Great Divide Trail (102 km, Challenging) – Jasper National Park

Overview

About Great Divide Trail

Why go

Full Jasper-to-Mount-Robson traverse over Centre, Grant, and Colonel passes
High alpine scenery, repeated Continental Divide crossings, and genuine wilderness travel

Heads up

A 102 km point-to-point route with limited services and few straightforward exits
Unbridged river fords, rough route-finding, and rapidly changing alpine weather
Permits, transport, and multi-day logistics are required; Berg Lake access adds 30 km

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation1,058–2,028 m

TrailheadJasper townsite (Highway 16)52.87138, -118.07971

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Arrange transport to the Jasper townsite start. The route includes roughly 20 km of highway travel to the Miette River trailhead, which many hikers hitch or arrange a ride for. Finish at the Mount Robson Berg Lake trailhead area and plan transport for the chosen endpoint.

Safety

Demanding mountain wilderness route with unbridged fords, bear country, sparse signage, and high-elevation weather. River levels can make crossings dangerous or impassable; carry navigation and emergency equipment and verify permits and current conditions before departure.

8 active Jasper alerts

ClosureWildfire-impacted areas and facilities closedStay out of closed wildfire-impacted areas and facilities in Jasper National Park; closures protect public safety after the 2024 wildfire and remain in effect while recovery and safety work continues.Official details
Closure93A (Wabasso Road) no through travel during roadworkFrom mid-October to early November 2026, plan for 93A (Wabasso Road) to be accessible from the south entrance only; no through travel is expected during roadwork.Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Jasper Tour Guide

Your drive to Great Divide Trail, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Jasper National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Jasper audio tour

Recorded for this trailhead

Tonquin Valley's Portal Creek Trailhead

Listen

“Just ahead is the access for the Portal Creek trailhead, the classic eastern starting point for trips into the Tonquin Valley.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.

Hiking Great Divide Trail

What you’re hiking\nSection F of the Great Divide Trail is the demanding, point-to-point traverse from Jasper to the Mount Robson Berg Lake trailhead. The route is about 102 km (63.4 miles) one way; the official section description lists an additional 30 km if you use the Berg Lake Trail access. It climbs over Centre, Grant, and Colonel passes, crosses the Continental Divide, and links high alpine terrain with the remote Moose River country. Plan roughly 3–5 days for the section, depending on pace and conditions.\n\n### Trail experience\nThis is a serious wilderness route rather than a maintained day hike. Expect demanding mountain travel, sparse signage, rough or brushy sections, long stretches without services, and unbridged river crossings that can become dangerous or impassable in high water. Navigation, weather, bear-country food practices, and a conservative turnaround plan are essential.\n\n### Permits and camping\nOvernight travel in Jasper National Park requires a backcountry camping permit and a national park entry pass. Camping rules change by management area: confirm the Jasper random-camping or designated-site requirements for the itinerary, then check the Mount Robson and BC Parks rules for the finishing section. Reserve or obtain permits before committing to the traverse.\n\n### Logistics and access\nThe recommended direction is Jasper to the Mount Robson Berg Lake trailhead. The route begins in Jasper and includes roughly 20 km of highway travel to the Miette River trailhead; many hikers arrange a ride for that section. The far end finishes at the Berg Lake trailhead area, so arrange transport, permits, food, and an emergency exit plan in advance. Summer conditions can still include lingering snow, high water, blowdown, and rapidly changing alpine weather.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Jasper

All Jasper wildlife maps

174 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

43 sightingsCaribouMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

40 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

12 sightingsCanada LynxMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

315 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

1,028 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Jasper. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Great Divide Trail