Continental Divide Plan Comments

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) Comprehensive Plan serves as the guiding document for the management, development, and use of the CDNST. While this plan is presented as a framework for preserving the scenic, historical, and recreational values of the trail, several provisions raise serious concerns about land acquisitions, motorized access restrictions, and federal overreach.

This webpage highlights key areas of concern within the document, including the systematic phasing out of motorized use, the impact on landowners, and the expansion of federal control over trail management. These policies serve as a warning for the Alaska Long Trail, should it follow a similar path.

Key Concerns in the CDNST Comprehensive Plan

📌 Motorized Use is Being Phased Out – The Plan prioritizes non-motorized recreation, systematically removing motorized access and rerouting the trail away from motorized routes. 90% off motorized areas have been lost.

📌 Federal Control Over Trail Management – The Forest Service, BLM, and NPS oversee the trail, limiting local decision-making and prioritizing federal interests.

📌 Landowners Face Potential Land Acquisitions – The Plan tracks private lands for possible easements and acquisitions, increasing federal influence over private property.

📌 Scenic Integrity Over Land Use Rights – Strict scenic integrity rules could restrict development, hunting, and resource use near the trail.

📌 A Warning for the Alaska Long Trail – If the Alaska Long Trail becomes an NST, it could face the same motorized restrictions, federal oversight, and landowner impacts.

🚨 NST designation means less access, more regulations, and reduced local control. We must act now to protect Alaska’s trails. 🚨