Author: Kate Hamilton

Voluntary Hiker Registration & Hang Tag Program 

Are you planning to hike the Great Divide Trail in 2025? Whether you’re tackling the full length of the trail or just a section, we encourage you to register your hike and pick up a free GDT Hang Tag, your badge of stewardship and a symbol of your commitment to protecting the Great Divide Trail. 

This voluntary registration is open to anyone planning to spend one or more nights on the GDT in 2025. 

How to register: 

• Visit one of the participating locations (listed below). 

• Let the staff know you’re there to pick up your GDT Hang Tag. 

• Scan the QR code they provide to complete your registration. 

• Show the staff your completed registration. 

• Walk away happily with your new Hang Tag! 

What You’ll Receive 

Hikers who register for 2025 are eligible to receive a free GDT Hang Tag.  

These tags are: 

• A memento of your adventure on the Great Divide Trail 

• A visible sign of your pledge to practice Leave No Trace and care for the trail 

• Available while supplies last. Once they’re gone, they’re gone! 

Note: This registration is not a permit and does not replace permits required in national or provincial parks along the GDT. Be sure to research and obtain all necessary permits for your hike. 

Hang Tag Pickup Locations 

Hang Tags must be picked up in person at one of the following locations during their business hours. Shipping of Hang Tags is not available. 

AVAILABLE NOW – Tamarack Outdoors
214 Mount View Road, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
Visit their website for hours of operation 

AVAILABLE NOW – Kindred Ground – Movement & Coffee House 
7702 18 Avenue, Coleman, Alberta 
Visit their website for hours of operation 

AVAILABLE NOW – Friends of Jasper National Park Gift Shop 
500 Connaught Drive, Jasper, Alberta 
Visit their website for hours of operation 

*Friends of Jasper National Park Gift Shop also gives GDTA members a 10% discount in the store with proof of GDTA membership. 

Quantities are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once locations run out, that’s it for the season. 

Why Do We Ask You to Register? 

Your registration helps us better understand how many people are hiking the GDT, and where. This information is incredibly valuable: 

It helps us advocate for the trail with land managers and government agencies. 

It supports funding opportunities by showing how popular and meaningful the GDT is to users. 

It helps us plan trail maintenance, focusing efforts on the most-used and most-loved areas. 

By registering, you’re helping to protect the GDT’s future – thank you! 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: Do I have to pick up my Hang Tag in person? 
A: Yes. Hang Tags are only available for pickup in person at our partner locations in Coleman and Jasper. Shipping of Hang Tags is not available. 

Q: Can I get a Hang Tag for a previous year’s hike? 
A: No. Hang Tags are only available to hikers registered for the current hiking season (2025). 

Q: Is registration required to hike the GDT? 
A: No, registration is completely voluntary but strongly encouraged to support trail stewardship and planning. 

Q: Do I still need to get permits? 
A: Yes. Registration does not replace permits. Be sure to secure all required camping permits for areas such as national and provincial parks along your route. Visit our Permits Page for more information. 

The 2025 Servus Calgary Marathon is officially in the books, and we couldn’t be more excited to share the results of a powerful first year as the Green Bib Charity! 

Thanks to the enthusiasm and generosity of the running community, 633 participants opted into the new Green Bib program, choosing to skip their race shirt and medal and donate $10 to the Great Divide Trail Association instead. That adds up to an incredible $6,330 raised to support the protection and stewardship of the Great Divide Trail! 

What’s the Green Bib? 

Launched for the first time in 2025, the Green Bib option gave runners and walkers the chance to reduce event waste and directly support an environmental cause. By choosing this option, participants minimized their footprint while helping fund trail maintenance, volunteer coordination, and conservation efforts along our 1,100+ km route through Alberta and BC’s stunning mountain backcountry. 

A Bigger Shift Toward Sustainability 

The Green Bib is part of a much broader sustainability effort led by the Servus Calgary Marathon and Fluid Projects, the event’s official Sustainability Partner. Their commitment to hosting one of Canada’s most environmentally responsible races is reshaping what’s possible at large-scale events. 

Here are just a few 2024 highlights that helped lay the foundation for this year’s success: 

• 70,000 cups composted 

• 25,000 plastic bags saved thanks to a bagless gear drop 

• 80,000 km of vehicle travel avoided with free Calgary Transit for participants 

• Thousands of energy gel wrappers recycled through TerraCycle 

• No single-use plastic bottles at the start or finish lines 

These efforts show that it is possible to host major events with a lighter footprint, and the Green Bib adds even more momentum to this shift. 

Stay tuned: 2025 sustainability stats will be released by the end of the summer! 

Thank You, Run Calgary! 

A huge thank you to Run Calgary and the Servus Calgary Marathon team for selecting the Great Divide Trail Association as this year’s Green Bib Charity. Your leadership in advancing sustainability and your support for grassroots organizations like ours means the world. We’re so proud to be part of this movement. 

And Thank You to You! 

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in this year’s event, and especially to those who chose the Green Bib. Whether you ran, walked, donated, volunteered, or cheered from the sidelines, you’ve made a lasting difference for the trail and the environment. 

This May, we invited you to Make It Monthly and thanks to your generosity and the support of our amazing partner, BearVault, we’re excited to share the results! 

Together, we raised a total of $1,185 in support of the Great Divide Trail! 

Through the campaign, four new monthly donors signed on, contributing $185/month in ongoing support. And thanks to BearVault, every one of those first-month donations was matched, and then some! BearVault stepped up with an incredible $1,000 donation to help build a stronger, more sustainable future for the trail. 

Monthly donations are one of the most impactful ways to give. They allow us to plan trail work, coordinate volunteers, and respond to urgent needs on the trail with confidence. Every dollar raised helps protect, maintain, and enhance the Great Divide Trail for generations to come. 

To everyone who participated in Make It Monthly, whether you donated, shared the campaign, or cheered us on, thank you. And to BearVault, thank you for being a champion of backcountry trails and the people who love them. 

We couldn’t do it without you. 

– The GDTA Team