Managing authority
Great Divide Trail Association / Parks Canada / provincial land managers
Trail associationDIVIDE completion certificate
Great Divide Trail Completion Certificate
Great Divide Trail is a recognised long-distance trail in Alberta and British Columbia, running from Waterton Lakes to Kakwa Lake over approximately 1120-1200 km.
DIVIDERegistry route
Image source and licence
Carthew-Alderson Trail by Stephen Hui, CC BY-SA 4.0; cropped and colour-treated.
Verification application
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Authentication protects your application, payment status, and private evidence. You will return to this trail after signing in or creating an account.
Trail context
A certificate grounded in the journey.
A considered completion record for Great Divide Trail, built around private evidence review and a permanent public verification layer.
Completed Great Divide Trail? Submit route-appropriate GPS tracks, activity links, dated photos, stamps, permits, guide confirmation, club confirmation, or a clear completion narrative. Route variants are assessed from the evidence provided.
Structured trail record
Authority, season and access
Official route status
Established wilderness route along the Continental Divide
Long-distance trailNormal endpoints
Waterton Lakes to Kakwa Lake
Catalogue references: 49.050, -113.900 to 54.050, -120.100Elevation range
1,000 m to 2,590 m
Rounded catalogue elevationsRecommended months
June-September
Snow, wildfire, flooding, wildlife activity, storms and seasonal transport can close or reroute sections.Access requirements
Backcountry permits, campsite reservations, bear-safe food storage and park entry requirements may apply.
Permit/booking · Seasonal constraintsCollection and characteristics
Long-distance trail
RockiesAlbertaBritish ColumbiaWildernessThru Hike
Coordinates and elevations are rounded catalogue references for discovery only. They are not navigation-grade or emergency waypoints. Always use current official route information and an appropriate map.
Reviewed route data
Route, stages and elevation
Interactive map of Great Divide Trail
1120-1200 km, depending on route variant
1,133.26 km
18,690 m on mapped route
960–2,496 m
40-60 walking days
StartWaterton LakesFinishKakwa Lake
- 1Waterton Lakes
- 2Castle and Crowsnest
- 3Kananaskis
- 4Banff
- 5Yoho
- 6Jasper
- 7Willmore Wilderness
- 8Kakwa Lake
Planning summary only. Check current closures, permits, weather, transport, and official navigation sources before travel.
Why get this certificate?
Great Divide Trail is a recognised long-distance trail in Alberta and British Columbia, running from Waterton Lakes to Kakwa Lake over approximately 1120-1200 km.
Your certificate includes a premium PDF, a permanent QR verification page, registry-signed metadata, and privacy-aware public display settings.
Accepted evidence
Route-matched proof examples
- Continuous dated GPX, FIT, TCX, or equivalent activity record covering the recognised route
- Route checkpoints: Waterton Lakes; Castle and Crowsnest; Kananaskis; Banff; Yoho; Jasper; Willmore Wilderness; Kakwa Lake
- Dated endpoint and checkpoint photographs plus stage history where track coverage has material gaps
- Evidence of required permits, bookings, guide arrangements, or access compliance where applicable
Before payment
Prepare proof that tells the whole route story.
Best evidence: GPX, FIT, or TCX files, trusted activity links, dated trail photos, stamps, permits, or guide confirmation. Photos alone may need supporting context.
Expected review level: Evidence Reviewed. Most reviews target 2–3 working days after payment and private proof upload.
Trail proof checklist
- Continuous dated GPX, FIT, TCX, or equivalent activity record covering the recognised route
- Route checkpoints: Waterton Lakes; Castle and Crowsnest; Kananaskis; Banff; Yoho; Jasper; Willmore Wilderness; Kakwa Lake
- Dated endpoint and checkpoint photographs plus stage history where track coverage has material gaps
- Evidence of required permits, bookings, guide arrangements, or access compliance where applicable
Distance and route variants are reviewed conservatively. Public pages never publish raw GPS points or private proof files.
Private review layer
Your proof is not your public profile.
Reviewers may see
GPS and activity files, uploaded photos, permits, stamps, guide confirmations, completion narrative, and clarification replies.
The public may see
Certificate status, trail, privacy-controlled display name, dates, verification level, issue date, fingerprint, and registry signature state.
Supported route variants
Official GDTA alternates are recognised. A completion claim must identify the route edition and any fire or access reroutes.
Key route sequence: Waterton Lakes - Castle and Crowsnest - Kananaskis - Banff - Yoho - Jasper - Willmore Wilderness - Kakwa Lake.
Prepare your proofVerification levels
Evidence ReviewedPrivate completion evidence was assessed by a Verified Hikes reviewer.
GPS Evidence ReviewedA GPS file or trusted activity record formed part of the evidence review.
Photo + GPS ReviewedPhotographic context and GPS or activity evidence both supported the review.
Partner ConfirmedAn approved partner confirmed completion through a defined workflow.
Authority ConfirmedA trail authority explicitly confirmed the record through an approved workflow.
How the process works
Start verification
Create a paid application for this trail.
Upload proof
Add GPS, activity links, photos, stamps, permits, or confirmation documents privately.
Registry review
A reviewer checks evidence, dates, privacy, and verification level.
Certificate issued
Receive your premium PDF and QR-verifiable public record.
FAQ
What does the QR code prove?
It opens a safe registry page showing certificate metadata, signature status, evidence summary, and PDF fingerprint.
Request correction
See outdated trail facts? Send a correction request so the registry team can review the route record before publication changes.
Request correction/update