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Canadian Rockies at their best, wild and beautiful, along the Continental Divide.


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Map Key

124.9

Miles

201.1

KM

87%

Runnable

8,124' 2,476 m

High

4,372' 1,333 m

Low

22,807' 6,952 m

Up

21,547' 6,568 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

83%

Max Grade (40°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Section Of

Need to Know

The GDT is a wilderness trail. Hiking it provides a wilderness experience that in places may include unmaintained trail, no trail at all (route finding required), animal sightings and encounters, isolation, unbridged creeks and rivers, and long distances between resupplies.

Summer weather can include snow :>)

Resources regularly updated with the latest conditions and other information are:
- GDTA website www.greatdividetrail.com
- Dustin Lynx book "Hiking Canada's Great Divide Trail"
- Dustin Lynx's Guidebook Topo Map Set
- GDT App
- Gem Trek maps

Description

The GDT (Great Divide Trail) is a long distance hike along the Continental Divide in Canada. This is Section B, the second southernmost section of it.

Section B runs from the town of Coleman, Alberta to the Kananaskis Lakes Day Use Area in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta.

Mountains are everywhere and can be seen from forested trails, stretches on Forest Service Roads, and while cruising along empty backroads. So pretty, regardless of the "trail" type :>)

Please see the resources listed above under Need to Know for up to date detailed descriptions and valuable hiker information.

Alternate Routes
- Great Divide Trail - Crowsnest Pass Community Trail Alternate Route
- Great Divide Trail - Window Mountain Lake Bypass Alternate Route
- Great Divide Trail - Coral Pass Alternate Route
- Great Divide Trail - Elkan Creek Alternate Route

Access Trailheads (motor vehicle accessible)
- Coleman (Section B start)
- Allison Creek Road
- Aldridge Creek Trail trailhead
- Elk Lakes (Lower Elk Lake Trail) trailhead at the end of Elk River Forest Service Road
- Elk Pass Trail trailhead (Section B end)

Access Trails
- Dutch Creek Road (4-wheel drive can drive this) (16.1 miles)
- Cache Creek Trail (1.4 miles)
- Soda Creek Trail (2.5 miles)
- Cataract Creek Trail (6.9 miles)
- Baril Creek Trail (5.4 miles)

Shared By:

Joan Pendleton

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 1 vote

#2064

Overall
  5.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#16

in Alberta

#2,064

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19 Views Last Month
1,620 Since Oct 26, 2018
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Photos

Funnel N3 (right) to the northwest, and Funnel Peak (left) to the southwest, are seen looking west from Tornado Saddle.
Aug 12, 2023 near Claresholm, AB
Window Mountain Lake seen looking south at the top of the switchbacks.  Mt. Ward towers over the lake.  On the far left in the distance is Crowsnest Mountain.  All on a perfect July morning.
Jul 26, 2022 near Sparwood, BC
Seven Sisters, named for its seven spires on its top ridge, is on the left. Crowsnest Mountain is just left of center.  Seen looking southeast as the trail crests a ridge just below the Great Divide.
Jul 26, 2022 near Pincher…, AB
The rising sun lights up Beehive Mountain. So pretty... with steep meadows dotted with summer wildflowers, at its base.
Aug 12, 2023 near Claresholm, AB
Beehive Mountain is massive, as it looms ahead when nearing it from the southeast on the GDT. At the very left is a hint of its ampitheature ahead. Very impressive!
Aug 12, 2023 near Claresholm, AB
Crowsnest Mountain is on the left.  The valley of Crowsnest Pass stretches into the distance looking southeast at the foot of the Great Divide.
Jul 26, 2022 near Pincher…, AB

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