Great Divide Trail
Great Divide Trail
Great Divide Trail
Great Divide Trail information:
The Great Divide Trail is about 895 miles through the Canadian Rockies from the U.S./Canada border to Kakwa Lake. The trail was being built but underwent some issues in the 60’s and was never completed. The route is now a conglomerate of highly used trails in the national parks, little used trails, trails in disrepair, road walking, dirt roads, ATV trails, and some cross country travel.
There is a decent amount of information that is out there on the internet so I will just briefly touch on a few things that I think are important. The sites that have the most information that I have found are:
http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/
I put together the map set for the GDT to help other people that are going to hike the GDT. I modeled them after Jonathan Ley’s CDT maps because I thought most people that will be hiking the GDT will already be used to that style of map. When I hiked the GDT I found the maps available and the maps in the guidebook to be sub-par. It is still critical to buy Dustin Lynx’s guidebook for the trail to get some descriptions of the route. If you are very confident with map travel you can possibly get away without buying the guidebook or at least carrying it on the hike. I think the ideal situation would be to copy some notes on the route onto the back of the maps. This will help to save weight on what you will be carrying for maps, but still let you have all of the info you might need. I did not want to add the info myself to the maps because I do not want to step on Dustin’s toes in any way. If you have any questions just let me know. Or if anything has changed after you hiked the trail please let me know so that I can update the maps.
FYI: There is a very short piece, probably about 1-2km missing in between maps between map 39 and 41. I have purposefully left out map 40 and mis-numbered the maps as such to show this. The navigation should not be an issue there, just continue following the river corridor.
Transportation to and from:
The best way to access the northern terminus is through Edmonton or Calgary and then to Jasper. It is hard to get to Kakwa Lake since there is no road access anymore. A lot of people are starting their hikes at Mt. Robson Visitor’s Centre because the access is much easier. These links below are for two shuttle companies that run to Jasper.
http://www.sundogtours.com/airport_shuttle_schedule.php
http://www.explorerockies.com/airport-shuttles/calgary-banff-rockies.aspx
The southern terminus of the GDT is accessible from Kalispell or East Glacier, MT. East Glacier is a stop on Amtrak and then shuttles run to Waterton from East Glacier.
Resupply Options (north to south):
Great Divide Trail: 1,444.1km/ 895mi
Kakwa Lake - Mt Robson Visitor Center
Yellowhead Hwy 16 - Kakwa TH: 85km
GDT: 187.9km
Robson Pass Trail - VC: 27.5km
Total: 300.4km/ 186.2mi
Mt Robson Visitor Center (27.5km)
Hwy 16, Mount Robson Provincial Park***
Mount Robson, BC V0E 2Z0***
Tel: 1800.435.5622***
Mt Robson VC Services: MD, C, R
Mt Robson VC - Jasper
Robson Pass Trail: 27.5km
GDT: 115km
Total: 142.5km/ 88.4mi
Jasper Post Office (on trail)
Genera Delivery
Jasper AB T0E 1E0
Tel: 780.852.3041
M-F 9-5pm
Jasper Services: PO, All Services, HEET, IN
Jasper - Saskatchewan River Crossing
GDT: 211.5km/ 131.1mi
The Crossing (on trail)
Mail Bag 333
Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0
Tel: 403.761.7000
The Crossing Services: L, MD, g
Saskatchewan River Crossing - Field
GDT: 207.3km/ 128.5mi
Field Post Office (4km)
Genera Delivery
Field, BC V0A 1G0
M-F 8:30-4:30pm
The Fireweed Hostel (4km)
PO Box 37
Field BC V0A 1G0
Tel: 250.343.6999 or 877.343.6999
Field Services: L, PO, R, g
Field - Kananaskis Village
GDT: 222.9km/ 138.2mi
Boulton Creek Trading Post (2km)
Box 196, Kananaskis, AB T0K 2H0
Tel: 403.591.7678
Peter Lougheed Provicial Park VC (7km)
PO Box 130
Kananaskis AB T0L 2H0
Tel: 403.591.6322
Kananaskis Village (30km)
Genera Delivery
Kananaskis, AB T0L 2H0
M-Sun 8:30-11:30am, 12:30-5pm
Boulton Creek: C, g, R
PLPP VC: MD
Kananaskis: PO
Kananaskis Village - Coleman
GDT: 209.9km/ 130.1mi
A Safe Haven B&B (on trail)
8126 Hwy 3
Coleman AB T0K 0M0
Tel: 1.800.290.0860
Blairmore Post Office (5km)
General Delivery
Blairmore, AB T0K 0E0
Easy Living Unlimited Convenience Store (on trail)
Box 332 Coleman, AB T0K 0M0
M-Sat 7-11pm
Coleman Services: L, G, HEET, LM, IN
Blairmore Services: PO, All Services, HEET
Coleman - Waterton
GDT: 149.6km/ 92.8mi
Waterton Lake Post Office (on trail)
General Delivery
Waterton Lakes, AB T0K 2M0
Waterton Services: R, L, C, PO
Some other relevant information for hiking in Canda:
I have copied and pasted the information below about park passes for hiking in Canada.
Buying a Park Pass
Welcome to Banff National Park, Canada's first National Park.
The Trans Canada Highway winds west through the majestic Rockies, and approaches the historic Banff East Gate about 7 kilometres west of the Town of Canmore. This entry point allows visitors to purchase Park Passes, as well as obtain information and maps of the Mountain National Parks from friendly park staff.
Annual National Park, Annual Discovery Pass
The Park Pass is a permit that allows you to visit a national park. Annual park passes that are purchased in one national park can be used in other national parks during the year for which they are valid. Day park passes are valid for that park or the surrounding Mountain Parks for the period which they are valid. Park pass fees remain in the park or site where they are collected, and contribute towards the maintenance of scenic parkways, day use areas, trails, public safety, information and interpretation services.
There are a variety of choices for purchasing park passes: annual, daily, individual or family/group.
Specially-priced packages (Discovery Packages) are available for people planning to visit both National Parks and National Historic Sites.
For a full price list see FEES . Banff National Park Jasper National Park Kootenay National Park Yoho National Park Entry - Annual Adult Individual Annual - $67.70 Senior Individual Annual - $57.90 Youth Individual Annual - $33.30
Family/Group Annual - $136.40
Entry - Day Adult Individual Day - $9.80 Senior Individual Day - $8.30 Youth Individual Day - $4.90 Family/Group Day - $19.60
Annual - Discovery Package* Adult - $84.40 Senior - $72.60 Youth - $42.20 Family/Group - $165.80
* Includes Entry to 27 participating National Parks and 78 participating National Historic Sites .
Everyone stopping to visit the national parks needs a Park Pass. This includes stops at picnic sites and viewpoints, and visits to the villages of Lake Louise and Field and the towns of Banff and Jasper - whether attending a conference, going on a backpacking trip or visiting with an organized tour.
Commercial tours operators and large groups should contact: Group and Commercial Tours Officer Banff National Park P.O. Box 900 Banff, AB T1L 1K2 403.762.1504
A Park Pass is also required for anyone travelling the Icefields Parkway (#93) between Lake Louise and Jasper.
For vehicles travelling directly through the park from the east, travellers may use the through lane, on the right side of the Trans Canada Highway when approaching the East Gate.
Campers have the option of stopping at the Banff East Gate or proceeding to their desired campground where a Park Pass can also be purchased during the campground registration process.
Banff Information Centre
© Parks Canada For visitors who find themselves in the towns of Banff and Jasper or the villages of Lake Louise and Field, it is possible to purchase a Park Pass from the local Visitor or Information Center.
Any visitors entering Banff National Park from the west planning on stopping in the park, and who do not hold a valid pass, may purchase a Park Pass from any Information Center or Campground in the Park.
National Passes Alberta: Banff, Elk Island, Jasper, Waterton Lakes
British Columbia: Glacier, Kootenay, Mount-Revelstoke, Pacific Rim, Yoho
Wilderness Pass
The Wilderness Pass is a mandatory permit for anyone planning an overnight trip into the backcountry of Banff National Park.
The Annual Wilderness Pass is a discount card' that allows the holder to an unlimited number of nights in the backcountry of Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper, Waterton Lakes, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks for one year from date of purchase. In order for the park to monitor backcountry use and not overbook campgrounds and shelters, you are still required to reserve and pick up a Wilderness Pass before traveling into the backcountry. The Annual Pass covers the cost of your Wilderness Pass, but does not include shelter or reservation fees.
Bryant Creek and Egypt Lake Shelters are primitive backcountry shelters operated by Banff National Park. Reservations are recommended for these shelters and follow the same booking procedures as the Wilderness Pass. There is an extra fee required to stay in a shelter and visits are limited to three consecutive nights. Please note that as of October 15, 2000 dogs will not be permitted at the shelters.
Booking Your Trip
Backcountry campsite and shelter reservations are advisable during the peak hiking months of July and August. For a small fee, you can make a reservation up to 90 days in advance of your trip.
Reservations can be made by phone, fax, or in person at Park Information Centres and the Western Canada Service Centre in Calgary. If your wilderness pass is mailed or faxed to you, we strongly recommend that you contact a Park Information Centre prior to departure for updates on trail conditions, closures and other pertinent information.
The wilderness experience in Canada's Mountain National Parks is one of the best in the world. Banff's spectacular, unspoiled backcountry offers superb opportunities for solitude, personal and physical challenge, freedom and adventure. Wilderness Pass and reservation fees are used to offset the costs of trail and campground maintenance, bridge building, backcountry assistance, and other services backcountry users have come to expect.
Fees
Wilderness Pass
$9.80 / person / night Children 16 years and under are free
Shelter Fee
$6.80 / person / night - in addition to the Wilderness Pass
Reservation Fee (non-refundable)
$11.70 / reservation for any booking made more than 24 hours in advance
Modification Fee (non-refundable)
$11.70 / modification for any reservation change
Annual Wilderness Pass (non-refundable)
$68.70 / person / year - does not include shelter, reservation or modification fees
Park Regulations
Park regulations protect natural and cultural resources, ensure visitor safety and provide visitors with quality recreational opportunities. Every individual has the responsibility to use the park wisely, to minimize their impact and to understand and respect park regulations.
The following regulations apply to backcountry use in Banff National Park:
A valid Wilderness Pass is required and must be kept with you and accessible, at all times. Group size is limited to 10 people, including the trip leader. Campers can stay for a maximum of 3 nights at any campsite, shelter or random camping site. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times. Please consider leaving them at home.
As of October 15, 2000, dogs will not be permitted at the Egypt Lake and Bryant Creek shelters as a courtesy to other shelter users.
All food and toiletries must be properly stored; use bear cables if available or rope between two trees. Pack out ALL garbage, including food waste, tampons, sanitary napkins, diapers and foil. Bicycles are only allowed on designated trails. Fires are only permitted in designated campsites with metal fire rings and in random camping areas. Please practice
Leave No Trace principles. Do not disturb or remove any natural or cultural objects. Do not feed, touch or harass wildlife. Obey closures. Areas may be temporarily closed for safety or environmental reasons and are marked with signs and/or
tape. If your intended route takes you through an area that has been closed you must turn back or find an
alternate route around the closure. If you wish to fish, you must be familiar with park Fishing Regulations and have a National Park Fishing License. In random camping areas, campsites must be at least 50 m from trails, 70 m from water bodies and 5 km from
trailheads. Please practice minimum impact camping techniques.