Category: Uncategorized

It’s back! After the massive success last year that saw 30 different people submit absolutely astounding photos, the GDTA is once again running our Photo Contest!

Spend some time reminiscing and go dig through all the photos you’ve taken (this year, or any year). Then select your favourite(s) and submit by following the instructions below. Submitting your photos is a unique and simple way to help out the GDTA! As the association works to protect, promote, and maintain the trail, we’re always in need of high-quality imagery. Who better to provide that then those of you who’ve lived it?!

Need some inspiration? Have a look at the 2024 Winners of the GDTA Photo Contest.

2024 Photo Contest Winner: Mirror Mountain – Bradley Ayres

Prizes

The GDTA will be awarding prizes for the top three submissions, as voted on by select members from our volunteer community.

Honourable Mentions

Honourable mentions will be shared on our social media for:

• Animals
• Scenery
• Hikers / People
• Trail Work

Guidelines

• Digital images must be submitted via email to photocontest@greatdividetrail.com
• A maximum of five (5) photos per photographer will be considered for the contest
• Submissions must include the following text (please copy and paste this into the email submission).

Photographer: <your name>
Working Title: <one-sentence title>
Location: <specific location>
GDT Section: <A through G>
Detailed Caption: <longer caption, please include names of any identifiable individuals>

With this submission I affirm that I have read and agree to the terms and conditions of the GDTA Photo Contest. 

• Photos must be attached as files, not links (iPhone users in particular, please double check how the photos get included)
• One photo per submission
• Multiple submissions are welcomed, however only the first five (5) submissions received per photographer will be considered for the contest
• Submission deadline:  Sunday October 12, 2025 at midnight Mountain time.
• Photos can be from any year.
• Photos can be color or black & white digital images of any location along the Great Divide Trail
• JPEG or TIFF files are allowed and ideally higher than web-resolution (at least 300 dots-per-inch or approximately 1000×1500 pixels for a 3×5 photo).
• If you’d like your photos to be considered for our annual calendar or magazine covers, they should be at least 8.5×11 inches at 300 dpi or approx. 2500×3300 pixels in size.
• Photos can be horizontal or vertical. Please upload in the proper orientation.

Terms and Conditions

No purchase is necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited. By entering this contest, you agree to the terms and conditions relating to this contest and you are responsible for understanding your rights.

Photos entered are considered licensed to the Great Divide Trail Association in perpetuity. By entering the photo contest, you are giving the GDTA the right to use your photos as we see fit to promote the trail and its protection.

You will retain copyright to any photograph you submit. You only grant the GDTA rights to your photograph royalty-free, in perpetuity, nonexclusively to:

• Reproduce, distribute, transform, display and/or to perform your photographs in all print and electronic mediums at any size.
• Use your photos worldwide.
• Provide your photograph to other individuals and organizations for non-commercial use, such as in news stories, newsletters, reports, slide shows, displays, web pages, and the like.
• Archive in electronic forms so that your photos can be used to support our mission.
• The GDTA may request additional permission to use your photo for Commercial and Editorial uses that directly benefit the GDTA and the trail.

Whenever possible, the GDTA will provide attribution in the form the photographer’s name and/or photographer’s website URL per GDTA’s discretion. Attribution will appear next to the photo or in the credits of the work product.

By entering, participants agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the GDTA, its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, volunteers, attorneys, agents and representatives, from any and all third party liability for any injuries, loss, claim, action, demand or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the competition (collectively, “Losses”), including without limitation any third party claim for copyright infringement or a violation of an individual’s right to privacy and/or publicity right. The Contest is void where prohibited by law.

Contest entrants are responsible for ensuring that he or she has the right to submit the photos that he or she submits to the contest.

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¹The concept and inspiration for this contest comes from the Pacific Crest Trail Association’s annual Photo Contest.

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 

When most people think about supporting trails, they imagine funding the creation of new bridges or enhancing trail features. While these projects are certainly important, there’s another side to trail maintenance that often goes overlooked: operating costs. 

To keep the Great Divide Trail Association (GDTA) running smoothly, we need consistent, unrestricted funding for things like insurance, website upkeep, office supplies, wages, and technology. These essential elements are the backbone that allow us to continue the trail’s maintenance, offer educational programs, and provide vital resources for hikers. There’s also a lot of work that goes on to maintain the GDT, such as engaging with the parks and communities along the trail, building relationships, and applying for permits. These tasks require more than just volunteer help, and donations help fund this crucial work that ensures the trail remains accessible and protected for all who enjoy it. 

Without stable funding for these hard costs, we simply wouldn’t be able to keep our doors open. Monthly donations play a crucial role in ensuring we can cover these ongoing expenses. It’s not as glamorous as building a shiny new bridge, but it’s the foundation that supports everything we do.  

When you sign up for a monthly donation, you’re ensuring that the GDTA stays open and continues its important work—maintaining trails, educating the public, and providing essential hiking resources. We can’t do it without your support. 

Your commitment allows us to continue the good work that keeps the trails open and accessible for everyone. Thank you for helping us stay on track and keep the trail experience alive! 

Section A:

• A new trail was built from Scarpe Pass (a24) up La Coulotte Ridge in 2023, improving access to the ridge. Even with this upgrade, La Coulotte Ridge remains one of the most difficult sections of trail on the GDT with rocky terrain, loose scree and lots of elevation significantly slowing you down.
• The new West Castle River Alternate near Castle Mountain Resort eliminates 6 km of road walking. Just before crossing the West Castle River Bridge (a30) you will reach a junction with the West Castle River Trail, a recommended alternate route to the Suicide Creek Bridge and Syncline Trailhead (a31). The trail travels in the forest along the east side of the river and is 800m longer than the road walk. It involves a ford of the West Castle River, slow-moving and usually only thigh deep but use caution if water levels are high.

Section B:

• Additional trail construction continues as we fine-tune the High Rock Trail resulting in a few minor route changes.

Section C:

• Elk Pass Trailhead Resupply will continue this year to the Elk Pass Trailhead (b40) in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. The cost is $35 for GDTA members or $50 for non-members.
• Following last summer’s work at Forks Campground in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, the trail has been slightly re-routed around the campground (c2).

Section D:

• Further improvements to the Ensign Creek Trail were completed last summer, allowing us to officially move the GDT onto the restored historic trail! This update replaces 8 km of road walking with 8 km of hiking on beautiful single track trail. A new campground was built on Ensign Creek as well.
• CAUTION: A new log bridge across the Blaeberry River near Cairnes Creek Rec Site was built in June 2024, restoring access to the Collie Creek Trail on the east side of the Blaeberry River. The logs have been ratchet strapped together and two overhead tensioned grab ropes have been installed, but hikers should use this bridge at their own risk.

Section E:

• Random camping is no longer allowed anywhere along Owen Creek within Banff National Park.
• Bear lockers have been installed at Michele Lakes campground, located between the upper and lower lakes about 1 km from the GDT.
• The Six-Passes Alternate Route is closed again this year to all overnight random camping but is open to random day use activity.
• Trail maintenance on the Maligne Pass Trail has significantly improved that route with much of the deadfall and brush removed over the past couple years. Similar to last year, the three campgrounds on the Maligne Pass Trail previously available online as ‘Maligne Pass North’ (Mary Vaux, Mary Schäffer, Trapper Creek) are listed in the online reservation system separately, with 1 site per night available at each campground.

Section F:

• A portion of the Berg Lake Trail remains closed and it will not open this summer so hikers should plan accordingly when arranging resupply or exiting the trail.
• The Moose River Trail remains open so hikers can connect with Section G via Moose Pass.
• Exiting via the Moose River Trail to Highway 16 is another option.

Section G:

• The North Boundary Trail in Jasper National Park received some welcome trail maintenance last year but bridges remain out over Gendarme, Carcajou, and Chown creeks. These creeks are all fordable in normal water conditions. The South Chown Alternate was added this year if the creek is impassable, directing hikers to bushwhack in the forest on the south bank of Chown Creek to reconnect with the GDT in about 3 km upstream.
• With the closure of the Berg Lake Trail, exit or resupply via the Blueberry Trail are good options. Resupply package delivery is available at the Blueberry Trailhead delivered by Robson Backcountry Adventures and stored in bear lockers. Please contact info@jasperhikesandtours.ca or 1.780.931.4453 to book your delivery service and receive mailing instructions. Discount for GDTA members.
• The Walker Creek FSR was improved slightly in 2023 and should be accessible to Bastille Creek trailhead but still has several rough and muddy sections; 4WD high clearance vehicles are recommended.

Happy trails and good luck out there in 2024!