Great Divide Trail
39 days · 703.8 mi · strenuous · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Great Divide Trail is known for
The Great Divide Trail follows the Continental Divide from the international boundary in Waterton Lakes National Park to Kakwa Lake through Alberta and British Columbia.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 10,203 ft to 26,263 ft over 703.8 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 256.2 mi · 36%
- Downhill 250.8 mi · 36%
- Flat 196.8 mi · 28%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Great Divide Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Great Divide Trail scores 82/100, a relative rating across the 1,243 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much elevation gain is on the Great Divide Trail?
The Great Divide Trail climbs roughly 150,699 ft total — about 214 ft per mile, topping out near 8,474 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.