Continental Divide NST
Continental Divide NST is a 55.2-mile trail in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana and Idaho. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2, moderately developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, snowmobile and snowcoach or snowcat.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 45.1731° N, 113.5918° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 45.4214° N, 113.7662° 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 5 segments.
The trail
| Length | 55.2 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| National designation | National Scenic or Historic Trail |
| Trail numbers | 6111, 6352 |
| Forest | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (unit 0102) |
| States | Montana, Idaho |
| Detail published | centerline only, 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 06/15 to 11/15 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 06/15 to 11/15 (month/day) |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
| Snowmobile | Allowed year-round |
| Snowcoach or snowcat | 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.
Trailheads
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.
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
- PrescribedScf Nz Pile Burn Rx
18 mi from the trail midpoint · 605 acres
- PrescribedRx Frying Pan Creek Piles
31 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedRx D3 Tepee 12 Johnson Wf Landings
44 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedRx D4 Piquett Creek
47 mi from the trail midpoint · 2,210 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
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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 NST?
The Forest Service records 55.2 miles under this name in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the sum of 5 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Continental Divide NST?
Hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, snowmobile and snowcoach or snowcat 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 NST start?
The line begins at 45.1731° N, 113.5918° W and ends at 45.4214° N, 113.7662° W. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Continental Divide NST in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Continental Divide NST?
South Van Houten Campground (2.1 mi), North Van Houten Campground (2.1 mi) and Twin Lakes Campground (2.5 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 NST?
Trail class 2, which the Forest Service describes as moderately 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 NST?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Continental Divide NST 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 NST?
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Forest Service unit 0102. The trail is in Montana and Idaho.
Is there a fire near the Continental Divide NST?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Scf Nz Pile Burn Rx at 18 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 5 segments named Continental Divide NST in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0102. 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.