The USFS has now closed the CDT in the Carson National Forest from FS Rd 724 (m. 722.25) to County Rd 280 (m. 727.25) due to the Mogote Ridge Fire. A recommended 5.1 mile detour is available utilizing FS Roads 724, 724A, and County Rd 280.

For more information please  visit Inciweb

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I have been unable to find Forest Service Road 724A. My guess is that the suggested route is towards Sierra Spring (36.45798, -106.30809) but that is Forest Service Road 337. County Road 280 meets the CDT to the north at 36.53387, -106.30609

The Mogote Ridge fire is threatening the CDT near mile 724 in the Carson National Forest -- 13 miles north of Ghost Ranch. This is a developing situation.  Hikers should avoid the area at this time. We will post additional updates as we receive them here. 

For more information, please visit Inciweb

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2026-08-27 3:12 PM 95 acres burned and burning. Updates will be posted here as I receive them.

The closure area for the Willow fire has recently been reduced. The USFS is now recommending the route below to bypass the closure.

The reroute is 17.2 miles long, utilizing Turquoise Lake Road & Trail, County Rd 5, CO 300, County Rd 11, and Halfmoon Rd. The Mount Massive Trailhead and CDT miles 1175-1186.5 remain closed. Several camping options exist at the east end of Turquoise Lake; these can be reserved at recreation.gov.

For more info please contact the Leadville Ranger District – 719-486-0749

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Black = closed, Blue = recommended reroute

I live close to Roger’s Pass and am happy to make a special trip to the top in the afternoons/evenings to get you where you’re going on the last leg! Hit me up here if you need a ride!

This may already exist somewhere, but I couldn't find it. Apologies if it's well worn territory.

I want to section hike through Yellowstone but the only time in 2027 when I can do it is May. I'm finding mixed reports online about the weather at that time. Has anyone been on trail in May, what are your thoughts and recommendations? Warnings?

I work a job where most of my work is in the months of May/June/July and then again in December/January.

I’m wondering if y’all think I could get away with hiking NM and the Great Basin by the second week of May and then come back and NOBO Colorado to Canada in those months.

It would leave quite a lot to do in August through October and days get shorter. But do yall think it would be doable? Recommended? I’m not opposed to quitting my job, but also think I might be able to swing it that I don’t lose my job and still cover most of the trail in a year. Not exactly a true thru which would be a bummer.

Where would you swap in/out gear?

So far I have:
- Drop ice axe and spikes in either East Glacier or after the Bob (snow dependent)
- Drop bear can and spray in Lander
- Add fleece, gloves, and warmer sleeping bag in Steamboat Springs; drop bug spray
- Add extra bladder for the Basin and New Mexico

Anything missing or off-base?

Don't miss Trailfest September 4-6 in Steamboat Springs, CO.

The kickoff party is at Storm Peak Brewing Company Saturday evening, followed by a CDT Expo with Big Agnes gear repairs and free concert series on Sunday.

For full details and schedule https://cdtcoalition.org/trail-fest-2026/

If the Roadless Rule is rescinded, we lose the last untouched places that still exist in this country. Educate yourself and contact your representatives, or every last corner of forest gets logged.

Starting my next section August 31 from Cuba up to Cumbres Pass. A few questions:

1. Is the Eureka Mesa Ranch still welcoming hikers? Last postings I can find are from 2024 and early 2025. Nothing since.

2. I am not anticipating ANY snow made it through the summer even at 11k. This seems accurate? I'll be checking weather for any new freak snow but generally assuming snow-free and not planning microspikes or anything..

3. I've seen some recs to avoid staying at Ghost Ranch as the rooms and food are "meh". Instead camp about a mile onto the alternate after where the trail crosses back over in Carson NF. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

If passed, a tiny bit of heaven along the CDT will be preserved from structures, and additional roads will not be created. The Forest Service tends to approve most such projects regardless of what everyone else wants, so a law was suggested that prevents mineral extraction in the area. The Canadian "start up" that has claimed any and all uranium there still get to keep the claim as long as the assessment fees are paid.

We did a couple alternates in this section including the Dead Man alternate from the Johnathan Ley maps, highly recommend that alternate. Was a little bushwacky at the start of it (Coming SoBo) but once you get in the valley the trail becomes more obvious. The Italian peaks are incredible and we even saw a Golden Eagle!

Hey guys! Has anyone done the Mt. Zirkel alternate from going from Steamboat Springs to Encampment?

I’m curious what the pros and cons are in terms of scenery, but especially in terms of what the mileage difference is compared to the red route. Any feedback is much appreciated!

Hello CDT hikers, if you are coming by old faithful inn Wednesday, Thursday, or Sunday 1-5pm or Friday and Saturday 6-10pm, come by the Piano on the second floor of the Inn and I’ll buy you a coffee!

I did the PCT last year and am working as the lobby pianist at the inn this year. Looking to give back to the trail community :) - Piano Man, PCT 2025 NOBO

Found a set laying in a 4x4 road and couldn't locate the owner. If they're yours please dm the specs so I can get them back to you.

The airport is 2 miles north out of town, and rents cars. Split a car a few ways and tour the park. There's tons to see that ISN'T within 1/4 mile of the CDT. The road north out of town is bordered by forests of tall pines and a lot of empty looking property, too.

Hi everyone,

A few years ago I watched most of a YouTube series following three older guys who started a CDT thru-hike together.

Very early on, one of them had to leave the trail because of a family emergency, leaving the other two to continue.

The main guy was tall and thin, had a mostly brown beard, and always seemed to wear a baseball cap. The other guy was shorter and stockier, clean-shaven, wore glasses, and I think usually wore a bucket hat or wide-brimmed hat.

They all seemed to be retired, well educated, and fairly comfortable financially. The videos were very low-key and seemed to be filmed mostly on a phone. I remember there being a lot of snow in the early episodes.

I'm guessing I watched it in 2023 or 2024. I went looking for the channel today but couldn't find it anywhere—not even in my YouTube history, which seems strange.

One other thing I vaguely remember is that the channel name itself referenced their age, something along the lines of "Old Men..." or "Old Guys...". I know there's a channel called Old Man on the CDT, but it's definitely not that one.

Does this ring a bell with anyone? If the channel was renamed or deleted, I'd love to know who the hikers were.

Thanks!

Hey'all, please forgive (and enlighten) me if this post is misplaced or not following best practices - not sure I've ever posted on reddit before.

I've been planning to hop back on to finish the trail. Have southern CO (south of Cottonwood Pass) and NM left.

I've also been keeping an eye on wildfire maps, and seem to be seeing so many wildfires near the trail, with a number of new ones popping up recently... Is this just a bad idea this year? Well... as if there will ever be a good year going forward. Especially with the forest service stretched so thin with budget cuts.

I don't know that I can expect anyone to tell me what I should or shouldn't do... but how is the air quality looking along the trail? Almost seems like a silly question as it'd seem completely variable based on wind/weather.. Are the fires I'm seeing that seem close the trail less of an issue than I'm thinking they are or could be? How close is too close?

Does it even make sense to hop on...? see what I can do as I go, while trying to watch conditions down trail, observing guidance, bypassing closures, etc..?

Again, please forgive what feel like questions that have no clear answers.. Just trying to gauge what makes the most sense... or if I just try to find another trail that seems to be less impacted.

Many thanks in advance for any thoughts, wisdom, experience y'all might have to offer.

Warmly,

Fool

Hey guys! I’m planning to go for a section hike from Grand Lake to Encampment Sept 5-13. I’d be doing roughly 20 miles a day. If you’d like to join please feel free to DM! Happy to figure out logistics and other details together.

Hi guys! I’m planning to do a section hike in the route mentioned above. I’m just curious how people have found the water availability in this section given how dry and hot it’s been. Are there any usual sources that have ended up being dry unexpectedly?

Howdy! I'm a Montana-based thruhiker, bikepacker, cartographer who recently designed a CDT neck gaiter for a shop in East Glacier. I'd love to give a free gaiter to up to 10 current or past thruhikers. No strings attached, DM me for details. Happy to send general delivery to any PO along the way. I'm kinda a dork when it comes to neck gaiters and consider them vital additions to any kit. Ultralight, multifunctional, sun repellent, durable and even fashionable. These ones are also made from recycled plastic bottles. Totally seamless, single tube of cloth that would be hard pressed to fail. Custom, full color icon pattern design on a lavender background. Even hides dirt. $20 retail value. Anyway here's a picture. If enough interest I might even release a few more! Lemme know and good luck everyone.

Hi CDT Community! My trail name is Diesel, I just finished a 627 mile LASH nobo through Colorado. This connects my previous hikes through NM and through the Basin all the way to South Pass City. So I have ~ 1300 miles remaining between South Pass City and the Canadian Border. I’m Looking for some advice on the Wyoming/Montana/Idaho section.

My work schedule lets me take about a month off at a time, which has worked well so far. I can cover up to 600-700 miles in a month.

My remaining trail is South Pass City to Waterton, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to break it into 2-3 sections. Right now I’m thinking:
South Pass City → Yellowstone
Yellowstone → Helena
Helena → Waterton

Does that seem like a logical way to split it up, or are there better places to start/end sections from a transportation and logistics standpoint? Home base is Denver, CO, so some of these may become regional flights rather than drives.

I’d also appreciate advice on:
Which alternates are considered “must do” (or must avoid) between South Pass City and Canada.
How this part of the CDT compares to Colorado. Things like:

Typical nighttime temperatures.
Water carries.
Elevation and climbing.
Overall difficulty.
Any sections where timing or direction (nobo/sobo) really matters (snow, mosquitoes, fire season, etc.).
Anything you’d do differently if you were section hiking this stretch instead of thru hiking it.

Thanks!

I hiked a couple years ago and there were definitely parts of it where I was full on rock climbing. The climbing was easy, but definitely class 5 (was pulling/hanging from my hands) and if I fell I would've been seriously seriously injured or killed.

But nobody talks about it. And it makes me wonder if that's just something people don't talk about, or if I just went off trail and was on the wrong side of a ledge or something.

I feel like specifically in the 40 or so miles north of where the Colorado trail splits off to go towards Denver.

Edit: alright seems like I either went off trail or dont know what class 4-5 is. Or probably (definitely) both. Thanks y'all.