Accessing the CDT Southern Terminus

After months of uncertainty, it is a relief to know that I can now access the CDT southern terminus at the Crazy Cook Monument.

In April 2025, the US Government declared much of the federal public land along the border between New Mexico and Mexico as a National Defence Area (NDA) for the purposes of establishing control along the border. Unfortunately for CDT hikers this included the first 1.1 miles of the CDT and the iconic southern terminus monument, effectively closing off access to the trail start point at the time.

Management of the NDA was transferred to the US Army and hikers wishing to enter required permission from the US Army at Fort Huachuca. For US citizens this seemed relatively straight forward – apply for permission directly with Fort Huachuca, undergo a background check and have permission approved or denied. Initially, permission was only available to US citizens and was not an option for international hikers.

Being granted access wasn’t critical to my hike but it sure as hell would be great to make a start at the official CDT starting point right on the border. For the last few months I had come to accept that the southern terminus was off limits and that I’d have to start this trek on a dusty road just outside the NDA.

I’m pleased to say that over the past month things have significantly changed. The requirement for US citizenship to obtain permission to enter the NDA was relaxed to include permanent residents and similar statuses. For international visitors though things were still a little unclear. I have a 5 year visa and while not a permanent resident of the US I decided to apply anyway and see what would happen. The worst case would be that permission would be denied. If they did said no, then no big deal, I’d start the CDT from that dusty road as I had in my head anyway.

So I filled out the online permission request form, attached the required documents including a passport photo, copy of drivers license and passport required for a background check, and hit enter. Sure enough, within 48 hours I received a permit to enter the NDA. But on it were some big bold words that caused more confusion “DOD ESCORT REQUIRED”. What the hell did that mean?

I would need a Department of Defence Escort at all times while in the NDA. How the hell and where do I start to organise something like that? I had not idea. A quick look online revealed it meant I would need to find someone with an appropriate military clearance willing to head to the border with me and walk 1.1 miles of the CDT. This included currently serving or retired military personnel and private contractors. I certainly did not know anyone with these credentials and wasn’t about to start searching for guns for hire. Not for 1.1 miles of trail. So it was back to the realisation that even with a temporary visitor pass granted, I would be starting on out the that dusty road afterall. Back to square one.

To cut a long story short, that all changed again a week or so ago, when it was announced that any US citizen granted a NDA access pass could act as that escort for international hikers. Phewww…. what a relief. This now means all is back on track…. I think. I have a shuttle service lined up to drive me down from the town of Lordsburg to the official start of the CDT at the Crazy Cook Monument. The shuttle is fully booked for my start date and typically there will be 8 – 10 hikers on board. The odds are in my favour that there is at least one US citizen amongst those on the shuttle that I can buddy up with.

Fun Fact – whys is it the CDT southern terminus called the Crazy Cook Monument? In 1865 a cowboy camp cook murdered a worker named Frank Evans with an axe after Evans complained about or insulted the quality of the food. The monument marks this spot and the grave of the victim.