What We Heard From Hikers This Year
Some of the best moments of the season didn’t happen on the trail. They happened later, reading through hang tag surveys.
This year’s Hiker Hang Tag program gave us a simple way to hear directly from people using the Great Divide Trail. Who they are. Where they’re coming from. What sections they’re hiking. And how the trail experience was for them.
Short version? We were pretty darn blown away.
A Trail With a Big Reach
Most hang tags were picked up by Canadians, but not by much. We also heard from hikers from the U.S., Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and a handful of other places we didn’t expect. It’s a good reminder that the GDT isn’t just a local trail anymore. It’s showing up on a lot of radars.
Who’s Out There
In total, 157 hikers picked up hang tags this year.
That included thru-hikers chasing a big, continuous line and section or weekend hikers squeezing the trail into busy lives. Both matter. The GDT isn’t one kind of adventure. It’s a whole range of them.
Popular Sections and Direction of Travel
For section hikers, Section A was the most popular, with Section B and Section F close behind. No huge surprises there, but it’s helpful to see it reflected in real numbers.
Most hikers were heading northbound, with a smaller group going south or mixing directions. Classic long-distance hiking patterns, just playing out on Canadian terrain.
Stewardship Is Part of the Culture
One thing that really stood out was how much people care about doing things well out there.
A lot of comments touched on stewardship, Leave No Trace, and respect for the places the trail moves through. The GDT crosses protected areas, working landscapes, and sensitive environments, and it only works when hikers do their part. Permits, responsible camping, and low-impact travel aren’t buzzwords. They’re how the trail stays wild and open.
The hang tag program helps reinforce that mindset in a friendly way. It’s less about rules and more about shared responsibility.
More Than a Survey
For many hikers, the hang tag itself became a keepsake. Something clipped to a pack, saved with maps, or tucked into a gear bin as a reminder of time spent out there.
It’s a small thing, but those small things tend to stick.
A Few Fun Takeaways
Here are a few quick hits from this year:
- Hikers came from more than a dozen countries
- Nearly half were section or weekend hikers
- Section A continues to be the most-traveled stretch
- Northbound is still the direction of choice
The Comments Were the Best Part
The feedback was generous, encouraging, and honestly motivating. People noticed trail work. They thanked volunteers. They called out bridges, bear lockers, and maintenance. Some shared stories of coming back to finish hikes interrupted by wildfire seasons. Others talked about how special it is to have a trail like this close to home.
A lot of comments were short and simple. “Thank you.” “Great work.” “Love this trail.” Those words mean a lot when they come from tired legs and full hearts.
Thanks for Making It Happen
A big thank you to Friends of Jasper National Park, Kindred Ground, and Tamarack Outdoors for helping make the Hang Tag Program possible. Your registration helps us better understand how many people are hiking the GDT and where they’re going. It allows us to better advocate for the trail with land managers and government agencies, supports funding opportunities by showing how popular and meaningful the GDT is to the people who use it, and helps us plan trail maintenance by focusing efforts on the most-used and most-loved areas. By registering, you’re helping protect the future of the Great Divide Trail. And to everyone who picked up a hang tag and shared a few thoughts along the way, thank you. You helped us understand the trail a little better.
Looking Ahead
The Great Divide Trail exists because people care about it. Hikers, volunteers, partners, and supporters all play a role.
We’ll keep building. We’ll keep listening. And we’ll keep doing our best to look after this place.
See you on trail!
