Trip Planning Resources

Dogs are allowed on most of the GDT, with the exception of the section of trail in Jasper National Park from Four Point campground (e15) to Signal Mountain trailhead (e32) which is protected Caribou habitat, and dogs are not allowed in campgrounds on the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park. In other areas of Canada’s National and Provincial Parks, dogs are allowed if they are accompanied by a person on a three metre (ten foot) leash. Pets are not allowed in public swimming areas, on public beaches or in public buildings. Outside of National and Provincial Parks, there are no restrictions on dogs but use good judgement. Dogs that are unfamiliar with wildlife may put their humans in jeopardy. Be aware that travelling in bear country with your canine companion may be exciting, to say the least. Fido might come running back to you with a bear, cougar or coyote in pursuit. 

There are numerous inviting lakes and creeks along the way, it all depends on your threshold for cold water as most of these are glacier fed. A few of the nicer lakes to take a dip along the GDT are (from south to north): Cameron Lake, Lone Lake, Twin Lakes, Chinook Lake, Window Mountain Lake, Lower Elk Lake, Og Lake, Howard Douglas Lake, Egypt Lake, Haiduk Lake, Floe Lake, Pinto Lake, Maligne Lake, Edith Lake, and Annette Lake. 

You will need to register with Parks Canada for backcountry permits for those sections in the National Parks, and with Peter Lougheed Provincial Park for backcountry permits in that park. Outside of the Parks, there are a few informal trail registers along the GDT (e.g. Baril Creek, White Goat Wilderness Area, the summit cairn on the highest point on the GDT) but most other areas don’t have check-in points and don’t require registration. It is always a good idea to tell someone where you plan to go and when you plan to return. 

The GDT is not as widely known as the big trails in the USA (e.g. Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail) and travels through a sparsely populated area, most often far from any towns or highways. That being said, Canadians are known for their helpfulness so you could be the recipient of Trail Magic from someone who might not even be aware of the GDT. There are a few true Trail Angels out there, so if you need assistance the best bet is to simply reach out. Start by asking questions on the Facebook Group “Great Divide Trail Hikers” and they will help when they can. 

Yes! Trail maintenance and trail building is coordinated by the GDTA. Trips are announced each spring and notifications are sent via email, our website blog, and on social media. You must be a GDTA member to sign up, and can do so through the membership portal.

We ask that you do not take it upon yourself to do trail maintenance on the GDT. The GDTA works closely with the parks and other land managers to ensure that work done aligns with everyone’s interests. Rogue maintenance, even if done with good intentions, risks damaging these relationships and hampering future work.

Portions of the GDT within National Parks close during the winter but most of the trail remains open all year round. However, the GDT is not designed, nor intended, for snow travel. When the trail is covered in snow, finding it may be impossible. You’ll have to be an excellent navigator to follow the trail corridor when it’s covered in snow. 

Wildfire and flooding can also temporarily close sections of the GDT.  See our Trail Conditions and Closures page for recent information.

Yes please! The best way to flag problematic sections of the trail is to make a comment in FarOut at the nearest waypoint. Alternatively, you can send an email to info@greatdividetrail.com with your trail condition report. If you are reporting a specific issue (blowdowns, trail washout etc.) it is helpful to include the kilometre (NoBO) and a photograph of the issue.  

The GDT has been described as the most spectacular and challenging long-distance trail in North America. A journey on the GDT promises to be rewarding but not without a few challenges: 

• hiking conditions are potentially hazardous and often strenuous, including steep climbs and challenging trail conditions (brushy and muddy) ;
• navigation can be difficult, especially on sections where the trail is overgrown or non-existent ;
• glacial stream crossings can be deep and fast ;
• the hiking season in the Canadian Rockies is deceptively short (July to mid-September) ;
• there’s always a potential for rain or even summer snowstorms ;
• the GDT is in prime grizzly and black bear habitat ;
• swarms of mosquitoes are common in the summer ;
• trail exit points for resupply or potential emergency access are remote .

Due to the remoteness of the GDT, self-sufficiency is required. Safety is your responsibility and should be your top priority. Preparation is key to a successful hike on the GDT. Research your trip to be sure you have the skills and experience it will demand of you. Know your personal limitations and stay within them. Training in wilderness navigation, first aid and survival are recommended. 

A safe estimate for hiking the Great Divide Trail is eight weeks. The total time to hike the entire trail from Waterton Lakes National Park to Kakwa Provincial Park is dependent on individual hiking pace, planning and selection of routes. To assist with your trip planning, check out the GDTA sample itineraries for relaxed, average and fast paces.

On average, 150-200 people per year attempt to thru‐hike the entire trail, but fewer than that actually finish the entire trail in a single season. 

Not including costs for your personal hiking equipment and travel costs to and from the trail, a good estimate is $2 per kilometre of trail to cover expenses for food, fuel and campground permits. There are only a half dozen resupply points where you could spend additional money on hotels and restaurants but they can be expensive tourist areas so it comes down to your level of budget control. 

Access to fresh water is rarely a concern on the GDT but you should still boil, treat or filter all water before drinking. A minimum of two litres of water storage capacity is recommended. There are some high elevation sections of trail, particularly on ridge crests, where water may be scarce late in the season, so fill up water bottles whenever possible. Plan for enough water to accommodate additional requirements due to heat, cold, altitude, exertion, or emergency. Always consult your map or guidebook for distances between available water sources. 

Jutland Creek to West Castle Road via La Coulotte Ridge – 14.5 km. This is one of the most difficult and longest waterless sections of the GDT, and can take all day for even the most experienced hikers, so loading up with extra water is mandatory. The Barnaby Ridge alternate route beginning at La Coulotte Peak is also very difficult and waterless for most of its 24 km. 

Lynx Creek to Creek Gully via Willoughby Ridge – 13 km. Hiking through the old burned forest along Willoughby Ridge on a hot day will leave you parched.  

Allison Creek to Window Mountain Lake via the High Rock Trail – 16 km. The seasonal water sources on this section usually run dry by mid-July. While the trail here isn’t particularly difficult, much of it is above treeline, exposing hikers to the hot sun without reliable water sources. 

Hidden Creek to Cache Creek – 10 km. A relatively long waterless stretch up and over a ridge crest without much shade.  

Og Lake to Citadel Pass – 13 km. The Valley of the Rocks is a notoriously dry (but beautiful) section of trail. Hikers can detour to Porcupine campground for water if necessary. 

Much of the GDT is designed for both hiking and equestrian use. However, some sections of the GDT are not passable to horses due to incompatible terrain or restrictions imposed by the National Parks. The GDTA is developing a Great Divide Alternate Horse Route that follows the hiking trail where possible and deviates where horses cannot travel. In order to create a mostly continuous equestrian route from Waterton to Kakwa, the route occasionally travels on gravel roads or in a few places, horses must be transported between trailheads to avoid travel on dangerous or prohibited roads. Generally the route is mostly good trail. Logistical details such as grazing areas and equestrian-friendly campgrounds have yet to be figured out. If you are interested in learning more about this beta route, contact the GDTA. 

Yes, Hiking Canada’s Great Divide Trail (4th edition – May 31, 2022) by Dustin Lynx. Outlining the seven major sections of the GDT, the guidebook breaks the trail into shorter, more attainable segments and thoroughly describes the terrain and condition of each. Not only are these trail segments invaluable for planning shorter trips along the GDT, Lynx’s pre-trip planning advice will also prove indispensable for long-distance hikers overcoming such daunting logistical challenges as resupply, navigation and access. 

Fourth edition updates include new information, contemporary photos and trail details, a revised selection of alternative routes, and detailed maps to help hikers piece together the myriad of individual routes that form a continuous trail along the Great Divide.  

Most of the GDT is quite remote and cell phone reception is almost non-existent, with the exception of the resupply locations on major highways.  Consider bringing a satellite-based communication device such as a satellite phone, SPOT or Garmin inReach in case of emergency or if personal communication is desired.

The trail can be hiked in both directions but most people will start at the southern end and hike northbound (NOBO) because it is warmer in the south which speeds the melting of the snowpack, freeing high passes of snow earlier in the summer. The difficulty of the trail generally increases as you travel north, allowing NOBO hikers to acclimate to trail conditions as they hike. Southbound (SOBO) hikers beginning with Section G may feel like they’ve been thrown into the deep-end immediately. The starting date of a SOBO hike will likely be delayed a week or two compared to a NOBO hike to allow more time for snowmelt and improved trail conditions. 

Most people will start in late June or early July and continue into the middle of September on average. Some years you can hike snow free until the end of September but this is rare. 

GDT hikers should contact Parks Canada staff for the following reasons: 

• Obtaining Parks Canada Discovery Passes and Wilderness Passes (mandatory for any overnight stay on the GDT in a National Park); 
• Making or changing campground reservations in National Parks; 
• Inquiring about trail conditions or backcountry safety in National Parks; 
• Reporting problem trail conditions or closures in National Parks; 
• Emergencies while hiking in a National Park; 
• Reporting wildlife sightings or incidents within National Parks. 

 All other questions about the GDT can be directed to the GDTA. 

The best word to describe the weather in the Canadian Rockies is variable. During the typical hiking season you can have lows of -5°C (23°F) and highs up to 30°C (85°F). Days can start out with clear skies then cloud over and give you an afternoon rain shower, and clear off for a crisp night. At higher elevations, snow can fall at anytime of the year. Overall most people would describe the GDT as colder and wetter than they expected so it’s best to prepare for that.

Check out our Backcountry Safety page for more information.

The best option is to join our Facebook Group “Great Divide Trail Hikers”. 

There are many campgrounds along the GDT. Hikers must stay in designated campgrounds on most sections of the GDT in National and Provincial Parks. Random camping is authorized in some areas within National Parks (e.g. Amiskwi valley in Yoho, Howse Pass Trail in Banff) and is an acceptable alternative almost anywhere outside of National and Provincial Parks.  

Check out our Campgrounds page for a list of campgrounds along the GDT or check out these sample GDT itineraries.