CDT Maps by Jonathan Ley

Jonathan Ley's Continental Divide Trail Maps for 2020

When I yo-yoed the CDT in 2007, the iPhone didn't exist. Thru-hikers navigated with a map, compass, and Johnathan Ley's CDT maps. 

Nobody used GPS.

Times have changed. Nowadays, many hikers I use Guthook's app or BackCountry Navigator on their GPS smartphones.

That's great, but there are still two good reasons to use Jonathan Ley's CDT maps:

1. As a backup. Smartphones break. Batteries die. When shit happens, it's safe to have a Plan B.
2. Be old school. For many, backpacking is about being primitive. It's about detoxing from technology. If that's your goal, then navigate with map and compass, and use your smartphone as your emergency backup if you're truly lost.

About Jonathan Ley's Maps

Jonathan Ley is a CDT god. He has spent years creating and meticulously updating his free CDT maps. Without his efforts, we'd all be forced to buy expensive CDT maps from somewhere else (or be lost).

Moreover, like an open-source project, his maps are constantly being updated by the fresh input from CDT hikers. He annotates the maps with important information concerning water sources, resupply points, and alternate trails.

When I yo-yoed the CDT, I survived with his maps alone. I had no guidebook or GPS.

Jonathan gave me his approval to post his maps on my site. Giving online access to the maps isn't free because they suck up bandwidth. However, I think it's a useful service to the hiking community.

Download Jonathan Ley's CDT Maps

Honor code: You're welcome to download and use these maps, but please donate something to Jonathan Ley! There are two ways to donate:

1. Send money via PayPal to Ley's email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask him for his home address to mail him a check.

When you make your donation, please mention that you downloaded them from here!

If you feel compelled to toss a bone my way for bearing the cost of the download, I insist that you don't send me anything! Send all your generosity to Jonathan! He deserves it! However, if you can't be reasoned with (and you've already donated to Ley), then consider getting something from my shop or spreading the word about it by mentioning it in your social network.

Please visit Jonathan Ley's CDT map page to learn more about the CDT maps.

Download the CDT maps

Download the zip files of the maps by clicking on each section below. The MB estimates are rough estimates, so don't worry if the actual download size is different. The total download is roughly 1.3 GB.

• CDT Overview maps - about 11 MB - Get the big picture

• New Mexico CDT maps - about 312 MB

• Colorado CDT maps - about 283 MB

• Wyoming CDT maps - about 288 MB

• Montana (and Idaho) CDT maps - about 319 MB

All the maps are rotated to "portrait" to make batch printing easier.

For some printing tips, see Jonathan Ley's CDT Map Information page.

Can I use Ley's Continental Divide Trail maps on my GPS-powered smartphone? 

Yes! If you’re carrying a smartphone, you can download the maps from Avenza and use their free Avenza Maps app. Each map from Avenza is geo-referenced, so the app knows where the corners of the map are, and therefore where the map is located on planet earth. This will enable you to see your position right on the map as you go.

You’ll need to zoom in and out to see the notes.

You don’t need a cell connection to use the app - The map data is downloaded to your device, so you can use these off-line. Using GPS doesn’t require a cell signal.

The maps on Avenza were last updated in 2020. Avenza says if you ‘buy’ the current maps, you’ll be notified when new versions are available for download. But in case that doesn’t work, check my website here to see the latest news:

http://phlumf.com/?page_id=426

Here’s how you get the maps from Avenza:

1. Install the Avenza Maps app from the iTunes Apps Store or Google Play.
2. On your desktop, go to Avenza, create an account, and log-in.
3. Go here: https://www.avenzamaps.com/vendor/1321/jonathan-ley
4. “Buy” the maps you need. (They’re all there and they’re all free).
5. Then go on your mobile device to Avenza Maps, log into your Map Store account, and download the bundles to your device.

While you're waiting for the download, you can start getting pumped up for your hike by reading either my CDT journals or Jonathan's.

Happy Trails!

- Francis Tapon