Great Divide Mountain Bike Route — Cycling the spine of a continent

Originally developed in 1997 by the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA), The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is the ultimate bikepacking adventure. Stretching over 3,000 miles from Jasper, Alberta, all the way to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, on the Mexican border, it follows the spine of the Continental Divide, where you’ll ride through some of the most rugged, remote, and breathtaking landscapes in North America. From the deep valleys of the Canadian Rockies to Montana’s wild backcountry, Wyoming’s wide-open basins, Colorado’s towering mountain passes, and New Mexico’s desert mesas, the route offers you an ever-changing panorama of terrains and cultures.

Keep in mind that the GDMBR is not the same as the Tour Divide, which is an annual race that begins in Banff on the second Friday in June. Though the Tour Divide largely follows the GDMBR, the two courses do diverge in some locations. The Continental Divide Trail, a well-known long-distance hiking route, overlaps with the GDMBR in a few places, but because it’s hiking-focused the overlap is far less than with the Tour Divide race route.. Given all this, you’re likely to encounter other people riding or hiking along your travels, either on the road, at campsites, or lodges. It’s always nice to talk to other hikers and bikers, and those traveling in the opposite direction can be a valuable resource to learn about conditions further down the road.

For much of its history the GDMBR began in Banff, and many riders, including those doing the Tour Divide, still start there. However, in 2018 the official starting point was moved north to Jasper and a route traveling along the eastern edge of the Rockies to Banff was established. However, I have chosen to modify the route’s first stage by starting in Hinton, Alberta and following the Athabasca River to Jasper and then down the iconic Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise. The reason for this is twofold: first, the Icefields Parkway is one of the few tourist attractions that not only lives up to its reputation, but easily surpasses it. You’ll be treated to incredible views around every corner, and by cycling this route you’ll be able to take more time to soak it in. Second, this route goes by the Columbia Icefields, which is a hydrographic apex, meaning it's a triple continental divide, sending water to three different oceans. This being the “Great Divide” route, I feel it would be a shame to miss such a unique geographic feature.

Riding the GDMBR means you’ll ride a mix of gravel roads, doubletrack, rough jeep trails, singletrack, and some paved sections for good measure. One day you may be grinding up a remote alpine pass, and the next you’ll be rolling across high desert plains or coasting into a dusty ghost town. Most riders choose a hardtail mountain bike or a gravel bike with drop-bars and wide tires to handle the variety of conditions. The weather can be just as varied as the terrain with snow lingering on high mountain passes into July, and searing heat and sudden monsoon rains in the desert. It’s hard to nail down an ideal time frame for a route as long and varied as the Great Divide. You can choose to ride straight through, hitting 70-80 miles every day with no days off and finish in 40 days. Or you may want to ride at a more leisurely pace and take time to explore the areas you ride through, like detouring into Glacier or Yellowstone, so it could take 80 days or more to finish. In the end it's up to you. No two rides on the GDMBR are the same, and that’s the beauty of it.

Logistics are a big part of the journey, and planning ahead will make your ride much smoother. Resupply points usually appear every 1-2 days in small towns, national parks, or developed campgrounds, but some stretches, such as Wyoming’s Great Basin or southern New Mexico, require you to carry extra food and water to cover multiple days between resupplies. Camping is plentiful, with a mix of national forest campgrounds, BLM sites, and opportunities for dispersed camping many nights. When you want a break from the tent, you’ll also find motels, cabins, hostels, and even the occasional bike-friendly inn along the way. Picking up a copy of “Cycling the Great Divide” by Michael McCoy is a good idea and you can read a bit each night to see what’s ahead of you for the next day. Also, the Adventure Cycling Association’s webpage is very helpful and the forums there often provide up to date information on road/trail conditions and closures: www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/great-divide-mountain-bike-route

You don’t need any special permits to ride the GDMBR, though you will pass through national parks and recreation areas where entry fees apply. For example, riding through Jasper and Banff means you’ll need to pay the Canadian national park fee, and in the U.S., an interagency “America the Beautiful” pass can save you money and time when entering Grand Teton or (optionally) Glacier National Park. As for transportation, Hinton is accessible by shuttle or bus from Edmonton, while the southern terminus at Antelope Wells is extremely remote. The ACA has a pdf on their website with a full list of shuttle options: www.adventurecycling.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GD_shuttle.pdf

Riding the Great Divide is much more than just a cycling trip, it’s a true expedition across the continent, requiring detailed and careful planning, with adequate preparation for food, water, lodging, and weather, you’ll be rewarded with your own unforgettable story along the Great Divide!