The One Incredible Trail That Spans The Entire State of Montana

There are hikes, and there are once-in-a-lifetime adventures. And if you've ever heard of the Continental Divide Trail, or the DCT, you know it's the latter. In its entirety, the 3100-mile trek takes you from Waterton Lake at Glacier National Park (at the Canadian border) all the way to Mexico, spanning the entire state of Montana as well as parts of Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Needless to say, it's extraordinary.

The Montana portion of the CDT is located almost entirely in mountain ranges.

About 110 miles of it takes you through Glacier National Park.

The Glacier portion of the CDT is especially breathtaking, covering a lot of diverse ground.

And with a 100 mile span, you'll have plenty of chances to stop and camp under the stars.

Other notable points on the trail include the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, the circle of Butte in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the Chinese Wall, and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

The Montana Wilderness Association coordinates free volunteer vacations through its trail program, CDT Montana.

Obviously, only the most experienced hikers and backpackers should attempt even the Montana portion of this trail.

The Montana and Idaho portions alone span around 800 miles, so no one will blame you if you stick to a much smaller path.

But even if you dedicate a few days to covering some of this ground, you'll be glad you did.

The Continental Divide Trail, along with the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, form what hiking enthusiasts call the Triple Crown of Long Distance Hiking in the United States.

The CDT is absolutely beautiful. But if you'd rather watch from the sidelines, you can check out this YouTube video, which covers the Montana and Idaho portions of the trail.

And if you're looking for a more realistic trail to attempt in a single day, check out this list.