Continental Divide Trail: Montana-Idaho Section 25

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail spans nearly 3,100 miles across 5 states from Mexico to Canada, traversing a vast array of different environments and landscapes along the way. The CDT can be completed as a single thru-hike that will take 4 to 6 months, or by section-hiking smaller segments. The Montana-Idaho portion of the CDT features nearly 1,000 miles of diverse mountain terrain. You’ll pass alongside the lofty peaks of the Anaconda, Bitterroot and Beaverhead Mountains; walk through the rugged and remote Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex; and finally arrive at the “Crown of the Continent” that is Glacier National Park. In this guide we’ll take a closer look at Montana-Idaho Section 25.

Section 25 begins from Badger Pass which is not a trailhead, it can only be accessed by hiking in. This is the very last small section of the Bob Marshall Wilderness for northbound thru hikers (congrats you made it!).

From Badger Pass you’ll work your way down slightly to Beaver Lake. This swampy lake has some good camping nearby, but can also be a mosquito hotspot during the summer months.

You’ll then leave "The Bob” and continue along the relatively unexciting trail (there is a nice viewpoint of Blue Lake). Continue down to North Badger Creek. Here you’ll have an option for a shortcut that continues to follow the creek on Trail #103. This saves a bit of milage and a big climb (although the views from the climb are reportedly very nice).

You’ll then come to the Badger Station Patrol Cabin where there is a picnic table and hand water pump for water.

The trail then follows alongside the South Fork Two Medicine River until eventually crossing it. The CDT then contours its way through the mountains, in and out of burn areas. There were a ton of blowdowns here that have thankfully been cleared by trail crews recently.

You’ll eventually descend out of the burn area and follow a section of doubletrack through the forest. You’ll rejoin singletrack as you descend to Summit Campground and civilization. The section ends at Highway 2 and Marias Pass.