The Great Continental Divide Motorcycle Route is one of the most legendary adventure rides in North America. Stretching roughly 2,700 miles from the Canadian border in Montana to the Mexican border in New Mexico, this route follows the spine of the Rocky Mountains, crossing the Continental Divide numerous times along the way. Designed for dual-sport and ADV motorcycles, the route is made up of approximately 70% unpaved roads—ranging from gravel and dirt to rugged forest service tracks—and 30% pavement through connecting towns and crossings.

Riders can expect a diverse and ever-changing landscape, from alpine passes and glacial valleys to high desert plateaus, dense forests, and wide-open ranchlands. Elevation changes are dramatic, with several segments reaching over 11,000 feet. Weather can shift quickly, and the terrain varies from smooth and scenic to remote and challenging, making it ideal for intermediate to advanced riders. The best time to ride is between July and early October, when snow has melted from the high country but the first storms of winter have yet to arrive.

Highlights of the journey include sweeping views near Glacier National Park, the remote beauty of Wyoming’s Red Desert, Colorado’s high-mountain backroads and ghost towns, and the rugged desert plateaus of northern New Mexico. Each crossing of the Continental Divide offers a new scenic reward and a sense of progress along this epic north-to-south traverse.

The Great Continental Divide Route is more than just a ride—it’s a full-on adventure. With long stretches of solitude, minimal services, and breathtaking scenery at every turn, it invites riders to disconnect from the daily grind and reconnect with the wild, expansive heart of the American West.

Self Guided American Adventure: The Great Continental Divide Route (GCDR) is designed to be a self-guided adventure.  As GPS units have become both more powerful and easier to use, it has enabled anyone to be able to easily find their way along the trail.  For many, this allows them to just experience the American trail without the burden of getting lost.

Buy the GPS Card and Rider Maps:  

You can order a microSD Card for your Garmin GPS and a complete set of tank bag reference maps and Big Picture overview maps designed in combination with the microSD card to fit the pocket in your "Tank Bag" (as in the photo at the top of the page).  See the choices below:

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Notes:  I suggest you plan and order early.  Normally I ship within a week.  But sometimes I run out and it can take me several weeks to get new cards and maps.  And sometimes I am out riding and building new adventures so that can be hard too. I list the Option for 2 SD cards because many riders like to carry a backup card or a cheap backup gps in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Overview of the route

The GCDR route on the map below is the main route in Blue, the easier options are shown in Green and the harder options are shown in Red.  Zoom in for incredible detail. And enjoy dreaming of the ride!

If you have been dreaming about riding adventures like this, now is the time. The route has been updated with both easy and hard route options.  Riders need not be bored or ride over their head, as built into the route are choices to fit each rider.

Yes, the perfect ride for that new bike.

Navigation of the Trail:  For sure the best way to follow the trail is by the use of a Garmin GPS unit. There are many types of Garmin units, almost all of them can work well.  If you don't already have a Garmin GPS you can often get a new Garmin for under $100.  Cell Phone GPS is starting to be used, but has trouble in the remote areas and doesn't take the abuse of the trail well. See our Garmin GPS recommendations.

Structure of the trail information:  The GCRD is broken into 20 sections (from Banff, Canada to Antelope Wells on the Mexico border.  At the end of each section is a gasoline station.  The sections vary in length from 77 miles to 267 miles.  You should have a gas range of 267 miles.  Each section has a printable map.  Several sections can be ridden in a day, depending on your desires.

Studying the Route:  Attitudes about studying the route vary greatly among travelers. Some prefer no study, just turn on the GPS and go and enjoy whatever the day has to offer.  Start by ordering the Maps and GPS Card. Others love to study the route in fine detail before starting.  

What is the Continental Divide ?

The Continental Divide is a drainage divide running along the rocky mountains.  To the west of the divide, all the water flows into the Pacific Ocean and on the eastern side, all the water flows to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The Great Continental Divide Adventure Route is a motorized route that follows closely along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.   This scenic trail runs from the USA/Mexico border into Canada and covers 2,767 miles of spectacular remote wilderness. The Route covers 5 states: New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana and is a mostly a mix of smaller dirt roads and back county roads.  This is considered a scenic adventure route and most riders take two weeks to travel the length.  Many riders camp along the route while others choose from many hotel options.