Near Great Divide Trail - Section A (Canada/USA Border to Coleman)
From Lineham Ridge, the trail on the south side of the ridge is etched in the shale at the foot of the Great Divide's rock wall, and at the edge of the green sub-alpine meadows below.
Near Great Divide Trail - Section A (Canada/USA Border to Coleman)
Lower down, the trail leaves the shale at the base of the Great Divide walls, and heads into the gorgeous sub-alpine meadows.
Near Great Divide Trail - Section A (Canada/USA Border to Coleman)
Lower Twin Lake, a high mountain lake in Waterton Lakes National Park.
Near Great Divide Trail - Section A (Canada/USA Border to Coleman)
Nearby Mt. Festubert at 8,267 ft., is a high point of the Great Divide, with a sea of peaks in British Columbia beyond it. Seen from the Lineham Ridge high point.
Near Great Divide Trail - Section A (Canada/USA Border to Coleman)
Looking down on Lineham Lakes from the Lineham Ridge high point. Mt Hawkins (left) and an unnamed peak loom behind the lakes.

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Driving Directions
Hike Trail

Great Divide Trail - Section A (Canada/USA Border to Coleman)

5.0 (2 Ratings)
Canadian Rockies at their best, wild and beautiful, along the Continental Divide.
89.9
mi
Distance
21,397
ft
Gain
strenuous
Difficulty
BirdingCommonly BackpackedLakeRiver/CreekViewsWaterfallWildflowersWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
89.9mi
Distance
21,397ft
Elevation Gain
21,192ft
Elevation Loss
80%
Max Grade
8,268ft
High Point
4,203ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
The GDT (Great Divide Trail) is a long distance hike along the Continental Divide in Canada. This is Section A, the southernmost section of it. Section A runs from the Canada/USA border in Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (the combined Canadian Waterton Lakes National Park and US Glacier National Park) at the northern end of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), to the town of Coleman, Alberta. One of the most scenic sections of the GDT, Section A features high ridge walks with views of the rugged, snowy mountains that go on forever. In some places one can even see the prairies in the far, Far, FAR distance to the east. 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 - Mt Rowe/Sage Pass Access Alternate Route - Great Divide Trail - Mt Rowe/Sage Pass Alternate Route - Great Divide Trail - Barnaby Ridge Alternate Route - Great Divide Trail - Grizzly Lake Trail Camp Alternate Route - Great Divide Trail - Blairmore Alternate Route Access Trailheads (motor vehicle accessible) - Lakeshore Trail trailhead in Waterton Townsite in Waterton Lakes National Park (near Section A start) - Carthew - Alderson Trail trailhead in Waterton Townsite in Waterton Lakes National Park (near Section A start) - Akamina Parkway from Rowe Lakes Trail trailhead to Carthew - Alderson Traverse and Summit Lake Trail trailhead (near Section A start) - Castle Mountain Ski Resort - Suicide Creek Trail trailhead near Castle Mountain Ski Resort - Lynx Creek Road - Lynx Creek Road at Lynx Creek Road to Coleman Trail trailhead - Coleman (Section A end) Access Trails - Snowshoe Trail and Twin Lakes Trail (7.4 miles) - Blakiston Valley Trail (6.2 miles) - Yarrow Creek-Avion Ridge Trail for 17.9 miles, to Font Creek Trail for 3.8 miles, to main GDT (21.7 miles total) - Bovin/Blue Lake Trail for 8.7 miles, to Font Creek Trail for 3.8 miles, to main GDT (12.5 miles total) - South Castle Road for 14.7 miles, to Font Creek Trail for 3.8 miles, to main GDT (18.5 miles totla)

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
Report Conditions

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Contributors
Joan Pendleton