Community designation will bolster our local economy by reinforcing the identity of Anaconda as a major stop along the Trail. Whether people are hiking the entire 3,100 miles or just looking for a beautiful place to spend a weekend with their families, we know that folks using the CDT will feel welcome in Anaconda.

To make the designation official, members of the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission and Ms. Martinez will co-sign a proclamation in Washoe Park at the Anaconda Trail Society Adventure Camp at 2 PM on Saturday, June 29. The ceremony will be followed by a celebration for the community of Anaconda where members of the public can learn more about the CDT and enjoy an afternoon in the park. The public is encouraged to attend.

 
Anaconda residents are eager to welcome travelers, and the town boasts many trail-friendly amenities in its walkable downtown business district filled with restaurants, coffee shops, a post office, and the Hearst Free Library. Within Anaconda’s backyard lies the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness–and the classic section of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) that runs through it. The 158,656-acre wilderness, tucked in the southwestern corner of the state, is named for the Anaconda Range. About 65 miles of the CDT traverses the backbone of the wilderness, hewing close to the Continental Divide of the Americas, which separates the waters flowing to the Atlantic and the Pacific.

 
About the Continental Divide Trail
The CDT is one of the world’s premiere long-distance trails, stretching 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada along the Continental Divide. Designated by Congress in 1978, the CDT is the highest, most challenging and most remote of the 11 National Scenic Trails. It provides recreational opportunities ranging from hiking to horseback riding to hunting for thousands of visitors each year. While 95% of the CDT is located on public land, approximately 150 miles are still in need of protection.

 
About the Continental Divide Trail Coalition
The CDTC was founded in 2012 by volunteers and recreationists hoping to provide a unified voice for the Trail. Working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Forest Service and other federal land management agencies, the CDTC is a non-profit partner supporting stewardship of the CDT. The mission of the CDTC is to complete, promote and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, a world-class national resource. For more information, please visit continentaldividetrail.org.