The primary 1.1 miles of the CDT at the moment are solely out there to US residents who apply for permission to enter the Nationwide Protection Space.
Troopers deployed on the Nationwide Protection Space in New Mexico in Might 2025 (Picture: Anadolu / Contributor by way of Getty)
Up to date September 30, 2025 06:22PM
New authorities restrictions now bar non-U.S. citizen hikers from the southern terminus and first 1.1 miles of the Continental Divide Path and require residents to endure a background test and apply for a U.S. Military allow to go to it, the Continental Divide Path Coalition (CDTC) introduced right this moment.
In April of this yr, the White Home established what it known as the New Mexico Nationwide Protection Space, transferring 100,000 acres of land alongside the U.S.-Mexico border to the Military for 3 years. The land in query consists of the southern terminus of the Continental Divide Path in addition to its first mile.
Whereas it wasn’t clear whether or not or not hikers may nonetheless journey to the southern terminus of the path this spring, a brand new system will enable a minimum of some hikers to hike the official path. Hikers have to be U.S. residents, and should endure a background test and apply for a allow to entry the world. Whereas the appliance course of is comparatively easy, requiring a passport fashion {photograph} and Actual ID, these with felony backgrounds may very well be denied entry.
Danny Knoll, the path info supervisor for the CDTC, informed Backpacker that he had efficiently gained clearance to go to the terminus. “The appliance itself takes possibly 10 minutes. And normally you hear again inside a few days,” he defined. Whereas most candidates have acquired a response inside a number of days of the appliance course of, it may take as many as 21 days to obtain the digital allow.
Whereas Knoll hasn’t heard about any hikers struggling to achieve entry to the world to this point, he additionally famous that it’s not a very busy time of the yr on the southern terminus of the path. Southbound hikers usually tend to arrive within the space in October or early November. So, it isn’t but clear how difficult the ultimate 1.1 miles can be for thru-hikers.
When requested if the CDTC is anxious about what the brand new restrictions would imply to hikers, Knoll mentioned, “I feel our largest concern is for worldwide hikers.”
“We at all times need [to provide] simpler entry to the CDT,” he mentioned. Whereas the CDTC thinks it’s probably that U.S. residents who nonetheless hope to the touch the southern terminus of the CDT could achieve entry, worldwide guests won’t.
Those that are interested by making it to the Mexico border may doubtlessly hike to different border sections outdoors of the NDA territory, making use of for a New Mexico land entry cross as a substitute of an Military allow.
“However you realize, that is all new. We don’t know what the army presence seems to be like down there,” mentioned Knoll.
As of proper now, the CDTC will proceed to supply a shuttle starting on October 6, however the location of it has modified because of the new NDA necessities. It would now be positioned at northbound mile 2.2, outdoors of the NDA.
Mountain climbing within the space with out the required allow may lead to felony prices, with penalties starting from fines to jail time. Hikers can discover the most recent updates on CDT closures and restrictions on the CDTC’s web site.
