The Great Divide Trail

The Great Divide Trail continues along the continental divide through the Canadian Rockies, traveling 895 miles north from the Canadian border to Kakwa Lake. Having missed out on some of the Glacier National Park scenery we had been looking forward to due to the fire reroute, we decided to give ourselves one last taste of the Rockies by hiking the first section on the Great Divide. 

Our hike began at the Carthew-Alderson Trailhead near Cameron Falls on a beautiful, forested trail. After a few miles, a short side trail took us to Alderson Lake, a clear blue lake set in a granite bowl, with rugged peaks towering overhead. 

We continued climbing above tree line, gaining views of Mt. Carthew and other rugged, Rocky Mountian peaks. We stopped briefly at Carthew Lakes, sparkling lakes set in beautiful green meadows dotted with wildflowers. Plump marmots lumbered across nearby snowfields. Families of grouse dashed along the trail before darting into nearby shrubs. 

Reaching Carthew Summit we were met with a wall of smoke that cloaked the surrounding peaks in a misty haze. Buffeted by strong winds along the ridge, we quickly headed down the trail to Cameron Lake.