Home › Trails › Continental Divide National Scenic Trail vs Sheltowee Trace NRT Section 26 "Laurel Lake"

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail vs Sheltowee Trace NRT Section 26 "Laurel Lake"

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 Sheltowee Trace NRT Section 26 "Laurel Lake"
Distance 2,923 mi4,705 km 7.2 mi12 km
Elevation gain 44,032 ft13,421 m 597 ft182 m
Typical duration 178 days 1 day
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 Sheltowee Trace NRT Section 26 "Laurel Lake": which should you hike?

At 2,923 mi4,705 km, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is the longer route — roughly 2,916 mi4,693 km more than Sheltowee Trace NRT Section 26 "Laurel Lake" (7.2 mi12 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Sheltowee Trace NRT Section 26 "Laurel Lake" 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.