Home › Trails › Continental Divide National Scenic Trail vs Tanglefoot Trail

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail vs Tanglefoot 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 Tanglefoot Trail
Distance 2,923 mi4,705 km 44 mi70 km
Elevation gain 44,032 ft13,421 m 456 ft139 m
Typical duration 178 days 3 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 November
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

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

At 2,923 mi4,705 km, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is the longer route — roughly 2,880 mi4,634 km more than Tanglefoot Trail (44 mi70 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Tanglefoot 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.