The CDNST Experience

As stated in the CDNST Comprehensive Plan, “the nature and purposes of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail are to provide for high quality, scenic, primitive hiking and horseback-riding, non-motorized recreational experiences and to conserve natural, historic, and cultural resources along the Continental Divide.”  As stated in the CDNST Study Report (page 14)  “One of the primary purposes for establishing the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail would be to provide hiking and horseback access to those lands where man's impact on the environment has not been adverse to a substantial degree and where the environment remains relatively unaltered. Therefore, the protection of the land resource must remain a paramount consideration in establishing and managing the trail and its corridor. There must be sufficient environmental controls to assure that the values for which the trail is established are not jeopardized ”.

Some general findings from the CDNST Study Report that assist in describing these terms include:

a)     “Designation and establishment of a 3,100 mile Continental Divide Trail…would provide the American people with recreational opportunities of national significance and that trail users would wind their way through some of the most spectacular scenery in the United States and have an opportunity to enjoy a greater diversity of physcial and natural qualities than found on any other extended trail.” (Study Report; page 4)

b)    The Study Report also “advocates that the most minimal development standards consistent with these circumstances be employed..the trail should be regarded as a simple facility for the hiker-horseman.” (Study Report; page 8)

c)     The Study Report describes the trail experience as an “intimate one, where one can walk or ride horseback across vast fields of wildflowers and contemplate a story dating from the dawn of earth’s history…along the way the tranquility of the alpine meadows, verdent forests and semi—desert landscape overwhelms anyone who passes that way. The Trail would provide the traveler his best encounter with the Continental Divide—its serenity and pure air—and would supply for every trail traveler some of the world’s most sublime scenes.” (Study Report; page 18)

The Study Report further identifies the significant qualities, characteristics and trail opportunities of the proposed CDNST in five representative segments on pages 20-52.  Excerpts include:

1.     Scenic Qualities: Spectacular Scenery of the quality and magnitude along the proposed CDT route is not available anywhere in the Continental United States. The trail traverses a variety of terrain, including high desert, forests, geologic formations, and mountain meadows.  Flora abounds in the near views, while distant views of major valleys and maintain peaks are exceptional.  (Study Report page 98)

2.     Cultural Qualities: There are significant segments of the trail and adjacent trails that were used by early-day Indians, ancient cliff-dwelling tribes, Spanish explorers and mountain men in their travels within and through the Continental Divide area.  Little visible evidence is left of these activities; however, through interpretative signing, trail users will be alerted to the cultural significance of the area. (Study Report page 101)

3.     Historic Qualities: Many signs of historical activity are within the vicinity of the trail and throughout its entire length. Thus, any person visiting the area may have some advance knowledge of the historical significance of the area to make the visit more meaningful. (Study Report page 103)

4.     Natural Qualities: The “visitor” of the proposed route of the CDNST would encounter a great variety of terrain, geology, climate, and plant and animal life.  This would include the unique and unusual character of Glacier, Yellowstone and the Rocky Mountain National Parks and the back-country solitude of 16 (now 25) National Forest Wilderness and primitive Areas, as well as the living quality of the Red Desert of Wyoming.  Certain plants, trees, and animals that may be observed along the Trail are unique to the area traversed.  (Study Report page104, as modified)

Pulling all of this together, CDTC defines the CDNST Experience as a continuous trail in nature from the Mexico-New Mexico Border to Montana–Canada Border for travel primarily by hikers and equestrians through the wild, scenic, forested, desert and culturally significant lands of the Rocky Mountains.  It is usually a simple path, purposeful in direction and concept, favoring the Continental Divide and located for minimum construction to protect the resource. The body of the Trail is the lands it traverses and its soul is in the living stewardship of the volunteers and workers of the Trail community.

CDTC is working to develop and encourage consistent management direction for the CDNST across differ­ent administrative unit boundaries. We utilize the direction as expressed by the CDNST Comprehensive Plan as our baseline and final word because we feel it offers all administrative units responsible for managing the Trail and its corridor the necessary information and direction to fulfill the intent of the National Trail System Act and ensures consistent administrative treatment and protection of the Trail’s recreational, natural, and cultural resources.