Which is harder, CDT hfqCT Cirque of the Towers Route or Continental Divide National Scenic Trail?

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is the tougher of the two on distance and elevation (2,923 mi (4,705 km), 44,032 ft (13,421 m) of climbing). See the full side-by-side breakdown.

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CDT hfqCT Cirque of the Towers Route vs Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.

Units

	CDT hfqCT Cirque of the Towers Route	Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
Distance	25 mi41 km	2,923 mi4,705 km
Elevation gain	4,849 ft1,478 m	44,032 ft13,421 m
Typical duration	2 days	178 days
Difficulty	—	—
Route type	Point-to-point	Point-to-point
Network	Regional	National
Country	United States	United States
Best time to hike	Best from June to August	Best months: June, July, September
	map Route & GPX	map Route & GPX

CDT hfqCT Cirque of the Towers Route vs Continental Divide National Scenic Trail: which should you hike?

At 2,923 mi4,705 km, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is the longer route — roughly 2,898 mi4,664 km more than CDT hfqCT Cirque of the Towers Route (25 mi41 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, CDT hfqCT Cirque of the Towers Route is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.

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