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Continental Divide National Scenic Trail vs Horse-Shoe 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
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Horse-Shoe Trail
Distance 2,923 mi4,705 km 143 mi230 km
Elevation gain 44,032 ft13,421 m 7,260 ft2,213 m
Typical duration 178 days 10 days
Difficulty — —
Route type Point-to-point Point-to-point
Network National Regional
Country United States United States
Best time to hike Best months: June, July, September Best from October to October
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail vs Horse-Shoe Trail: which should you hike?

At 2,923 mi4,705 km, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is the longer route — roughly 2,780 mi4,475 km more than Horse-Shoe Trail (143 mi230 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Horse-Shoe Trail 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.