The 20 Best Continental Divide Trail Books

Distinct from the other two trails that make up America’s iconic Triple Crown of Hiking, the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is not yet a complete trail. It is a hodgepodge of smaller trails, dirt roads, paved roads, and GPS waypoints. When it comes to hiking the Contindental Divide Trail, there is no definitive way. The route you choose route is up to you.

That’s what makes Continental Divide Trail books so unique. Each story is different because each and every hiker’s path has been different. The old adage “Hike your own hike” truly applies here where no one can rightly judge you for the steps you take.

It is also a difficult trail to navigate, which is why, along with beautiful coffee table books and compelling memoirs, we have included a number of CDT trail guides in our list of books below. Read on to discover the best books about hiking the CDT.

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The 5 Best Continental Divide Trail Books

These are our five favorite books about hiking the Continental Divide Trail. Each has received numerous chart-topping reviews and has unique traits that make them stand out from the rest. Read on to see our detailed reviews of each book below.

Category	Picture	Product	Overall Rating*	Price
Best CDT Book Overall		The Continental Divide Trail: Exploring America's Ridgeline Trail	93	Check Price
Best CDT Guide Book		Yogi's Continental Divide Trail Hand Book	77	Check Price
Best CDT Memoir Book		In the Path of Young Bulls	95	Check Price
Best CDT Coffee Table Book		Along Wyoming's Continental Divide Trail	99	Check Price
Best Assisted Thru-hike CDT Book		Crossing the Divide: A Family Adventure	87	Check Price

*Ratings are based on Amazon customer reviews at the time of publication and can change.

Best CDT Book Overall: The Continental Divide Trail: Exploring America’s Ridgeline Trail

As the only book that has been published in a partnership with the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, The Continental Divide Trail: Exploring America’s Ridgeline Trail has credentials that no other book can match.

This is one of the wildest long-distance routes remaining in America. As such, a relatively small number of people attempt to thru-hike it every year. The author of this book, Barney Scout Mann, has thru-hiked the CDT as well as the Pacific Crest and Appalachian Trails.

In this book, the author has included 250 spectacular images from all points of the trail. The photography is top-notch, and its inclusion brings plenty of life to the pages, making it a fine choice as a display book for guests to browse.

However, the history and stories that line its pages are truly what make this book stand out. You will learn all about the people who were first inspired to create the CDT, and you will be taken along a captivating narrative that highlights the struggles and triumphs associated with bringing such an ambitious project to life.

There are contemporary takes on the trail. And, as it is not yet complete, this book also does well to pontificate at the trail’s current state and how it will continue to evolve.  Right now, it remains wild, rugged, and difficult, and this book showcases all of that in a beautiful way.

Best CDT Trail Guide Book: Yogi’s Continental Divide Trail Handbook

Yogi is the OG of thru-hiking guidebooks, at least for the Triple Crown trails. Though the Internet is now an invaluable resource for hikers, and a number of other authors have created their own guide books, Yogi’s Continental Divide Trail Handbook still stands as one of the best resources for CDT thru-hikers.

Having thru-hiked the CDT twice herself, as well as numerous other long-distance trails multiple times, Yogi is certainly an expert on the subject. However, she hasn’t let her ego control the content within this book. Multiple collaborators have contributed their own knowledge to its pages, and its content has been tested and updated throughout the years.

The book is broken down into two parts. First, the planning guide helps potential thru-hikers prepare for the journey ahead. It’s 170 pages of helpful tips from previous thru-hikers covering every topic from permits to route planning to phone apps to mail drops and snow gear. Nearly any question you would ask is answered within its pages.

Then, the book transitions into a 222-page town guide. All of the information you need to plan for and navigate trail towns and resorts is included. You’ll find town and trail maps, hours of operation, and prices for conveniences such as lodging, laundry, and restaurants. It’s all here.

Though we have provided Amazon affiliate links to Yogi’s book, which helps fund our website and content creation, you can find a less expensive of this book at Yogi’s own website. By purchasing directly from Yogi, you’ll also better support her and her helpful content.

Best CDT Memoir Book: In the Path of Young Bulls

In the Path of Young Bulls is more than the story of one man’s thru-hike, but a collaborative effort to conquer the entire length of the Continental Divide Trail. Author Thomas Jamrog new that he couldn’t complete this odyssey alone, so he invited several of his friends to help him get out of retirement.

Now, don’t let this trick you into thinking that this is an old man’s story laden with the aches, pains, and limitations of old age. Thomas has plenty of spunk, and he shows his younger through-hiking companions that old dogs certainly can learn new tricks, and that they can still have plenty of kick.

The author, and the entire party, are endearing, yet combative. Readers will get a wide scope of the CDT in these pages. It’s beautiful, sure, but it’s also hard as heck, and not everyone you encounter along the way is going to be nice. Thomas shares his thoughts on everything from unfriendly ranchers to traversing private land.

He provides a helpful, though not exhaustive, stream of logistics. He has recorded his daily mileage, hiking locations, and has wrapped it all nicely in a field report of his daily travels. Readers will also learn about his favorite gear and what “essential” he chose to give up along the way in order to lessen his pack’s base weight.

Best CDT Coffee Table Book: Along Wyoming’s Continental Divide Trail

We can only say how beautiful the photos are in Along Wyoming’s Continental Divide Trail so many times, but they are quite exquisite. The book measures 11 by 8.5 inches, about the size of a sheet of printer paper, and will make a great addition to any living room coffee table or library display.

Author Scott Smith backpacked many sections of the Continental Divide Trail, taking photographs and writing his thoughts along the way. He has transcribed his playful prose and stories to complement his pictures within this book.

The storytelling and grammar are not exceptional by any means, but they work well as short reads for when you have a moment to spare while gazing at the vast splendor of Wyoming’s landscapes. The lighthearted text provides a nice balance to the depth of the pictures.

This is but one book in a series that chronicles the entire length of the CDT state by state. Some of these books are listed below in a rundown of other great CDT coffee table books. Why not grab the entire collection?

Best Assisted Thru-hike CDT Book: Crossing the Divide- A Family Adventure

There are many ways to complete a thru-hike of the CDT, and one of those ways is an assisted thru-hike. Richard Mallery is a lucky man, and his wife Gaila is a true trail angel. Together, they share the story of their CDT expedition in Crossing the Divide: A Family Adventure.

Supported by his family, Richard set out to complete a 3,800-mile journey conquering not only America’s Continental Divide Trail, but also Canada’s Great Divide Trail. During this epic quest, he was supported by his family, especially his wife, with food, transportation, and companionship.

The story of this epic expedition is told by both Richard and Gaila. Each section of the journey features the perspective of both parties, creating an interesting dialogue of the trip that encapsulates the strain such an undertaking can have on a relationship.

Despite the trials and tribulations, both Richard and Gaila retain their good spirits throughout the writing. When Richard faces utter physical exhaustion and Gaila becomes overwhelmed with managing the family and business while Richard hikes, the two come together and support one another to see their troubles through.

It’s a powerful story and a unique account of what life is like out on the trail. This book is also one of the few assisted thru-hiker stories out there, for any trail, and provides a unique perspective in that respect that is hard to find.

Why You Should Buy a Continental Divide Trail Book 

Aspiring hikers will find inspiration and excitement in the memoirs and anecdotes of those who have already hiked the Continental Divide Trail. They’ll also learn from the mistakes of others, and aspiring hikers can use trail guides to properly prepare for their own upcoming CDT journey.

Past hikers can relive the trail through the lens of another. This is even more true when many years have gone by when much of a thru-hiker’s own experiences may have been lost to the sands of time. Reading another hiker’s story can rekindle a lost love for hiking and spark memories that haven’t been thought about in years.

Those that lack the ability for one reason or another to actually hike the trail can get close to the experience by flipping through the pages of prose that privileged backpackers put together.

Tips and Features to Consider

There are a few important considerations to think through before purchasing a CDT book.

• Memoir, guide book, or coffee table book. First, you must decide which style of book you want to read. Guide books are specific tools filled with highly-detailed trail logistics that help hikers plan for their hikes. Coffee table books are usually photo-heavy tomes filled with beautiful images, but aren’t often rich with written content. Memoirs are stories of the trail as told through the eyes of the author reflecting upon their own personal journey.
• Publication date. More important for guide books than the other book styles, the publication date is a good indication of how dated the material is. Books that are a decade old may reference places that no longer exist, sections of trail that have been moved, or use inaccurate mileage.
• Perspective. Perspective is important because it gives you an indication of the story that is being told. Most CDT memoirs and trail guides are written by young fit white men who have privileged and ambitious trail experiences that will be much different from those shared by lesser represented groups. This can affect the story, but it can also have major effects on how a guidebook is written.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a guide book to hike the CDT?

Although it is a good idea to read a guide book before hiking on the Continental Divide Trail, it is certainly not required. Many people use apps like Gaia GPS or Guthook’s Guide to The Continental Divide Trail rather than read a guide book.

Do CDT memoirs tell you everything you need to know about the trail?

CDT memoirs tend to give a solid representation of the mental and physical struggles of the trail, but they usually don’t offer much in the way of logistics. You’d put yourself in a better position to hike the CDT if you read a guide book as well as a memoir or two.

What books should I read if I liked Wild?

If you liked Wild and want to experience similar stories, check out our list of Continental Divide Trail memoirs below.

 What is the Triple Crown?

The Triple Crown of Hiking refers to the completion of America’s three scenic national hiking trails. A Triple Crown hiker is one who has completely hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.

More Great Continental Divide Trail Books

We’ve listed 15 more books about the Continental Divide Trail that we think you’ll love. Though they didn’t receive a top recommendation, they’re still great reads and come highly recommended by readers.

Jump to:

• Continental Divide Trail Coffee Table Books
• Continental Divide Trail Guide Books
• Continental Divide Trail Memoirs

Continental Divide Trail Coffee Table Books

Continental Divide Trail Guide Books

Continental Divide Trail Memoirs