Continental Divide Trail (CDT)

4824 km analysed against the carriers' own coverage filings
23% fast 4G/5G data, a further 22% weak 4G signal only
207 dead zones mapped (2339 km)

Phone signal on the Continental Divide Trail: where it drops

TrailSim estimate for the Continental Divide Trail: 23% of its 4824 km has fast 4G/5G data, a further 22% has weak 4G signal only, and 207 dead zones total 2339 km (the carriers' own coverage filings, snapshot 2026-08-06).

The signal is strongest between near Copper Mountain and near Gold Hill, where the model puts fast 4G/5G data at 100% of the stage. It runs thinnest between near Kootenai Pass and near Mount Richards (0% fast data) — expect long stretches where maps and messages crawl or fail.

Continental Divide Trail coverage map

Coverage map of Continental Divide Trail (CDT)

Report preview

Real rows from the report you'll receive — every stage analysed, every dead zone pinned with GPS coordinates.

Stage	km	4G/5G	weak 4G	No signal	Best network
near Colonia el Camello → near Big Hatchet Peak	0–25	0%	0%	100%	—
near Big Hatchet Peak → near Hachita Peak	25–50	0%	32%	68%	Verizon
near Hachita Peak → near Vista	50–75	2%	54%	44%	Verizon
near Vista → near Homestead Hill	75–100	48%	38%	14%	Verizon
near Homestead Hill → Aberdeen Peak	100–125	64%	34%	2%	AT&T
Aberdeen Peak → near Ulmoris	125–150	78%	22%	0%	AT&T
near Ulmoris → near Knight Peak	150–175	36%	40%	24%	AT&T
near Knight Peak → near Sugarloaf Mountain	175–200	70%	30%	0%	Verizon
near Sugarloaf Mountain → near Saddle Rock	200–225	46%	36%	18%	AT&T
near Saddle Rock → near Silver City	225–250	40%	34%	26%	Verizon
near Silver City → near Little Walnut Village	250–275	78%	10%	12%	Verizon
near Little Walnut Village → Black Peak	275–300	28%	24%	48%	Verizon
Black Peak → near Middle Mountain	300–325	18%	4%	78%	Verizon
near Middle Mountain → Signboard Saddle	325–350	0%	12%	88%	AT&T
Signboard Saddle → Reeds Ranch	350–375	0%	2%	98%	AT&T
Reeds Ranch → near Caledonia Pass	375–400	0%	30%	70%	AT&T
near Caledonia Pass → near Mud Hole	400–425	0%	0%	100%	—
near Mud Hole → near Wahoo Peak	425–450	4%	42%	54%	Verizon
near Wahoo Peak → Catron County, New Mexico	450–475	16%	40%	44%	Verizon
Catron County, New Mexico → near Coyote Peak	475–500	28%	24%	48%	Verizon
near Coyote Peak → O Bar O Mountain	500–525	26%	22%	52%	Verizon
O Bar O Mountain → near Pinon Knob	525–550	4%	4%	92%	Verizon
near Pinon Knob → near John Kerr Peak	550–575	8%	20%	72%	Verizon
near John Kerr Peak → near Slaughter Mesa	575–600	46%	34%	20%	Verizon
near Slaughter Mesa → near Mangas	600–625	74%	24%	2%	Verizon
near Mangas → Omega	625–650	44%	50%	6%	Verizon
Omega → near Pie Town	650–675	86%	14%	0%	AT&T
near Pie Town → Toms Rock	675–700	60%	30%	10%	Verizon
Toms Rock → near Techado	700–725	6%	40%	54%	Verizon
near Techado → near York Ranch	725–750	18%	50%	32%	Verizon
near York Ranch → near Monte Seco	750–775	52%	44%	4%	AT&T
near Monte Seco → near Jacks Peak	775–800	32%	34%	34%	Verizon
near Jacks Peak → near Zuni River Watershed	800–825	68%	28%	4%	AT&T
near Zuni River Watershed → near North Cebollita Mesa	825–850	54%	36%	10%	Verizon
near North Cebollita Mesa → near Grants	850–875	96%	0%	4%	Verizon
near Grants → Horace Mesa	875–900	82%	16%	2%	Verizon
Horace Mesa → near Cerro Osha	900–925	32%	32%	36%	AT&T
near Cerro Osha → near El Dado Mesa	925–950	0%	36%	64%	Verizon
near El Dado Mesa → Bear Mouth	950–975	0%	38%	62%	AT&T
Bear Mouth → near San Luis	975–1000	30%	64%	6%	AT&T
near San Luis → near LaVentana	1000–1025	74%	24%	2%	AT&T
near LaVentana → Cuba	1025–1050	68%	32%	0%	AT&T
Cuba → near Upper La Jara	1050–1075	38%	26%	36%	AT&T
near Upper La Jara → Mesa del Camino	1075–1100	30%	12%	58%	Verizon
Mesa del Camino → near El Monte Rojo	1100–1125	2%	8%	90%	AT&T
near El Monte Rojo → Mesa del Medio	1125–1150	30%	26%	44%	Verizon
Mesa del Medio → near Mogote Peak	1150–1175	34%	20%	46%	Verizon
near Mogote Peak → near Quartzite Peak	1175–1200	6%	32%	62%	AT&T
near Quartzite Peak → Jawbone Mountain	1200–1225	0%	16%	84%	AT&T
Jawbone Mountain → near Olguin Mesa	1225–1250	0%	0%	100%	—
near Olguin Mesa → near Cumbres	1250–1275	0%	12%	88%	AT&T
near Cumbres → near Cumbres Pass	1275–1300	8%	16%	76%	Verizon
near Cumbres Pass → near Conejos Peak	1300–1325	0%	14%	86%	AT&T
near Conejos Peak → near Summit Peak	1325–1350	0%	0%	100%	—
near Summit Peak → near Long Trek Mountain	1350–1375	4%	4%	92%	AT&T
near Long Trek Mountain → Wolf Creek Pass	1375–1400	60%	30%	10%	Verizon
Wolf Creek Pass → near South River Peak	1400–1425	42%	34%	24%	Verizon
near South River Peak → near Knife Edge	1425–1450	30%	20%	50%	Verizon
near Knife Edge → near Grizzly Pass	1450–1475	6%	16%	78%	Verizon
near Grizzly Pass → near Mesa Lato	1475–1500	26%	4%	70%	Verizon
near Mesa Lato → near Hunchback Pass	1500–1525	0%	0%	100%	—
near Hunchback Pass → near Half Peak	1525–1550	0%	4%	96%	AT&T
near Half Peak → near Sawmill Park	1550–1575	46%	8%	46%	Verizon
near Sawmill Park → near San Luis Pass	1575–1600	30%	44%	26%	Verizon
near San Luis Pass → near Table Mountain	1600–1625	0%	0%	100%	—
near Table Mountain → near Cochetopa Pass	1625–1650	0%	0%	100%	—
near Cochetopa Pass → Lujan Pass	1650–1675	0%	0%	100%	—
Lujan Pass → near Sargents Mesa	1675–1700	0%	42%	58%	AT&T
near Sargents Mesa → near Marshall Pass	1700–1725	6%	38%	56%	AT&T
near Marshall Pass → Old Monarch Pass	1725–1750	24%	10%	66%	AT&T
Old Monarch Pass → Hancock Pass	1750–1775	14%	38%	48%	AT&T
Hancock Pass → near Tincup	1775–1800	0%	0%	100%	—
near Tincup → near Cottonwood Pass	1800–1825	18%	6%	76%	Verizon
near Cottonwood Pass → Winfield	1825–1850	22%	16%	62%	AT&T
Winfield → near Balltown	1850–1875	50%	16%	34%	Verizon
near Balltown → near Twin Mounds	1875–1900	86%	6%	8%	Verizon
near Twin Mounds → near Tennessee Pass	1900–1925	24%	38%	38%	AT&T
near Tennessee Pass → Kokomo Pass	1925–1950	0%	16%	84%	AT&T
Kokomo Pass → near Copper Mountain	1950–1975	42%	32%	26%	Verizon
near Copper Mountain → near Gold Hill	1975–2000	100%	0%	0%	Verizon
near Gold Hill → Georgia Pass	2000–2025	56%	44%	0%	Verizon
Georgia Pass → near Montezuma	2025–2050	40%	28%	32%	Verizon
near Montezuma → Bakerville	2050–2075	6%	24%	70%	Verizon
Bakerville → near Jones Pass	2075–2100	50%	28%	22%	Verizon
near Jones Pass → near Empire	2100–2125	70%	18%	12%	Verizon
near Empire → Devils Thumb Pass	2125–2150	64%	26%	10%	Verizon
Devils Thumb Pass → Strawberry Bench	2150–2175	18%	20%	62%	Verizon
Strawberry Bench → Grand Lake	2175–2200	42%	30%	28%	Verizon
Grand Lake → Sprague Pass	2200–2225	32%	8%	60%	Verizon
Sprague Pass → near Gaskil	2225–2250	6%	12%	82%	Verizon
near Gaskil → Willow Creek Pass	2250–2275	0%	16%	84%	AT&T
Willow Creek Pass → Sheep Mountain	2275–2300	10%	58%	32%	AT&T
Sheep Mountain → Chimney Rock	2300–2325	18%	28%	54%	Verizon
Chimney Rock → near Muddy Pass	2325–2350	16%	34%	50%	AT&T
near Muddy Pass → near Buffalo Pass	2350–2375	54%	26%	20%	AT&T
near Buffalo Pass → Mount Ethel	2375–2400	60%	24%	16%	AT&T
Mount Ethel → near Slavonia	2400–2425	16%	20%	64%	Verizon
near Slavonia → near Black Mountain	2425–2450	0%	0%	100%	—
near Black Mountain → near Green Mountain	2450–2475	0%	2%	98%	AT&T
near Green Mountain → McCormick Peak	2475–2500	4%	32%	64%	AT&T
McCormick Peak → near Divide Peak	2500–2525	0%	28%	72%	AT&T
near Divide Peak → near Rendle Butte	2525–2550	0%	0%	100%	—
near Rendle Butte → near Bridger Pass	2550–2575	0%	0%	100%	—
near Bridger Pass → near Sheep Mountain	2575–2600	0%	36%	64%	AT&T
near Sheep Mountain → Rawlins	2600–2625	68%	24%	8%	Verizon
Rawlins → Willow Hill	2625–2650	66%	28%	6%	AT&T
Willow Hill → near Lamont Benchmark	2650–2675	0%	90%	10%	AT&T
near Lamont Benchmark → near Bare Ring Butte	2675–2700	0%	96%	4%	AT&T
near Bare Ring Butte → near Green Benchmark	2700–2725	10%	42%	48%	AT&T
near Green Benchmark → near Ice Benchmark	2725–2750	14%	40%	46%	AT&T
near Ice Benchmark → near Saint Marys Peak	2750–2775	0%	36%	64%	AT&T
near Saint Marys Peak → near Atlantic City	2775–2800	0%	70%	30%	AT&T
near Atlantic City → Rennecker Peak	2800–2825	12%	50%	38%	AT&T
Rennecker Peak → near Sweetwater Needles	2825–2850	0%	22%	78%	AT&T
near Sweetwater Needles → Crows Nest	2850–2875	0%	4%	96%	AT&T
Crows Nest → near Mount Geikie	2875–2900	0%	0%	100%	—
near Mount Geikie → near Hat Pass	2900–2925	0%	0%	100%	—
near Hat Pass → near Mount Lester	2925–2950	0%	12%	88%	Verizon
near Mount Lester → near Vista Pass	2950–2975	0%	0%	100%	—
near Vista Pass → near Osborn Mountain	2975–3000	0%	0%	100%	—
near Osborn Mountain → near Union Pass	3000–3025	0%	0%	100%	—
near Union Pass → Sheridan Pass	3025–3050	0%	8%	92%	AT&T
Sheridan Pass → Pilot Knob	3050–3075	2%	60%	38%	AT&T
Pilot Knob → Simpson Peaks	3075–3100	2%	20%	78%	AT&T
Simpson Peaks → near Joy Peak	3100–3125	0%	0%	100%	—
near Joy Peak → near Phelps Pass	3125–3150	0%	0%	100%	—
near Phelps Pass → near Overlook Mountain	3150–3175	0%	0%	100%	—
near Overlook Mountain → near Factory Hill	3175–3200	0%	22%	78%	Verizon
near Factory Hill → near Grants Pass	3200–3225	0%	14%	86%	Verizon
near Grants Pass → near Upper Geyser Basin	3225–3250	36%	10%	54%	Verizon
near Upper Geyser Basin → Fremont County, Idaho	3250–3275	22%	4%	74%	Verizon
Fremont County, Idaho → Reas Pass	3275–3300	68%	24%	8%	Verizon
Reas Pass → near Madison Fork Ranch	3300–3325	54%	46%	0%	Verizon
near Madison Fork Ranch → Targhee Peak	3325–3350	48%	26%	26%	Verizon
Targhee Peak → Red Rock Pass	3350–3375	58%	36%	6%	Verizon
Red Rock Pass → near Taylor Mountain	3375–3400	28%	24%	48%	Verizon
near Taylor Mountain → near Slide Mountain	3400–3425	8%	60%	32%	AT&T
near Slide Mountain → Big Table Mountain	3425–3450	0%	26%	74%	AT&T
Big Table Mountain → near Monida Pass	3450–3475	36%	24%	40%	AT&T
near Monida Pass → near The Thumb	3475–3500	58%	26%	16%	AT&T
near The Thumb → near Garfield Mountain	3500–3525	16%	14%	70%	Verizon
near Garfield Mountain → near Bannack Pass	3525–3550	0%	4%	96%	AT&T
near Bannack Pass → near Eighteenmile Peak	3550–3575	0%	0%	100%	—
near Eighteenmile Peak → near Hildreth	3575–3600	0%	2%	98%	AT&T
near Hildreth → near Deadman Pass	3600–3625	2%	2%	96%	Verizon
near Deadman Pass → near Grizzly Hill	3625–3650	0%	6%	94%	Verizon
near Grizzly Hill → Lemhi Pass	3650–3675	6%	26%	68%	AT&T
Lemhi Pass → near Goldstone Pass	3675–3700	0%	34%	66%	AT&T
near Goldstone Pass area	3700–3725	34%	24%	42%	Verizon
near Goldstone Pass → Homer Youngs Peak	3725–3750	18%	22%	60%	Verizon
Homer Youngs Peak → near Jumbo Mountain	3750–3775	18%	26%	56%	Verizon
near Jumbo Mountain → Big Hole Pass	3775–3800	4%	4%	92%	Verizon
Big Hole Pass → Chief Joseph Pass	3800–3825	0%	10%	90%	Verizon
Chief Joseph Pass → near Schultz Saddle	3825–3850	28%	36%	36%	Verizon
near Schultz Saddle → near Bender Point	3850–3875	24%	16%	60%	Verizon
near Bender Point → Pintler Pass	3875–3900	14%	18%	68%	Verizon
Pintler Pass → Cutaway Pass	3900–3925	0%	2%	98%	Verizon
Cutaway Pass → near Storm Lake Pass	3925–3950	0%	0%	100%	—
near Storm Lake Pass → near French Town	3950–3975	0%	0%	100%	—
near French Town → near Burnt Mountain	3975–4000	14%	16%	70%	Verizon
near Burnt Mountain → Feely	4000–4025	70%	30%	0%	Verizon
Feely → near Moose Town	4025–4050	48%	28%	24%	Verizon
near Moose Town → near Pipestone Pass	4050–4075	36%	56%	8%	Verizon
near Pipestone Pass → near Butte	4075–4100	96%	4%	0%	Verizon
near Butte → near Trask	4100–4125	36%	42%	22%	Verizon
near Trask → near Sheepshead Mountain	4125–4150	38%	34%	28%	Verizon
near Sheepshead Mountain → near Champion Pass	4150–4175	26%	42%	32%	AT&T
near Champion Pass → Thunderbolt Mountain	4175–4200	26%	54%	20%	AT&T
Thunderbolt Mountain → O'Keefe Mountain	4200–4225	12%	20%	68%	Verizon
O'Keefe Mountain → Frontier Town	4225–4250	50%	50%	0%	AT&T
Frontier Town → Bald Butte	4250–4275	100%	0%	0%	Verizon
Bald Butte → near Nevada Mountain	4275–4300	48%	22%	30%	Verizon
near Nevada Mountain → near Stemple Pass	4300–4325	4%	36%	60%	AT&T
near Stemple Pass → Anaconda Hill	4325–4350	12%	54%	34%	Verizon
Anaconda Hill → Lewis and Clark Pass	4350–4375	66%	22%	12%	Verizon
Lewis and Clark Pass → near Grassy Hills	4375–4400	0%	38%	62%	Verizon
near Grassy Hills → Straight Creek Pass	4400–4425	0%	4%	96%	AT&T
Straight Creek Pass → Packers	4425–4450	0%	0%	100%	—
Packers → near White River Pass	4450–4475	0%	0%	100%	—
near White River Pass → Spotted Bear Pass	4475–4500	0%	0%	100%	—
Spotted Bear Pass → Lookout Mountain	4500–4525	0%	0%	100%	—
Lookout Mountain → near Sun River Pass	4525–4550	0%	0%	100%	—
near Sun River Pass → Winter Points	4550–4575	0%	0%	100%	—
Winter Points → Bruin Peaks	4575–4600	0%	0%	100%	—
Bruin Peaks → near Running Crane Mountain	4600–4625	42%	28%	30%	Verizon
near Running Crane Mountain → near Firebrand Pass	4625–4650	54%	44%	2%	AT&T
near Firebrand Pass → Scenic Point	4650–4675	72%	24%	4%	Verizon
Scenic Point → near Cut Bank Pass	4675–4700	2%	2%	96%	Verizon
near Cut Bank Pass → near Rising Sun	4700–4725	0%	0%	100%	—
near Rising Sun → Preston Park	4725–4750	12%	2%	86%	Verizon
Preston Park → Swiftcurrent Pass	4750–4775	0%	0%	100%	—
Swiftcurrent Pass → near Kootenai Pass	4775–4800	0%	0%	100%	—
near Kootenai Pass → near Mount Richards	4800–4824	0%	0%	100%	—

All 193 stages in the PDF report

#	Near	Section	Length	Signal drops at	Returns at
1	near New Well Peak	0–33 km	33 km	31.49704, -108.20866	31.68236, -108.37243

…and 206 more dead zones in the PDF report

Page one of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) coverage report: the coverage map and the segment table

Page two of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) coverage report: the dead-zone list with coordinates

What you carry with you

The map above shows where the signal holds and where it goes. The report is the version you take with you: on the trail there is no signal, so it is a PDF you keep on your phone or print, plus a GPX track that puts every dead zone on your map app as you walk.

Every stage of the route with its coverage, kilometre by kilometre
The strongest network for each stage
Every dead zone with its coordinates and GPS waypoints
Printable PDF and a GPX track for your GPS or phone map

Included with every plan, emailed within minutes of purchase.

How this is estimated. Modelled from FCC provider filings (not field measurements) — real signal varies with terrain, weather and network load. Full methodology in the report. Coverage data: FCC National Broadband Map (public domain), snapshot 2026-08-06. Route and place names: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). © 2026 TrailSim.

Frequently asked questions

Is there phone signal (cell service) on the Continental Divide Trail?

On the networks TrailSim sells for the Continental Divide Trail, 23% of the route's 4824 km has fast 4G/5G data and a further 22% has weak 4G signal only; 207 modelled dead zones totalling 2339 km have no signal on its networks — the best-coverage plan on this page cuts this to 201 dead zones totalling 2465 km. Cell service depends on which networks your eSIM roams on: the plans on TrailSim's Continental Divide Trail page are compared against exactly this route, and every dead zone is named and pinned with GPS coordinates in the coverage report included with each eSIM.

How much data do I need for the Continental Divide Trail?

Continental Divide Trail (CDT) typically runs about 220 days — more than any single plan covers, so plan on buying again along the way (days start on first use and delivery is instant). Worldwide, everyday smartphone use averages about 22 GB a month — roughly 730 MB a day — most of it video streaming (Ericsson Mobility Report, Nov 2025). On the trail the picture is lighter: with maps downloaded and video saved for wifi, messaging, photos, weather and bookings run 200–400 MB a day, so we size every recommendation at 500 MB a day for comfortable headroom. Size up if you stream, video-call or share your connection. If you would rather pay only for the days you are out, TrailSim's pay-by-the-day plans for the Continental Divide Trail give a full-speed daily allowance that slows down instead of cutting off, with the number of days set on the payment page.

What is a pay-by-the-day eSIM plan?

A daily allowance of 300 MB to 1.5 GB at full speed, then slower for the rest of that day — never cut off. It is priced per day: you set the number of days (1 to 90) on the payment page, pre-filled with the typical Continental Divide Trail trip length, and the days start on first use. It suits short trips and people who would rather never run out than carry a large fixed plan; the fixed plans on the same page are cheaper per gigabyte for a long trip.

When do the plan days start counting?

On first use — installing the TrailSim eSIM and connecting starts the clock, not the purchase date. You can safely buy weeks before your trip.

Does my phone support eSIM?

Most phones released since 2019 support eSIM, including iPhone XS and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, and most recent Samsung Galaxy models. Your phone must also be carrier-unlocked.

Why not a regular travel eSIM from Airalo or Holafly?

Any eSIM connects to the same physical networks. What TrailSim adds is the route check: it compares the carriers' own coverage filings along the Continental Divide Trail itself, picks the network combination that holds best there, and includes the coverage report with every dead zone mapped — so you know before you go where the phone will and won't work. A longer comparison is at trailsim.com/compare/airalo and /compare/holafly.

What if parts of the route have no signal at all?

On most wild routes some stretches have no signal from any network — no eSIM can change that. TrailSim's Continental Divide Trail coverage report marks every dead zone with GPS coordinates and length, so you can download offline maps for those sections and tell people at home when you'll be unreachable. Knowing where it drops is the point.

What if I change my mind after buying?

Uninstalled eSIMs qualify for a full self-service refund within 14 days of purchase — no questions asked. Once the eSIM is installed on a device it can no longer be returned. See the refund policy.

Phone signal on the Continental Divide Trail: where it drops

Choose your eSIM

Continental Divide Trail coverage map

Report preview

What you carry with you

Frequently asked questions