Continental Divide
Continental Divide Trail is a 116.3-mile trail in Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2 to 3, moderately developed to developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. It enters Scapegoat Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The forest office carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 47.2325° N, 112.6433° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 46.3679° N, 112.4268° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 73 segments.
The trail
| Length | 116.3 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed; 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| National designation | National Scenic or Historic Trail |
| Trail numbers | 337, 440 |
| Forest | Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest (unit 0115) |
| States | Montana |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Scapegoat WildernessFS · about 9% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
Mac Donald Pass Ski Trailhead No season published | under 0.1 mi |
Stemple Pass Trailhead Open All year | under 0.1 mi |
Flesher Pass Trailhead No season published This trailhead is not accessible during the winter months | under 0.1 mi |
CDNST Trailhead No season published | 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedEthel 2 Rx
16 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedWillow Piles Rx
19 mi from the trail midpoint · 50 acres
- PrescribedBear Gulch Rx
31 mi from the trail midpoint · 300 acres
- PrescribedWakina Sky Rx
32 mi from the trail midpoint · 300 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Park units nearby
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Montana
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Continental Divide Trail?
The Forest Service records 116.3 miles under this name in Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, the sum of 73 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Continental Divide Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Continental Divide Trail start?
The line begins at 47.2325° N, 112.6433° W and ends at 46.3679° N, 112.4268° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Mac Donald Pass Ski Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Continental Divide Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Scapegoat Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Scapegoat Wilderness
Where can I camp near the Continental Divide Trail?
Quigley Group Use (under 0.1 mi), Moose Creek Campground (1.8 mi) and Aspen Grove Group Use Area (4.3 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 4 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Continental Divide Trail?
Trail class 2 to 3, which the Forest Service describes as moderately developed to developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Continental Divide Trail?
The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Continental Divide Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Continental Divide Trail a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Scenic or Historic Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Continental Divide Trail?
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Forest Service unit 0115. The trail is in Montana.
Is there a fire near the Continental Divide Trail?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Ethel 2 Rx at 16 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 73 segments named Continental Divide in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0115. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.