The Continental Divide of North America is a naturally occurring ridge that splits the eastern and western watersheds. It follows the Rocky Mountain Range and we are lucky to have access to the western side in Southwest Colorado.
What is the Continental Divide?
The Continental Divide of North America, also known as the Great Divide, starts in western Alaska following the Rocky Mountains south into Mexico’s Sierra Madres Occidental Mountains, through Central America, and finishes along the Andes in South America. This divide determines whether water will flow west into the Pacific Ocean or east into the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, or the Gulf of Mexico.
Every continent has a continental divide such as the Great Dividing Range found in Australia. North America has two (or four, depending on which scientist you ask). Sometimes, these divides lead to internal bodies of water, like Lake Chad. This is more common in deserts, such as the Sahara Desert in Africa.
The Continental Divide Trail
The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) spans 3,100 miles from the US/Canada border through five states ending in New Mexico at the Mexican border. Beginning in Montana and the peaks of Glacier National Park, it follows part of the Idaho/Montana border to the Wyoming state line and into Yellowstone National Park. Descending into Colorado, it winds through Rocky Mountain National Park down to Leadville and Twin Lakes. It comes as far west as San Juan County and the Weminuche Wilderness, about an hour drive north of Durango. New Mexico’s sandy deserts complete the CDT and its many scenic vistas. The CDT is often confused with the Colorado Trail (CT) which offers 567 miles of trail between Denver, CO and Durango, CO.
If hiking the entire 3,100 miles seems a bit too daunting, there are many sections of the CDT to enjoy as an out and back in a day or camping for a night or two. Popular sections include the East Shore Trail, Lewis and Clark Pass, Warren Lake, Centennial Mountains, Sweetwater Bridge, and Wolf Creek Pass to Rock Lake.
As one of America’s 11 National Scenic Trail Systems alongside the Appalachian Trail, Natchez Trace, Pacific Crest Trail, just to name a few, it’s classified as one of the United State’s amazing landmarks and recreational opportunities. Please don’t hesitate to contact The Durango Team at The Wells Group if you have any questions about hiking in Durango, CO or Southwest Colorado.
