Near Great Divide Trail - Section E (Saskatchewan Crossing to Jasper)
Jonas Pass, looking northwest.
Near Great Divide Trail - Section E (Saskatchewan Crossing to Jasper)
The Brazeau River runs through meadows at the base of the north side of Nigel Pass. This awesome view surprises upon rounding a bend in the trail when descending the pass.
Near Great Divide Trail - Section E (Saskatchewan Crossing to Jasper)
Now what? - Crossing the Brazeau River just below Nigel Pass. Two on the left take off their boots, three on the right rock hop it.
Near Great Divide Trail - Section E (Saskatchewan Crossing to Jasper)
Headwaters of the Brazeau River run far below an unamed peak, as seen when descending the north side of Nigel Pass on the South Boundary Trail.
Near Great Divide Trail - Section E (Saskatchewan Crossing to Jasper)
Evening along the Brazeau River at the Four Point Trail Camp

Looking for more photos?

View All Photos
View Map
Driving Directions
Hike Trail

Great Divide Trail - Section E (Saskatchewan Crossing to Jasper)

5.0 (1 Rating)
Canadian Rockies at their best, wild and beautiful, along the Continental Divide.
117.8
mi
Distance
18,892
ft
Gain
strenuous
Difficulty
BirdingCommonly BackpackedLakeLess CrowdedRiver/CreekViewsWaterfallWildflowersWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
117.79mi
Distance
18,892ft
Elevation Gain
20,148ft
Elevation Loss
30%
Max Grade
8,478ft
High Point
3,354ft
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 E, one of the middle sections of it. Section E runs from Saskatchewan Crossing where the Saskatchewan River crosses Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93), to the town of Jasper, Alberta in Jasper National Park. On top of the world here in Section E, one crosses several open and rocky high passes with glorious, expansive views of the surrounding snowy, rugged mountains. The highest point of the GDT is in this Section. Although a good bit of Section E is "off the beaten path", a good bit of it is also on well maintained, popular (but not overcrowded due to the reservation system :>) Jasper National Park trails with their wonderful, maintained trail camps complete with shared picnic tables, fire pits, bear hangs, and green thrones. 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 - Six Passes Alternate Route - Evelyn Creek/Skyline Trail - Great Divide Trail - Wabasso Lake Alternate Route - Great Divide Trail - Jasper Bighorn Alley Alternate Route Access Trailheads (motor vehicle accessible) - Saskatchewan Crossing on Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) on the north side of the river (start of Section E) - Owen Creek Trail trailhead on David Thompson Highway (Hwy 11) (close to start of Section E) - Maligne Lake Road end, at the Skyline Trail south trailhead - Signal Mountain Fire Road/Maligne Lake Road junction, at the Skyline Trail north trailhead (very close to end of Section E) - Old Fort Point Road where it crosses the Athabasca River (very near Jasper) (end of Section E) Access Trails - Sunset Pass Trail (8.1 miles to Section E) - South Boundary Trail: Nigel Creek Trailhead to Brazeau Lake at the 5.0 mile mark and Cataract Pass Trail junction (5 miles to Section E) - Poboktan Pass Trail at the 3.9 mile mark and Maligne Pass Trail junction (3.9 miles to Section E) - Watchtower Trail (8.2 miles to Section E) - Wabasso Lake Trail 2.5 miles to Great Divide Trail - Wabasso Lake Alternate Route, then 6 miles on Alternate Route (8.5 miles to Section E)

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
Report Conditions

Nearby Hike Routes

Find more hikes near:
Peyto Lake and Payto Glacier Viewpoint

Hike Route

Peyto Lake and Payto Glacier Viewpoint

Birding
moderate
1.29 mi
+474 ft
Brazeau Loop

Hike Route

Brazeau Loop

Commonly Backpacked
strenuous
48.1 mi
+6,383 ft
Nigel Pass

Hike Route

Nigel Pass

River/Creek
moderate
9.71 mi
+1,203 ft
Yoho Valley Loop

Hike Route

Yoho Valley Loop

River/Creek
strenuous
15.6 mi
+3,249 ft
Emerald Lake and Emerald Basin Loop

Hike Route

Emerald Lake and Emerald Basin Loop

Lake
moderate
6.73 mi
+890 ft
Emerald Triangle: Emerald Lake Lodge/Yoho Pass/Burgess Pass

Hike Route

Emerald Triangle: Emerald Lake Lodge/Yoho Pass/Burgess Pass

Geologically Significant
strenuous
11.57 mi
+3,386 ft
Contributors
Joan Pendleton