Hike Alberta
Belgium LakeSpray Lakes Reservoir 5 km N
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Great Divide Trail

Near Fortress Junction · Banff National Park

Hard · Out and back

Trail score 49 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Belgium LakeSpray Lakes Reservoir 10 km Open the map

About this trail

Great Divide Trail is a 51.7 km out and back trail near Fortress Junction in Banff National Park. It runs 25.8 km each way. The route gains 1,324 m in total and tops out at 2,089 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 16 hours 30 minutes of moving time. It meets Leman Lake Trail at 13.4 km and Burstall Pass Trail at 13.6 km, and passes three other mapped junctions. Along the way you pass Belgium Lake and Spray Lakes Reservoir and a backcountry campground. Much of the route follows Spray River. Also used for backpacking.

Length
51.7km
25.8 km each way
Elevation gain
1,324m
Estimated time
16h30min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
2,089m
Lowest point
1,572m

Elevation profile

1,572 m to 2,089 m
2,0891,572 0 km25.9 km

Highest point 2,089 m, lowest 1,572 m, 1,324 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 43% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 0% of route

0% LTE · 0% 5G

Longest modelled gap
19.4 km
Model
2024 · Natural Resources Canada

Predicted coverage is not guaranteed. It varies by carrier, terrain, weather, device and network load, and it does not guarantee emergency service.

Along the way

  1. 6.4 kmPalliser PassPass or saddle
  2. 7.0 kmBelgium LakeLake
  3. 17.1 kmBirdwood Backcountry CampgroundBackcountry campground
  4. 25.8 kmSpray Lakes ReservoirLake

Good for

  • Hiking, Backpacking
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Lake, River or creek, Camping

Trailhead

The trail starts at 50.6652° N, 115.3439° W.

Driving directions

Banff National Park admission

National park admission required

Buy day or annual pass

Pass details

Visitors spending time in a national park need valid daily admission or a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. Admission is separate from camping, reservations, parking and other service fees.

Information checked October 21, 2026.

Official details

Before you go

Carry an offline map and plan for no service in backcountry areas. Trails close for wildlife, fire, weather and construction. Check the official sources:

Nearby trails

All 588 trails in Banff National Park

Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30