This past weekend, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition brought Trailfest — an effort to elevate trail communities — to Steamboat.

The weekend-long event celebrates the 3,100-mile route that follows the Continental Divide and connects many states in the Western United States including Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.

“There was a need for a Colorado gathering and Steamboat Springs is such an amazing community in which to host the event,” said Trail Coalition Colorado Regional Representative Jordan Williams. “Trailfest is an opportunity to bring hikers and visitors to Steamboat to interact with local businesses and promote the CDT.”

Steamboat is a trail gateway community and sits at the crossroads of the Continental Divide Trail and the Great Divide Mountain Bike trail. It is also near the last remaining gap in the trail in Colorado — an 11-mile road walk through Muddy Pass, southeast of Rabbit Ears Trailhead.

The Muddy Pass Gap route travels alongside U.S. Highway 40 for 2 miles east of Dumont Lake, then 9 miles northeast on Colorado Highway 14.

Steamboat sits at about the halfway point of the CDT.

Hikers generally start the trail in Montana at the border with Canada in the spring and reach Colorado around the beginning of September. Trailfest coincided with the 15th annual Crane Festival.

Festivities kicked off on Saturday when volunteers cleared a section fo the trail and improved wayfinding near Seedhouse-area campgrounds in North Routt County. Later that evening, Storm Peak Brewing Co. hosted hikers, volunteers and well-wishers for a Trailfest kick-off party.

On Sunday, a 5- and 10-kilometer run occurred at the Dumont Lake section of the trail. The coalition also shuttled hikers into Steamboat to enjoy the weekend.

“How often does one get to run a race on a major national trail?” said Williams. “It’s a unique weekend that celebrates the beauty that is the Continental Divide Trail.”

Steamboat Springs is located west of the CDT, and the trail can be reached by hiking the Fish Creek Falls Trail. Designated as a gateway community in 2018, other gateways are Grand Lake, Lake City, Leadville, Twin Lakes, Pagosa Springs, Salida and South Fork.

Grand Lake to the east and Rawlins, Wyoming to the north are the closest gateway communities to Steamboat.

The Continental Divide Trail is one of the “Triple Crown” hikes of the United States. The other two are the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail and the 2,700-mile Pacific Crest Trail.

The CDT was designated one of the 11 National Scenic Trails by Congress in 1978. Ninety-five percent of the CDT is on public land, with 150 miles on private land. The CDT is often cited as the hardest of the three to complete due to its rugged and remote terrain.

The Steamboat Springs Visitors Center has a guest sign-in book for CDT hikers, and local company Big Agnes is often a stop for gear repairs.

“Big Agnes was the big partner in getting Trailfest off the ground,” said Williams. “They continually support the hikers and are an amazing partner and advocate for the CDT.”

Big Agnes, founded in 2001 in Steamboat, is considered a national leader in outdoor equipment.

Trailfest also culminated in an expo at Howelsen hill, which involved partnering with Yampatika, the Steamboat Running Series and the Steamboat Springs Chamber. Visitors were encouraged to partake in Steamboat’s Free Concert Series.

“Trailfest is a unique event that connects many different aspects of the Steamboat community, just like the Continental Divide Trail connects so many unique towns and landscapes across 750 miles in Colorado,” said Chamber Senior Director of Communications Laura Soard. “It’s important to educate people about the CDT, the value it brings to our region and how we can be the best stewards possible of this incredible resource.”