Category: News

Bust out your camping gear because the dates and locations for our 2026 trail building and maintenance trips have been set and we invite you to join us!

This year, we have a wide range of volunteer opportunities, with 3 trail building trips on the High Rock Trail (HRT) to finish construction of the Erris Lake Trail; two trips to the upper Blaeberry to build a cable car and maintain the David Thompson Heritage Trail; two maintenance trips to Cache Creek on the Original GDT; a maintenance trip on the Maligne Pass Trail in Jasper National Park; a helicopter-supported trip to Colonel Creek in Mount Robson Provincial Park; and a backcountry maintenance trip up to Palliser Pass in Height of the Rockies Provincial Park. 

Our work is made possible by the support of the Government of Alberta, Durston, Columbia Basin Trust, the Alberta Equestrian Federation, BC Parks, Recreation Sites & Trails BC, and the generous individual and corporate donors from our Trail Supporter Campaign. A sincere thank you to all who make our initiatives possible! We look forward to another productive year. 

Please bear in mind that unforeseen circumstances may sometimes lead to changes in trip dates and locations. Rest assured; we will promptly notify volunteers of any such adjustments.

Check out the map below of this year’s Trail Building & Maintenance Trips: 

Trip #1 June 19-24 – Blaeberry Cable Car Base Camp Trip A (maximum 8 volunteers): This trip will focus on starting construction of a cable car across the Blaeberry River. Technical construction will be completed by a contractor while volunteers will assist with non-technical work and trail maintenance. Volunteers will be able to drive to base camp. Volunteers should have backcountry camping experience and must bring their own food and camping gear. Trip leader: Dave Higgins

Trip #2 June 25-30 – Blaeberry Cable Car Base Camp Trip B (maximum 8 volunteers): This trip will focus on finishing construction of a cable car across the Blaeberry River. Technical construction will be completed by a contractor while volunteers will assist with non-technical work and trail maintenance. Volunteers will be able to drive to base camp. Volunteers should have backcountry camping experience and must bring their own food and camping gear. Trip leader: Dave Higgins

Trip #3 June 26-28 – HRT Erris Remote Base Camp Trip A (maximum 4 volunteers): This trip will focus on recon and base camp set-up. Volunteers should have backcountry camping experience and must be able to hike 8 km to remote base camp carrying personal backpacks with their own food and camping gear. Helicopter will transport base camp facilities, including cook tent, wood stove, two cooking stoves, latrine, water filtration system, dish-washing station, and bear-proof food storage area. Trip leader: Dave Hockey

Trip #4 July 3-9 – Palliser River Backcountry Walking Trip (maximum 8 volunteers): This trip will focus on trail maintenance in Height of the Rockies Provincial Park. Volunteers must have backcountry camping experience and be able to hike up to 20 km carrying their own food and camping gear, and up to 10 km carrying power and hand tools.  We require at least two volunteers with brush saw or chainsaw experience. If you’re interested in getting trained and certified to use a chainsaw or brush saw, let us know! Trip leader: Deb Yanchula

Trip #5 July 8-13 – HRT Erris Remote Base Camp Trip C (maximum 15 volunteers): This trip will focus on building trail between Erris Lake and Clay Lake. Volunteers should have backcountry camping experience and must be able to hike 8 km to remote base camp carrying personal backpacks with their own food and camping gear. Volunteers will use base camp from Trip #3 with cook tent, wood stove, two cooking stoves, latrine, water filtration system, dish-washing station, and bear-proof food storage area. Trip leaders: Dave Hockey, Jim Schieck

Trip #6 July 14-19 – HRT Erris Remote Base Camp Trip D (maximum 15 volunteers): This trip will focus on building trail between Erris Lake and Clay Lake, and base camp take-down on the last day.  Volunteers should have backcountry camping experience and must be able to hike 8 km to remote base camp carrying personal backpacks with their own food and camping gear. Volunteers will use base camp from Trips #3 & 5 with cook tent, wood stove, two cooking stoves, latrine, water filtration system, dish-washing station, and bear-proof food storage area. Trip leader: Dave Hockey

Trip #7 August 14-20 – Cache Creek Base Camp Trip (maximum 10 volunteers): This trip will focus on trail maintenance, campground improvements, and small bridge construction. Volunteers must be able to hike up to 5 km per day carrying daypacks and tools. Volunteers will be able to drive right to base camp. Volunteers must bring their own food and camping gear. Trip leader: Stuart Mitchell

Trip #8 August 14-16 – Cache Creek Weekend Base Camp Trip (maximum 6 volunteers): This shorter trip will focus on trail maintenance and campground improvements. Volunteers must be able to hike up to 5 km per day carrying daypacks and tools. Volunteers will be able to drive right to base camp. Volunteers must bring their own food and camping gear. Trip leader: Stuart Mitchell

Trip #9 August 26-30 – Maligne Pass Trail, Jasper Backcountry Walking Trip (maximum 10 volunteers): This trip will focus on trail maintenance in Jasper National Park. Volunteers must have backcountry camping experience and be able to hike up to 20 km in a day carrying their own camping gear and hand tools.  The Maligne River must be forded, normally knee-deep but it may be more than 3’ deep if the water is high.  Volunteers must bring their own food and camping gear. Trip leader: Josh Edwards

Trip #10 September 8-12 – Colonel Creek Self-Supported Trip (maximum 4 volunteers): This trip will focus on trail maintenance in Mount Robson Provincial Park. Volunteers must have backcountry camping experience and be able to hike up to 10 km in a day carrying day packs, power tools and hand tools.  Volunteers, tools and equipment will be transported to and from the work area using a helicopter. Volunteers must bring their own food and camping gear. We require at least two volunteers with brush saw or chainsaw experience. If you’re interested in getting trained and certified to use a chainsaw or brush saw, let us know! Trip leaders: Dave Hockey, Lisa Belanger

Additional Information: 

• 4-15 people per trip. 
• Base camp facilities* include kitchen/dining shelter, wood burning stove, cooking stoves, water filtration system, bear-proof food storage area, and a latrine. (*Not available on Backcountry Walking Trips.) 
• Volunteers are responsible for bringing and cooking their own food. 
• While trail building experience is not mandatory, volunteers should have experience backcountry camping and hiking. Backpacking experience is required for all backcountry walking trips. 
• Trips are free for GDTA Members. 
• Carpooling assistance may be coordinated by the GDTA for those interested. 
• The GDTA will provide all trail maintenance tools, tool training, and safety orientation for all trips. 
• For more information on what to expect while you’re volunteering on a GDTA trail crew, including descriptions of our different Trip Models, check out the GDTA Volunteer Guide. 

How to Join: 
To register online, please click on the links provided in the Trip Schedule above. You can sign into your members account and register for the trip directly through the website. If the trip is showing full, please email trailbuilding@greatdividetrail.com to be added to the wait list.

You can also join by emailing us at trailbuilding@greatdividetrail.com, indicating the trail building and maintenance trip (or trips) you are interested in. If you have experience, certifications, or skills such as operating chainsaws, brush saws, OHVs, or first aid certification, please include that information in your email.

We look forward to your participation and another successful year on the trails!