Which is harder, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail or Mount Pilchuck Trail?

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is the tougher of the two on distance and elevation (3,099 mi (4,988 km), 73,035 ft (22,261 m) of climbing). See the full side-by-side breakdown.

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Continental Divide National Scenic Trail vs Mount Pilchuck 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	Mount Pilchuck Trail
Distance	3,099 mi4,988 km	2.6 mi4 km
Elevation gain	73,035 ft22,261 m	2,149 ft655 m
Typical duration	—	—
Difficulty	—	—
Route type	Point-to-point	Point-to-point
Network	National	Local
Country	United States	United States
Best time to hike	Best months: June, July, September	Best from July to July
	map Route & GPX	map Route & GPX

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail vs Mount Pilchuck Trail: which should you hike?

At 3,099 mi4,988 km, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is the longer route — roughly 3,097 mi4,984 km more than Mount Pilchuck Trail (2.6 mi4 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Mount Pilchuck 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.

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