FRIDAY, August 21, 2026 |
Photo – Members pose with water cache – Courtesy City of Rawlins
Rawlins officials declared September as Continental Divide Trails Month.
During the August 18th Rawlins City Council meeting, Mayor Jacquelin Wells presented a proclamation designating September 2026 as Continental Divide Trails Month and celebrating the 10th anniversary of Rawlins becoming a Continental Divide Trail Gateway Community.
The Continental Divide Trail is one of the country’s three major north–south hiking corridors, along with the Pacific Crest and Appalachian trails. The roughly 3,000‑mile route begins in the Big Hatchet Mountains of New Mexico and ends at Waterton Lakes National Park in Montana. The city of Rawlins sits near the midpoint of the trail and is a common stop for hikers.
As a Continental Divide Trail Gateway Community, Rawlins has been recognized by the national Continental Divide Trail Coalition for supporting CDT hikers and promoting trail stewardship. The designation shows the community’s commitment to welcoming and assisting people traveling along the route.
Back at Tuesday’s meeting, Councilman Terry Patterson, the governing body’s representative on the Rawlins CDT Community Committee, read the proclamation declaring September as Continental Divide Trails Month.
Along with celebrating the Continental Divide Trail, the proclamation also recognized the city’s place on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the most extensive unpaved bicycling trail system in the world.
Backpacker magazine’s official website, Backpacking.com, calls Rawlins a “saving‑grace” oasis for Great Divide Mountain Bike Route riders, where they can find showers, laundry, grocery stores, and bike mechanics.
Continuing to read the proclamation, Councilman Terry Patterson said September 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Rawlins becoming a Continental Divide Trail Gateway Community. Over the past decade, the city has welcomed hikers and continued working to improve and recognize the trail, including hosting the first Halfway Days event, organizing clean‑up efforts, and constructing a water supply station north of the city.
Councilman Patterson said the city’s position on the Continental Divide Trail and Great Divide Mountain Bike Route brings hikers, cyclists, and other visitors into town, where they support local businesses, buy supplies, stay overnight, and treat Rawlins as an important stop on their trip.
Following the reading, Councilman Patterson said that when he was asked to serve on the Rawlins CDT Community Committee, he didn’t know what he could offer the group. He said that although he was initially bored, he quickly developed a strong passion for the Continental Divide Trail.
Over the summer, the city’s CDT Committee worked with the Bureau of Land Management on its annual Trail Days maintenance effort. Councilman Patterson said he and the other volunteers removed roughly 8,000 pounds of garbage from a very small section of the trail.
In addition to the garbage removal, Councilman Patterson said the Rawlins CDT Community Committee installed a water cache on the trail north of the city. He added that the supply station is very popular with hikers, attracting visitors from around the world.
Patterson said the CDT Community Committee also recently installed a water cache south of Rawlins on Bridger Pass Road.
Hikers often assign one another trail names as a way to distinguish personality, habits, or standout moments along the trail. Because of his commitment to installing and restocking the water caches, Councilman Patterson said his trail name is Waterboy.
The councilman noted that Halfway Days, the city’s inaugural celebration of its place at the midpoint of the Continental Divide Trail, was a success and thanked the volunteers who made the event possible. He also expressed his gratitude to the Rawlins CDT Community Committee, the national Continental Divide Trail Coalition, and the city itself.
Councilman Patterson said he has been so inspired by his time on the city’s CDT Committee that he has chosen to hike a portion of the trail.
Mayor Jacquelin Wells proclaimed September 2026 as Continental Divide Trails Month, formally recognizing the trail’s significance to the city.
