WASHINGTON, DC —The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act out of committee through a voice vote on Wednesday morning. The bill, which would direct the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to prioritize completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) within ten years of enactment, will now move to the full Senate for consideration. 

The CDT Completion Act has bipartisan support from states along the CDT and is sponsored by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). During the committee hearing on the bill, Ranking Member Heinrich said of the CDT:

The trail is part of the Triple Crown of hiking and brings visitors from around the world to climb the spine of the North American continent. For the mountain towns along the way, the trail really means economic development. It means good jobs, and it means money in their pockets. The Continental Divide Trail is not just for thru-hikers. For many New Mexicans, the CDT is their local trail, the trail where they walk their dog or spend time with their families. 

Teresa Martinez, Executive Director of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, also celebrated the bill's passage out of committee. 

“Today’s vote is a significant step towards completion of the Continental Divide Trail and a powerful example of bipartisan collaboration. The CDT Completion Act is essential to protecting access to the beloved landscapes along the Continental Divide that connect communities to public lands and to each other," said Martinez. 

The Continental Divide Trail Completion Act passed out of committee alongside several other bills focused on federal public lands. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), Chairman of the Committee, described the bills as “targeted, very community-driven measures” which “address real needs in real places.”

The CDT was designated as a National Scenic Trail in 1978. Nearly fifty years later, 160 miles of the trail are still routed on highways and busy roadways. These “gap areas” are incompatible with the purposes for which the trail was designated and make for an unsafe journey for long-distance hikers and horseback riders seeking a continuous path between Mexico and Canada. Major gap areas remain in all five states through which the CDT passes, with significant gaps in northern New Mexico, northern Colorado, southern Wyoming, and along the Idaho-Montana border.

In addition to creating a continuous, protected border-to-border footpath, completion of the CDT will improve access to public lands for local communities, for whom the CDT often serves as a gateway to hiking, hunting, horseback riding, fishing, camping, and other outdoor recreation activities. 

The CDT Completion Act directs a Trail Completion Team, composed of staff from the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, to relocate these CDT off of gap areas onto safe, protected, enjoyable, and scenic trails. The CDT Completion Act does not directly acquire any lands, and the bill establishes that eminent domain will never be used in the completion of the CDT. Any government spending required to complete the CDT would be subject to congressional appropriations processes. In the House of Representatives, the bill is sponsored by Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)

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About the Continental Divide Trail

The CDT is one of the world’s premier 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 160 miles are still in need of protection.

About the Continental Divide Trail Coalition

The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is the leading nonprofit partner working to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Through advocacy, stewardship, and community engagement, CDTC ensures the CDT remains a treasured resource for adventure, conservation, and inspiration. Learn more at cdtcoalition.org.