Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Grants Awarded
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) and Latino Outdoors will host events during Latino Conservation Week, July 13-20, 2024, to engage the Latino community in outdoor activities and conservation efforts. Through a youth rafting trip, a community festival at Rio Bravo Community Park, and a hike along the Continental Divide Trail, the program aims to empower Latinx youth and their families with the skills and confidence to utilize public lands and recreate independently, ultimately fostering a deeper connection to the environment.
Funding will support a title sponsorship for the Continental Divide Trail Coalition's (CDTC) signature event, CDT Trail Days/Gila Earth Day, in Silver City, New Mexico, from April 19th-21st, 2024. This milestone event aims to enhance community engagement and environmental stewardship by uniting thousands of participants to celebrate shared outdoor spaces and promote the protection of the area's cultural and natural resources.
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) is requesting $24,950 to improve trail infrastructure and expand community outreach in the Cuba and Lordsburg regions of New Mexico, covering 40 miles. This program is designed to enhance the trail experience, promote sustainable tourism, and foster community engagement, benefiting both participants and the local area.
The partnership between the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) and the U.S. Forest Service, along with New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors (NMVFO) and Backcountry Horsemen (BCH), will engage 75 volunteers in maintaining and constructing 13 miles of trail in the Gila National Forest. These efforts will enhance safety and access for trail users, ultimately boosting outdoor recreation and supporting the local economy by increasing visitor foot traffic in southern New Mexico.
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) promotes community involvement through volunteer maintenance projects in the Carson National Forest, Adopt-a-Trail training in Silver City, and stewardship events in designated Gateway Communities across New Mexico. These initiatives prioritize addressing deferred maintenance and enhancing infrastructure on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), ultimately fostering greater environmental stewardship and benefiting the local community.
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) will use funding to design and install two interpretive trailhead kiosks in Carson National Forest, while also facilitating four community-based stewardship events in designated Gateway Communities in New Mexico. These initiatives will enhance local engagement in trail stewardship and improve trail conditions and accessibility for residents and visitors alike.
Funded by New Mexico Trails+, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) will enhance CDT access and experience through building two informational kiosks in the Carson National Forest and hosting four Stewardship Events in Chama, Cuba, Grants, and Silver City. The kiosks, featuring vital regional info, Leave No Trace principles, and rolling in indigenous knowledge, aim to promote trail safety, responsible use, and cognizance of the area's cultural significance. The Stewardship Events are designed to cultivate a love for conservation within the community, fostering outdoor inclusivity while highlighting the local areas as outdoor recreation hotspots.
Secured in 2025, the largest funding in the U.S. Forest Service Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) Program’s history ($4.8 million) from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) will provide three years of trail renewal. This project will address maintenance backlog and upgrade the trail to National Scenic Trail standards across various regions. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) will be leading the project with approximately $1.2 million, perform over 70 high-priority maintenance works; starting primarily in New Mexico and expanding north in subsequent years, providing safety, accessibility, and enhancing user experience. This initiative will involve the community and volunteers in stewardship activities and engage with partners like Santa Fe Prep, Back Country Horsemen, Cibola Trails Alliance, and others to ensure trail care and upkeep.
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition’s (CDTC) mission is to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) by building a diverse Trail community, providing up-to-date information to the public, and encouraging stewardship of the Trail, its corridor, and surrounding landscapes. Our vision is to see that the CDT is a renowned and revered natural resource for people to connect with friends, family, and community, draw inspiration, and create outstanding personal and interpersonal experiences. We see the CDT as a world-class landscape that inspires pride, passion, respect, creativity, community, and perseverance, connecting landscapes, ecosystems, and communities along the spine of the continent.