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


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Map Key

68.2

Miles

109.7

KM

Point to Point

6,663' 2,031 m

High

3,667' 1,118 m

Low

6,539' 1,993 m

Up

5,921' 1,805 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

40%

Max Grade (22°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · 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 D, one of the middle sections of it.

Section D runs from the town of Field, British Columbia in Yoho National Park, to Saskatchewan Crossing where the Saskatchewan River crosses Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93).

Characterized by deep, lush, mountain forests and rivers in steep sided forested valleys, Section D is one of the most remote and untouched Sections of the GDT. A good bit of it follows an ancient trading route up the beautiful turquoise Blaeberry River, over Howse Pass, a National Historic Site, and down the broad Howse River. This route was used by First Nations and fur traders (for a short time) to connect the Columbia River/Pacific Ocean with the prairies. A true historic and wilderness experience awaits one here.

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 - Kiwetinok Alternate Route
- Great Divide Trail - Amiskwi Ridge Alternate Route
- Great Divide Trail - Collie Creek Alternate Route
- Great Divide Trail - Howse River Alternate Route
- Great Divide Trail - Glacier Lake Alternate Route

Access Trailheads (motor vehicle accessible)
- Field, British Columbia on the Trans Canada Highway (Hwy 1). The GDT goes through Field. (start of Section D)
- Natural Bridge Trail trailhead (very close to start of Section D)
- Howse Pass Trail trailhead (very close to end of Section D)
- Saskatchewan Crossing on Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) on the north side of the river (end of Section D)

Access Trails
- Blaeberry Forest Service Road (0 - 5 miles depending on road condition and 4 wheel drive or not)

Contacts

Shared By:

Joan Pendleton

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Photos

Crossing Cairnes Creek on a log bridge. Left to right, Mount Whiteaves in the distance, Mount De Margerie, and Mount Termier. Glaciers and Freshfield Icefield are behind these mountains.
Sep 8, 2018 near Golden, BC
Morning mist and mountains along the Blaeberry River, hiking the David Thompson Heritage Trail.
Sep 20, 2019 near Golden, BC
The Blaeberry River below, with rugged mountains beyond, seen looking downstream (southeast) from a high spot on the David Thompson Heritage Trail.
Sep 7, 2018 near Golden, BC
The Blaeberry River, looking upstream (northwest) towards Howse Pass and surrounding mountains, as seen from the David Thompson Heritage Trail.
Sep 7, 2018 near Golden, BC
Mountain views and early fall color along the David Thompson Heritage Trail near Howse Pass
Sep 20, 2019 near Golden, BC
Mount Conway can be glimpsed through the trees near Howse Pass, from the David Thompson Heritage Trail.
Sep 20, 2019 near Golden, BC

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