Embarking on the Continental Divide Trail is a monumental undertaking, a 3,000-mile journey through some of the most rugged and remote landscapes in the United States. While your mind might be filled with images of sweeping mountain vistas and high-alpine passes, a significant part of your daily reality will revolve around a more mundane, yet utterly critical, task: managing your food and supplies. The success and enjoyment of your thru-hike are inextricably linked to your logistical foresight. The rhythm of hiking from one resupply point to the next becomes the heartbeat of your adventure, making the process of Planning Your Resupply on the CDT a foundational skill.
Unlike some shorter trails, the CDT doesn’t offer the convenience of a town or store around every corner. You’ll traverse vast wilderness areas, high deserts, and remote national forests where the next box of food or opportunity to buy groceries might be a week or more away. Getting your resupply strategy right means you can focus on the beauty and challenge of the trail itself, rather than worrying about running out of food or carrying a cripplingly heavy pack. A thoughtful approach to this logistical puzzle is what separates a stressful slog from a rewarding journey of a lifetime.
Laying the Groundwork for Your CDT Resupply Plan
Before you ever set foot on the trail, a good deal of map staring and list making is in order. Your first decision is one of the biggest: mail drops versus buying as you go. The CDT offers a mix of both possibilities. Some trail towns have well-stocked supermarkets where you can resupply entirely, allowing for flexibility based on your current cravings and pace. Other locations are tiny outposts with limited, expensive options, making a mailed resupply box a smarter choice for both your wallet and your nutritional needs.
A hybrid approach is often the most popular and practical method. You might mail boxes to the most remote stops—places like Pie Town, New Mexico, or Old Faithful in Yellowstone—and buy food in larger towns like Silver City, Leadore, or Steamboat Springs. Creating a rough itinerary is essential here. Estimate how many days it will take you to hike between potential resupply points. Be conservative; bad weather, difficult terrain, or just the need for a rest day can easily slow you down. This timeline will dictate how much food you need to carry in each section.
Key Stages of Your Resupply Journey
The character of your resupply strategy will evolve as you hike north through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. The New Mexico section often involves longer, drier carries between towns, making water capacity and careful food planning paramount. Colorado brings the high Rockies, where your calorie needs will skyrocket, and towns are often a hitchhike away from the trail. Wyoming’s Great Divide Basin is a unique challenge, a long, exposed stretch where you might need to carry several days of water in addition to your food. Finally, Montana’s vast wilderness feels remote and requires meticulous planning, especially through the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex.
For each resupply point on your list, research is key. Know what services are available. Does the town have a post office to receive your box? Is there a grocery store, and if so, how well can it support a hiker’s calorie-dense needs? Are there hiker-friendly hostels or businesses that hold packages for a small fee? Online resources, trail guides, and the experiences of previous hikers are invaluable for building this knowledge.
What to Put in Your Resupply Boxes
Packing your boxes is an art form. The goal is to create a variety of meals and snacks that you will actually want to eat after hundreds of miles. Standard fare includes oatmeal or pop-tarts for breakfast, tortillas with tuna or peanut butter for lunch, and dehydrated dinners. The real morale boosters, however, are the snacks: nuts, trail mix, candy bars, beef jerky, and cheese sticks. Don’t forget the drink mixes to mask the taste of questionable water sources.
It’s also wise to include a small bag of town essentials in every box. This little bag of wonders might contain a fresh pair of socks, a new fuel canister, a roll of leukotape for blisters, batteries for your headlamp, and any over-the-counter medications you might need. This prevents you from having to hunt down a pharmacy the moment you get to town, letting you focus on a shower, a hot meal, and rest.
Staying Flexible on the Trail
Even the most meticulously crafted resupply plan needs to accommodate the reality of the trail. Your pace will change. You might get injured and need to take zeros. You might fall in with a fantastic group of people and decide to adjust your schedule. This is where the flexibility of your plan is tested. If you’ve mailed yourself boxes with specific dates, you’ll need to call the post office or hostel to have them hold your box longer or, in some cases, bounce it forward to a future stop.
This is also where the “buy as you go” towns become so valuable. They allow you to speed up, slow down, or change your route without the stress of a misplaced resupply box. Listening to your body and being willing to adapt your plan is not a sign of poor planning; it’s a sign of an experienced and resilient thru-hiker.
Final Thoughts on Planning Your Resupply on the CDT
In the end, your resupply strategy is a deeply personal part of your CDT journey. It reflects your hiking style, your dietary preferences, and your tolerance for risk and uncertainty. While it requires upfront effort, a solid plan provides an incredible sense of freedom on the trail. Knowing that your next meal is secured allows you to fully immerse yourself in the profound experience of walking the Continental Divide. By balancing preparation with flexibility, you equip yourself not just with food, but with the peace of mind to embrace every step of this incredible adventure.