Climbs get shorter and steeper. Sign up and get new stories and inspiration delivered right to you. You then hit an extremely picturesque section of high desert following the Lander cutoff — part of one of the westward wagon routes. Grants, NM to Antelope Wells, NM (394.4 mi.). The track can be moderate to very difficult depending on weather conditions and the roads condition after rain. 4.9 out of 5 stars 21. We recommend camping once you've crossed back into the pine trees and the road turns to a red dirt. We had to move several boulders and abandon a few tracks due to severe washouts or overgrowth. National Geographic: Continental Divide Trail in gift box Wall Map (18 x 48 inches) (National Geographic Reference Map) by National Geographic Maps. It's a six-mile ride from one trailhead to the other that would require more than 200 miles of driving if you had to do it in a car on roads! The route cuts through a corner of the Tetons before heading east up over the divide again and then down the west side of the Wind River Range. We highly recommend using a detailed National Park Map along with this GPS track. Because June is typically a wet month in the northern Rockies, and often a cold one at the higher elevations, we recommend that you do not attempt to ride prior to late June or early July. In 2018, for the 20th anniversary of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, we completely redesigned the maps. Late-summer monsoon rains turn roads into sloppy, red clay and can fill many of the dry creek beds on the route in seconds. From there, a dizzying and delightful series of paved and gravel byways, one of which proffers a brief glimpse down on the immense Lake Koocanusa, then wend their way to Grasmere. From there, it's a seven-mile ride on the highway to the international border and the northern terminus the U.S. route. If a rider is debilitated in the backcountry, you will want to have at least one person to stay with the injured/sick rider, and another to go for help. Although there isn't as much singletrack, there are plenty of spots where you can get some good air. ), 3. Coming down the east side of the Gila Wilderness is a welcome relief, with water once again available as you head into Silver City, New Mexico, a place noted for learning about Anasazi culture with the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument north of town and a good museum at the local university. This beautiful map shows the entire length of the trail from Mexico to Canada through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. Tire liners, such as Mr. Tuffy tire liner strips. The prettiest alpine region on the whole route can be found here. Soon after crossing it, you get to see firsthand what kind of scars mining can leave on the land as you pass right through a federal Superfund site. Before you reach its end, the booming ski-resort town of Fernie makes a great place for a layover, with its copious motels, sporting goods stores, restaurants, and hiking/mountain-biking trails. Just don't swim across to Mexico! . Always be bear-aware, and follow these rules when camping: Some campgrounds will charge a cyclist traveling alone less if they have hiker/biker sites, but often they will charge the price of a regular tent site, and that can easily be $10-$20/night. The route is geographically divided into five regions. The route offers something different every day — whether it be riding conditions, scenery, points of interest, or folks along the way. Planning resources: GPSKevin This scenic trail … Drive it and you’ll cross the Continental Divide (three times), the Arctic Circle, and two mountain ranges. Developed by the former CDT organization and Jerry Brown of Bear Creek Survey, these map guides reflect the most current line data for the CDNST available. The route is near or goes through several national parks such as Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton. Placemark 1. Surfaces range from pavement, good gravel roads, four-wheel-drive roads, singletrack, or old railroad beds. Picture a route two and a half thousand miles long, stretching from Mexico to Canada, traversing Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, with elevations from … Caution should be used when camping along the loop to avoid attracting large predators. From the town of Williams Arizona, the track stretchy nearly 78 miles into the heart of the national park and the edge of the canyon. Taylor Ranger District within the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico. Suspension equipment on the bicycle helps to mitigate the abusive nature of the terrain. Though not exceptionally technical, the remote water-less expanses, historical nature, and impressive topography have made this a classic overland track. There are plenty of back roads to explore in these mountains so be sure to take a look if you have the time. Wheels, tires, and drivetrains (chains, cassettes, bottom brackets, chainrings) take a lot of abuse and might need replacing along the course of the entire route. For a map of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, click here. Cold cervesas await on the other side. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is extremely hard on equipment. There is a fee station along this entrance but it is usually closed. Enchanted Rockies Trail - Lifestyle Overland’s route that takes you along 800 miles of unpaved routes through New Mexico and Colorado.. Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route - 675 miles through some of the most mountainous trails in Colorado, starting at the Four Corners and winding up to Wyoming.. Great Continental Divide Ride - A total of 2,767 miles from Canada to Mexico. Be aware that snow can occur at any time along the route. Total distance of the track is 180 miles making it fairly long, however fuel is available along the way in Wickenburg Arizona and Crown King Arizona. Attractants such as food leftovers, fish entrails, and bacon grease should not be buried or burned in campfires. However, some of the toughest climbs are in Montana and New Mexico because of the steepness and the poor road quality. Spanning over 800,000 acres, Big Bend National park holds plenty of opportunity for back road fun and exploration.The path we chose runs south from Alpine Texas to the west side of of the park and totals 231 miles. Sam wanted to share his passion for off-road exploration. Spreading its roots through Chautauqua County, just off Interstate 90, the trail system is a moderate drive from many metropolitan areas. . Through sandy washes and up mountains you eventually find yourself surrounded by pine trees and rolling down smooth red dirt. The Great Basin in Wyoming and New Mexico both call for long-mileage days and carrying food and water for several days at a time. The capital city in Montana, Helena, has less than 40,000 people and a nice small-town feel to it. You should also carry bear repellent, available at sporting goods stores in the larger towns of Canada and Montana, and become familiar with its safe and proper use. The highest pass of the route is Indiana Pass, elevation 11,910 feet, in southern Colorado. In total, it has over 200,000 feet of elevation gain. ... and it was on maps. With the completion of the Continental Divide, you will have traveled one of the most difficult and visually stunning overland routes on the planet. YK.12 Dawson City to Tok Top of the World Highway [Yukon, Canada & Alaska, USA], YK.12 Tombstone National Park [Yukon, Canada], YK.11 Carmacks to Dawson City [Yukon, Canada], YK.11 Ross River to Carmacks [Yukon, Canada], YK.10 Canol Rd North to YK/NWT Border [Yukon & North West Territories, Canada], YK.8 Alaska Hwy to Whitehorse [Yukon, Canada], Track (5/28/16, 6:15:27AM). After dropping into the twin ghost towns of South Pass and Atlantic City, you will cross the Great Basin — a place of almost no drinkable water and no trees. The road winds its way along the shore and stops by many historical buildings and sites. Search for a journal, create a journal, add/edit an entry, configure your journal, EMail updates, integrated Google trail map, PLB locations and more. With the exception of the Great Basin in Wyoming, you will be either gaining elevation, or descending, for the entire route. Surface water should be ingested only after running it through a good water filter. The fun ramps up even further near Telluride and then wanes into New Mexico. You leave Montana crossing the divide into Idaho. For many, this allows them to just experience the trail without the burden of getting lost. He had hoped to see a river flowing toward the Pacific Ocean. There is little to no support along the trail so be sure to bring food, water, a spare tire, and appropriate medical supplies for safety. Farther on there's the unforgetable sensation of riding on the crest of the divide for several miles. They now feature shaded relief, consolidated narratives that may be cut off and carried separate from the maps, a UTM and lat/long grid, point to point mileages and the often requested south to … Continental Divide Trail Pocket Maps - New Mexico. This map was created by a user. The elevations are lower in Montana — building up to the highest passes in Colorado and then tapering back off in New Mexico. It is necessary to be flexible in what you eat. Fuel stops are rare so take advantage of them when you can. 5.0 out of 5 stars 13. This section is fast and pretty but be sure to watch for oncoming traffic as many corners are blind and there's a large drop off the side. Ahh, okay, well, the only Continental Divide Trail I know of is for hiking, not vehicles, though parts of it are largely walking along roads. Geographically this region is as remote as any place in the continental United States. From Salida, Colorado south to the Mexico border, puncturevine or goat’s-head (Tribulus terrestris L.) is an invasive plant species that produces thumbtack-like burs capable of puncturing bicycle tires. So remote and inspiring is the route that Land Rover chose it as a challenge for the North American introduction of the Range Rover in 1989, when six Range Rovers became the first vehicles to complete the entire journey. It runs through a scenic drainage called the “Serengeti of North America” by biologists for its unrivaled wildlife populations, and it’s the last major valley in British Columbia to be completely undeveloped. Placemark 3. Starting from the south you'll wind your way through cacti and open desert with barren mountains on the horizon. Leftover food and waste should be placed in a sealed bag or container and packed out with garbage. Mosquitoes are a fact of life — take repellent. Most of the good camping is found in this region, especially if you have ground tents. It's a cool city with a unique local flare. We discourage you from attempting to ride this route solo; in fact, a minimum group size of three is strongly recommended. A well-ventilated, free-standing, three-season tent covered by a rainfly with ample vestibule space and a "footprint" ground tarp is a must. Printed maps don't require batteries! Order Your Continental Divide Trail Pocket Maps It is a route to be enjoyed for its diversity. Big northwest winds blow across vast open territory marked with wild horses and antelope. Our trip through the alpine loop was 70 miles through some of Colorado's most beautiful countryside. ), 1. It is good to have some back-country camping experience before riding the Great Divide to know how to minimally impact the land. Pannier covers, dry bags, and plastic freezer bags all work well to keep the rain and dew off clothing and gear. Beginning in Jasper, the route counterintuitively runs north to Hinton before heading southward toward Canmore. Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland Trail. The diverse nature of the regions makes for an incredible visual, sometimes spiritual experience. Rawlins, Wyoming, marks the end of the desert. A spot device or sat phone is recommended. The ascents on the route stretch out to long mountainous climbs at elevations starting at 8,000 feet or above. 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