Continental Divide Trail Snow Report

COVID-19 Status

The Continental Divide Trail snow report is designed to aid hikers in determining the best time to head into the mountains based on snow conditions. Each hikers skill-set and comfort level with these conditions will differ.

The Continental Divide Trail snow report uses SNODAS modeled snow data and MODIS reflectivity data. SNODAS gives us a good idea about the quantity of frozen water sitting on the ground, denoted by SWE (Snow Water Equivalence) in inches. Coverage is often poorly represented by SNODAS where snow cover is thin. The 8 day MODIS data, without regard for quantity, shows us what areas were snow covered at some point over the last 8 days. Cloud cover and darkness adversely affects MODIS detection significantly, hence we use the 8 day as opposed to the single day coverage. This is the only combined MODIS/SNODAS CDT snow map on the internet.

Trail snow is not snow pack. The Postholer snow page focuses on snow on or near the trail, at trail elevation, not on snow condtions thousands of feet lower/higher and miles away from the trail. Ski resort snow reports and snow pack charts are a very poor representation of trail snow conditions.

SNODAS SWE, Entire Trail

Continental Divide Trail Snow Conditions, current SWE by mile

Continental Divide Trail
topographic maps

Carson-San Juan NF GNP-Bob Marshal NF

Carson-San Juan NF

SNODAS/MODIS, Carson-San Juan NF

View SNODAS and/or MODIS overlays on Postholer Google Map. Last SNODAS update was May 28, 2020. Last MODIS 8 day was May 16, 2020 to May 24, 2020. MODIS: No Data, Snow cover.

Sentinel-2 20m (~65 feet) Snow Cover

View this Sentinel-2 20m (~65 feet) resolution overlay on the Postholer Google Map. Last Sentinel-2 6 day data was on May 28, 2020. Sentinel-2: No Data, Snow cover.

SNODAS SWE, Carson-San Juan NF

Continental Divide Trail Snow Conditions, current by mile

Continental Divide Trail Snow Conditions, current/extreme years

Continental Divide Trail Snow Conditions 2004 to current

GNP-Bob Marshal NF

SNODAS/MODIS, GNP-Bob Marshal NF

View SNODAS and/or MODIS overlays on Postholer Google Map. Last SNODAS update was May 28, 2020. Last MODIS 8 day was May 16, 2020 to May 24, 2020. MODIS: No Data, Snow cover.

SNODAS SWE, GNP-Bob Marshal NF