Continental Divide Trail Completion Act

The Continental Divide Trail Completion Act (HR 1317) requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail as a continuous route by November 2028. It mandates voluntary land acquisitions (via purchase, donation, or easements) to close gaps between trail segments and optimize trail placement on federal land where beneficial for recreation and conservation, while prohibiting eminent domain. The bill establishes a federal team to coordinate these efforts, consult with local landowners, tribes, and trail organizations, and submit annual progress reports to Congress detailing land acquisitions and future plans. This directly affects federal agencies, landowners in the trail corridor, and local communities through land-use coordination and trail development.