GDMBR Route – 2,700 Miles

The Big One

For many cyclists, bikepacking the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is the big one, the ultimate adventure, running from Canada to Mexico, passing through diverse landscapes and challenging terrain. It has snow-covered passes at altitude, large desert sections, and everything in between.

The extended route now begins in Jasper but I’m following the traditional GDMBR trail from Banff, Alberta. The route passes through Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, finishing in New Mexico.

The Continental Divide is the line to which water flows west or east, and the GDMBR crosses the Continental Divide many times on its route, which for me is north-to-south covering over 2,700 miles (4,340 kilometres) of terrain, and over 150,000 feet (46,600 metres) of climbing.

Every June some of the most remarkable people on the planet RACE a route which is almost identical;  known as the Tour Divide. The official record for this was set in 2024, is an incredible 13 days, 2 hours and 16 minutes, and is held by Justas Leveika.

It’s somewhat sobering to consider that, should I eventually be successful when I go back in 2026, this GDMBR adventure is likely to take me around 62 days.

🏔️ Banff, Canada
Alberta → Montana → Idaho → Wyoming → Colorado 2,000 miles ✓
💥 Del Norte, CO 5 broken ribs
Colorado → New Mexico ~750 miles remaining
🎯 Antelope Wells, New Mexico
Imperial Metric
🚴 2,000 3,219 Miles Completed Km Completed
🎯 750 1,207 Miles Remaining Km Remaining
⛰️ 150,000 45,720 Feet of Climbing Metres of Climbing
🌲 90% 90% Unpaved Roads Unpaved Roads
🏔️ 11,900 3,627 Highest Point (ft) Highest Point (m)
💪 82 37 Lbs Lost in Training Kg Lost in Training
Banff, Canada Del Norte, CO — 74% complete Antelope Wells, New Mexico
🚴

Some Potential Highlights

Bears (Grizzly and Black), Moose, Cougars, Mosquitos, Snow, Peanut-butter mud, The Flathead Valley, The Grand Teton National Park, Boreas Pass, The Great Divide Basin, and the New Mexico Desert.

For comprehensive maps, resources, and support, visit the Adventure Cycling Association website.