The Trans Canada Trail, officially named The Great Trail between September 2016 and June 2021, is a cross-
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
system of greenways, waterways, and roadways that stretches from the
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
to the
Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contine ...
to the
Arctic
The Arctic ( or ) is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), Danish Realm (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, N ...
oceans. The trail extends over ; it is now the longest recreational, multi-use trail network in the world. The idea for the trail began in 1992, shortly after the Canada 125 celebrations. Since then it has been supported by donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and all levels of government.
Trans Canada Trail (TCT) is the name of the non-profit group that raises funds for the continued development of the trail. However, the trail is owned and operated at the local level.
On August 26, 2017, TCT celebrated the connection of the trail with numerous events held throughout Canada. TCT has said it now plans to make the trail more accessible, replace interim roadways with off-road greenways, add new spurs and loops to the trail, and fund emergency repairs when needed.
Origin of trail idea
The creation of the trail was born of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992. It has its counterparts in such other
greenway routes as the 12
EuroVelo
''EuroVelo'' is a network of currently 17 long-distance cycling routes criss-crossing Europe, in various stages of completion. When completed, the EuroVelo network's total length will almost be . more than were in place. EuroVelo is a project of ...
routes, the UK's
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network (NCN) is the national cycling route network of the United Kingdom, which was established to encourage cycling and walking throughout Britain, as well as for the purposes of bicycle touring. It was created by the cha ...
, and the
United States Numbered Bicycle Routes
The United States Bicycle Route System (abbreviated USBRS) is the national cycling route network of the United States. It consists of interstate long-distance cycling routes that use multiple types of bicycling infrastructure, including off-road ...
network.
Funding
The Trans Canada Trail has been funded largely by Canadian
federal
Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to:
Politics
General
*Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies
*Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states or ...
and
provincial governments, with significant contributions from corporate and individual donors. The first province to have completed its designated section of the trail was
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", ...
(see
Confederation Trail
Confederation Trail is the name for a 470 kilometre recreational rail trail system in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island.
It was developed in the 1990s, following the December 31, 1989, abandonment of all railway lines in the province b ...
).
Development and maintenance
The network of the Trans Canada Trail is made up of more than 400 community trails. Each trail section is developed, owned, and managed locally by trail groups, conservation authorities, and by municipal, provincial, territorial, and federal governments, for instance in parks such as
Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park (french: Parc de la Gatineau) is a federal park located in the Outaouais, Outaouais region of Quebec, Canada. Administered by the National Capital Commission as part of the National Capital Region (Canada), National Capital Region, ...
or along existing trails such as the
Cataraqui Trail
The Cataraqui Trail is a 104-km Rails-to-Trails multi-use linear recreational trail in Eastern Ontario, Canada. The route passes by farmland, woods, lakes, and wetlands. The trail begins southwest of Smiths Falls, at a parking lot south of Onta ...
and
Voyageur Hiking Trail
The Voyageur Hiking Trail is a public hiking trail between Sudbury and Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario, Canada. The name honours the early European fur traders of the region who travelled largely by canoe and were known as 'voyageurs’ and ‘ ...
. The Trans Canada Trail supports the construction and use of
greenways to replace roadways.
Moreover, considerable parts of the trail are repurposed defunct rail lines donated to provincial governments by
Canadian Pacific
The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...
and
Canadian National Railway railbeds rebuilt as
walking trails
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. T ...
. As such, much of the Trans Canada Trail development emulated the successful
Rails-to-Trails
A rail trail is a shared-use path on railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed, but may also share the right of way with active railways, light rail, or streetcar ...
initiative in the United States, whereby these transportation corridors are "rail banked" as recreational trails, allowing conversion back to rail should future need arise.
Thousands of Canadians, community partner organizations, corporations, local businesses, and all levels of government are involved in developing and maintaining these trails. TCT does not own or operate any section of the trail. As an ensemble, the Trans Canada Trail might be one of the largest volunteer projects ever undertaken in Canada.
Routes and amenities
The main section runs along the southern areas of Canada, connecting most of Canada's major cities and most populous areas. There is also a long northern arm that runs through Alberta to
Edmonton
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...
and then up through northern
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
to the
Yukon
Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
.
While the route described above has the TCT going east–west through the southern prairie provinces (via Medicine Hat and Calgary), with a northern branch going off to Edmonton and on to the north, the Trans Canada Trail officially is shown as going from Winnipeg across the northern Prairies, coming into Alberta east of Edmonton, spawning a northern walking trail near Fort Saskatchewan before entering Edmonton, then going south to Calgary and west to BC.
The trail is multi-use and depending on the section may allow
hikers
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Hist ...
,
bicyclists
Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...
, horseback riders,
cross country skiers, and
snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known as a Ski-Doo, snowmachine, sled, motor sled, motor sledge, skimobile, or snow scooter, is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. It is designed to be operated on snow and ice and does not ...
rs. In theory, the trail is equipped with regularly spaced pavilions that provide shelter as well as fresh water to travellers, but this varies widely from section to section, and particularly from province to province.
"
Mile zero
In many countries, kilometre zero (also written ''km 0'') or similar terms in other languages (also known as zero mile marker, zero milepost, control stations or control points) denote a particular location (usually in the nation's capital cit ...
" of the trail is located outside the
Railway Coastal Museum
The Railway Coastal Museum is a transport museum located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located in the historic Newfoundland Railway terminal on Water Street, St. John's, Water Street and contains exhibits detailing the ...
in
St. John's,
Newfoundland.
Future developments
While the trail is connected, TCT stated that it will continue to fundraise for its future development and enhancement. Among its objectives, TCT says that it plans to replace interim roadways with off-road greenways, where possible, to make it safer and more accessible for all users; to add new trail sections, and to provide emergency funding for trail sections damaged by natural disasters, etc.
The trail is not owned or operated by TCT, but the organization provides support to local partners and volunteer groups who maintain individual sections.
On September 4, 2018, TCT announced that the government of Canada would invest $30 million in trail development in the next four years. The official announcement was made by Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Controversy
Edmund A. Aunger, professor emeritus of political science at the
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta, also known as U of A or UAlberta, is a Public university, public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford,"A Gentleman of Strathcona – Alexande ...
, Campus Saint-Jean, is a vocal critic of the trail, particularly in the way it has strayed from the original vision of "a trail built far enough from roads to mask traffic noise and avoid collisions".
Because only 32 per cent (i.e. ) of the Trans Canada Trail consists of actual off-road trails, the Trans Canada Trail is fundamentally very different from classic pure-hiking trails like the
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail (also called the A.T.), is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian ...
. Furthermore, not all of the off-road trails are hiking-only. Also, because many sections are on-road, cycling is more suitable for those stretches. Additionally, since some sections are on waterways, a cross-country trekker cannot rely on any one mode of transportation alone.
Aunger states that "Lacking both uniform standards and control, the Trans Canada Trail includes a confusing and dangerous hodgepodge of mountain-bike paths, roadside ditches, dirt ruts, gravel roads and hazardous ATV trails."
In 2012, Aunger's wife, Elizabeth Ann Sovis, was killed while cycling on a portion of the trail in Prince Edward Island.
Infrastructure and route details by province and territory
Newfoundland and Labrador
As of May 2017, "Kilometre 0" begins at
Cape Spear
Cape Spear (french: Cap d'Espoir) is a headland located on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland near St. John's in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At a longitude of 52°37'W, it is the easternmost point in Canada and North ...
, the most easterly point in
North America. Here it is known as the
East Coast Trail
The East Coast Trail (ECT) is a long-distance coastal footpath located in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is a developed trail over long, creation of which began in 1994. It is made up of 25 linked wilderness paths and pas ...
, a series of rugged coastal wilderness paths. The route follows the coastline north around St. John's Bay and Freshwater Bay, connecting with the
Grand Concourse walkway network at
Fort Amherst
Fort Amherst, in Medway, South East England, was constructed in 1756 at the southern end of the Brompton lines of defence to protect the southeastern approaches to Chatham Dockyard and the River Medway against a French invasion. Fort Amherst is ...
. The route then follows a sidewalkway along Southside Road adjacent to
St. John's Harbour until the former Trail Eastern Terminus located at the
Railway Coastal Museum
The Railway Coastal Museum is a transport museum located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located in the historic Newfoundland Railway terminal on Water Street, St. John's, Water Street and contains exhibits detailing the ...
. From here it follows the former Newfoundland Railway route travelling south, crossing
Route 2 into
Kilbride then through
Bowring Park. It continues northwest through
Mount Pearl then
Donovans crossing
Route 1 into
Paradise
In religion, paradise is a place of exceptional happiness and delight. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical or eschatological or both, often compared to the miseries of human civilization: in parad ...
, passing
Neils Pond and
Octagon Pond
In geometry, an octagon (from the Ancient Greek, Greek ὀκτάγωνον ''oktágōnon'', "eight angles") is an eight-sided polygon or 8-gon.
A ''regular polygon, regular octagon'' has Schläfli symbol and can also be constructed as a quasire ...
. The route then turns southwest in
Conception Bay South
Conception Bay South is a town located on the southern shore of Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula of the island of Newfoundland, Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The town is commonly called C.B.S. Conception Bay South is the ...
and crosses Route 60 before it meets and follows the Conception Bay coastline. At Indian Pond, the
Grand Concourse trail ends and the route is known as
Newfoundland Trailway Park
The Newfoundland T'Railway Provincial Park is a rail trail located in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Protected as a linear park under the provincial park system, the Newfoundland T'Railway consists of the railbed of the histo ...
, an 883 km linear park which consists of the former railbed and which allows motorized access.
The route continues as the Newfoundland T'Railway southwest, passing through the east side of
Holyrood Bay
Holyrood may refer to:
Religion
*Holyrood (cross), a Christian relic alleged to be part of the True Cross on which Jesus died
*Feast of the Cross, or Holy Rood day, in the Christian liturgical calendar
Places United Kingdom
* Holyrood, Edinburgh ...
. The trail passes through
Briens as it enters
Hollyrood. The route again crosses Route 60, then the
North Arm River, then travels north through
Burnt Stump. The route travels southwest passing
Woodsford, then passes through
Brien's Gullies before then crossing Route 1 again. It then passes through
Brigus Junction,
Mahers, then
Ocean Pond, then a mostly treed area before entering
Whitbourne and crossing
Route 80. Continuing, the route crosses
Route 100, then enters
Placentia Junction
Placentia may refer to:
* Palace of Placentia, an English royal palace
* Placentia, California, United States
* Placentia, Italy, a Roman city known today as Piacenza
* Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
* Battle of Placentia (disambig ...
before turning north, passing over
Coles Pond. Crossing
Route 120, the next major location is
Tickle Harbour Station, where it again touches Route 1 and follows it, crossing a few more times before entering
Cobb's Pond, then
Come By Chance. The route continues as it enters
Goobies, then
Northern Blight, then crosses Route 1 as it enters
Clarenville
Clarenville is a town on the east coast of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Clarenville was incorporated in 1951. It is located in the Shoal Harbour valley, fronting an arm of the Atlantic Ocean called Random ...
. It follows
Shoal Harbour River as it enters
Thorburn Lake, then crosses
Route 233 at
Port Blandford
Port Blandford is a town in eastern Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is in Division No. 7 on Clode Sound. The population in 1940 was 539, and increased to 631 by 1956.
Climate
Port Blandford has a humid continental climate ...
, then crosses Route 1 again as it enters
Terra Nova.
The trail changes to
Gambo to Terra Nova Trail
Gambo may refer to:
Places
* Gambo, Central African Republic
Gambo is a town located in the Central African Republic prefecture of Mbomou. The town is named after Gambo, a Nzakara chief who ruled the area in the years before 1931.
History
...
as it continues to Alexander Bay, then route 1, then
Route 320 as it enters
Gambo.
Continuing north, the next leg of the trail is called
Cobb Corridor Trail as it enters
Butts, then
Benton, then it turns northwest as it enters
Gander. As it continues, the route passes
Glenwood, then continues to
Notre Dame Junction, passing
Route 340 and finally
Norris Arm
Norris Arm is a town in north-central Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is in Division No. 6, on the Bay of Exploits.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Norris Arm had a population ...
.
The next section is
Newfoundland Trailway Park
The Newfoundland T'Railway Provincial Park is a rail trail located in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Protected as a linear park under the provincial park system, the Newfoundland T'Railway consists of the railbed of the histo ...
, continuing to
Rattling Brook, as it follows the
Exploits River
The Exploits River is a river in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It flows through the Exploits Valley in the central part of Newfoundland.
Including the Lloyds River, which discharges in Beothuk Lake, the Exploits river has a ...
through
Junipers Brook,
Bishops Falls, crossing
Route 350 and continuing through
Grand Falls.
Now known as
Exploits Valley and Beothuk Trail
Exploit means to take advantage of something (a person, situation, etc.) for one's own end, especially unethically or unjustifiably.
Exploit can mean:
*Exploitation of natural resources
*Exploit (computer security)
*Video game exploit
*Exploitati ...
, the trail moves along into
Windsor
Windsor may refer to:
Places Australia
* Windsor, New South Wales
** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area
* Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
**Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...
, then
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the family Mustelidae (which also includes the otters, wolverines, martens, minks, polecats, weasels, and ferrets). Badgers are a polyphyletic rather than a natural taxonomic grouping, being united by ...
. From here it is known as
Newfoundland Trailway Park
The Newfoundland T'Railway Provincial Park is a rail trail located in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Protected as a linear park under the provincial park system, the Newfoundland T'Railway consists of the railbed of the histo ...
and travels through
West Lake
West Lake (; ) is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou, China. It is divided into five sections by three causeways. There are numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and natural/artificial islands within the lake. Gushan (孤山) is the largest natural ...
and
Millertown Junction. The route then passes through
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to reduce their envir ...
,
Gaff Topsails,
Kittys Brook, and
Howley, where it crosses the
Main Brook
Main Brook is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 246 in the Canada 2021 Census.
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Main Brook had a populatio ...
and ends in
Deer Lake.
The next stretch is called the
Deer Lake to Corner Brook Trail
Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the reindee ...
and pretty much follows Route 1 through
Pasadena
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district.
...
,
Steady Brook
Steady Brook (2021 population: 416) is a Canadian town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland, the town is situated 8 kilometres east of the city of Corner Brook in the lower Humbe ...
, and
Corner Brook on the south side of the
Upper Humber River, ending as it crosses
Route 450.
Continuing south, the route is now known as
Newfoundland Trailway Park
The Newfoundland T'Railway Provincial Park is a rail trail located in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Protected as a linear park under the provincial park system, the Newfoundland T'Railway consists of the railbed of the histo ...
, passing through
Mount Moriah Moriah is a mountain identified in the Book of Genesis; believed in Judaism, Christianity and Islam to be associated with the sacrifice of Abraham's son.
It may also be the Temple Mount.
Moriah may also refer to:
Places
In Australia:
*Moriah Colle ...
, then continuing on
Harrys River into
Gallants, then crossing
Route 460 as it intersects with
Route 461 at
Stephenville Crossing in
St. George's Bay. Passing through
St. George's, the route crosses
Fischells Brook, then crosses
Route 404 in
Cartyville. Passing through
St. Fintans, the route continues to
Codroy Pond, then
South Branch,
Benoits Siding,
Doyles,
Tompkins,
St Andrews, and ends in
Cape Ray
Cape Ray is a headland located at the southwestern extremity of the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
It is the site of the Cape Ray Lighthouse.
It is located opposite Cape North on Cape Breton Island, ...
.
The last stretch of the trail in Newfoundland is known as the
Wreckhouse Trail
Wreckhouse is a geographic location in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador that is well known for extremely high winds.
Situated at the southern end of the Long Range Mountains at the western mouth of the Codroy Valley, the name ori ...
. This section passes through
Osmond,
Grand Bay, and ends in
Port aux Basques
Channel-Port aux Basques is a town at the extreme southwestern tip of Newfoundland fronting on the western end of the Cabot Strait. A Marine Atlantic ferry terminal is located in the town which is the primary entry point onto the island of Newfou ...
, where you would take the
Port Aux Basques to North Sydney Ferry
Marine Atlantic Inc. (french: Marine Atlantique) is an independent Canadian federal Crown corporation which is mandated to operate ferry services between the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.
Marine Atlantic's corporate hea ...
to
North Sydney, Nova Scotia
North Sydney (Scottish Gaelic: ''Suidni A Tuath'' or ''Am Bàr'') is a former town and current community in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
Located on the north side of Sydney Harbour, along the eastern coast of Cape Breton ...
.
Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, the trail begins where it is known as Pottle Lake to North Sydney, on
Cape Breton Island in the town of
North Sydney, separating itself from
Highway 105 after the ferry ride from Newfoundland. As of June 2014, this portion of the route has not been completed; however, it is planned to travel through the town and cross
Highway 125 following Old Branch Road on the North Side of
Pottle Lake
Pottle may refer to:
Surname
*Bill Pottle (born 1978), American author of books on fantasy, martial arts, and Christianity
*Emory B. Pottle (1815–1891), U.S. Representative from New York
*Gilbert Emery Bensley Pottle (1875–1945), American act ...
.
From here, the trail changes to Old Branch Road - George River Division and continues through
Georges River and then heads southeast, touching the north east corner of
Scotch Lake, then enters the community of
Scotch Lake and follows Scotch Lake Road.
The route continues as Upper Leitches Creek to Scotch Lake, briefly merging with
Route 223 on the Bras D'or Lakes Scenic Drive, then follows Upper Leitches Creek Road as it enters
Upper Leitches Creek.
At this point it changes to the Scotch Lake – Grand Narrows trail as it continues on Tower Road, then passes the
MacAulays Lakes
Boisdale ( gd, Baghasdail) is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality on Cape Breton Island. It was named for Lochboisdale, the main village of the island of South Uist in the Out ...
. Here it crosses
McLeod Brook as it passes through
Bodale Hills. The route changes to Little Narrows as it enters the community of
Rear Christmas Island. It again merges onto Highway 223 in
Christmas Island
Christmas Island, officially the Territory of Christmas Island, is an Australian external territory comprising the island of the same name. It is located in the Indian Ocean, around south of Java and Sumatra and around north-west of the ...
and follows the highway through
Grand Narrows,
Iona,
Jamesville,
Jamesville West, and
Ottawa Brook. As the route passes
Bras D'or Lake
Bras d'Or Lake ( Mi'kmawi'simk: Pitupaq) is an irregular estuary in the centre of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. It has a connection to the open sea, and is tidal. It also has inflows of fresh water from rivers, making the brackis ...
, it crosses at
Little Narrows, using the
Little Narrows Ferry
Little is a synonym for small size and may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Little'' (album), 1990 debut album of Vic Chesnutt
* ''Little'' (film), 2019 American comedy film
*The Littles, a series of children's novels by American author John P ...
and crossing the Trans-Canada Highway at
Highway 105 in
Aberdeen
Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
, then continuing north through
Lewis Mountain, where it becomes the Celtic Shores Coast Trail.
Celtic Shores Coast Trail
The Trans Canada Trail continues, passing
Route 395 and going through Scotsville to a fork north of Strathlorne in the
Municipality of the County of Inverness
The Municipality of the County of Inverness is a county municipality on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. It provides local government to about 17,000 residents of the historical county of the same name, except for the incorporated tow ...
.
Halifax, Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, and Eastern Shore area
The only trail in
Halifax is the
Halifax Boardwalk. The boardwalk travels from
Pier 21
Pier 21 was an ocean liner terminal and immigration shed from 1928 to 1971 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Nearly one million immigrants came to Canada through Pier 21, and it is the last surviving seaport immigration facility in Canada. The fa ...
to near
Casino Nova Scotia
Casino Nova Scotia is located in Nova Scotia, Canada, and has locations in Halifax and Sydney. Steelman Partners designed Casino Nova Scotia and its sister casino Sydney Casino.
Halifax casino
The Casino Nova Scotia opened a temporary location ...
. There are two trails in
Dartmouth. The Dartmouth Waterfront Trail starts at
Alderney Landing
Alderney Landing is a convention centre, art gallery, market, events plaza and theatre facility in Downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It was opened in May 1999. The theatre hosts many concerts, conventions and other events, and is the home of Halif ...
and ends in
Woodside. The other trail goes by two names: Dartmouth Multi-use Trail and Shubie Canal Greenway. The trail visits Dartmouth's best parks, including
Shubie Park
Shubie Park is a urban park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia maintained by the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Heavily forested, Shubie Park is roughly linear in shape as it is bounded on the north and west by Highway 118 expressway and on the south ...
. The Trans Canada Trail continues straight on trail from
Shearwater
Shearwaters are medium-sized long-winged seabirds in the petrel family Procellariidae. They have a global marine distribution, but are most common in temperate and cold waters, and are pelagic outside the breeding season.
Description
These tub ...
to
Meaghers Grant. Shearwater Flyer Trail, Forest Hills Trail System, Salt Marsh Trail, Atlantic View Trail, Blueberry Run Trail, Gaetz Brook Greenway and
Musquodoboit Trailway
The Musquodoboit Trailway is a multiuse rail trail located in Halifax County, Nova Scotia, running the distance from Gibralter to Musquodoboit Harbour. The entire route is part of the Halifax spur of The Great Trail, and follows Nova Scotia ...
are the names of the rest of the area's trails. Out of the region, the Trans Canada Trail continues on roads.
The North Trail or North Path travels north and ends in
Inverness.
The South Trail passes through Strathlorne, then through Loch Ban, and then Black River, where its name changes to Mabou Rivers Trail. From here it passes through Glendyer, then crosses
Route 252 as it passes through
Rankinville, then crosses
Route 19 in
Mabou
Mabou is an unincorporated settlement in the Municipality of the County of Inverness on the west coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. The population in 2011 was 1,207 residents. It is the site of The Red Shoe pub, the An Drochai ...
.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island's portion of the Trans Canada Trail is known as the
Confederation Trail
Confederation Trail is the name for a 470 kilometre recreational rail trail system in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island.
It was developed in the 1990s, following the December 31, 1989, abandonment of all railway lines in the province b ...
. The main section runs from Tignish at kilometre 0 to Elmira at kilometre 273. Spurs extend to Charlottetown, Georgetown, Montague, Murray River, Murray Harbour, Souris, Wood Islands, and to the Confederation Bridge in Borden-Carleton, which links the Island with New Brunswick on the Canadian mainland.
New Brunswick
Shogomoc River Pedestrian Bridge
Shogomoc River Pedestrian Bridge is a 265-foot suspension bridge in Canterbury, New Brunswick. It officially opened in October 2011. It is part of the Trans Canada Trail and the Sentier NB Trail network. Sentier NB Trail provided $305,000 toward t ...
is a
suspension bridge in
Canterbury, New Brunswick
Canterbury is an unincorporated community in York County, in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It held village status prior to 2023. The community is west of the Trans-Canada Highway at the intersection of Route 122 and Route 630.
It ...
. Part of the Trans Canada Trail and the
Sentier NB Trail
The Sentier NB Trail is a network of hiking trails in New Brunswick, Canada built on abandoned railways. The trails are mostly closed to motorized vehicles. The network is operated by the New Brunswick Trails Council, a non-profit organization. So ...
network, it was opened in October 2011 by a ribbon-cutting ceremony with journalist
Valerie Pringle
Valerie Pringle ( née Whittingham, born 5 September 1953) is a Canadian television host and journalist, hosting the Canadian edition of ''Antiques Roadshow'' on CBC since 2006. Pringle was born in Windsor, Ontario.
Pringle began her career in ...
present as a TCT representative. Sentier NB Trail provided over $300,000 towards the project. It is known as the final non-motorized trail link between the town of
Grand Bay–Westfield
Grand Bay-Westfield is a town on the west bank of the Saint John River immediately north of the boundary between Kings County and Saint John County.
Name
The Town's hyphenated name is the product of a series of amalgamations since 1966. The ...
and the border of the province of Quebec.
Quebec
Much of the trail's current route through Quebec follows the ''Route Verte'' and has many cycling paths. Completed off-road hiking trails can be found in Gatineau Park and along a route linking the Papineau-Labelle Nature Reserve, Mont Tremblant Provincial Park, and the Mastigouche Nature Reserve. These form part of a planned hiking route that would eventually link Ottawa-Gatineau on the Ontario border with the Gaspe Peninsula and the New Brunswick border.
Ontario
As a legacy project of the
2015 Pan American Games
Fifteen or 15 may refer to:
*15 (number), the natural number following 14 and preceding 16
*one of the years 15 BC, AD 15, 1915, 2015
Music
* Fifteen (band), a punk rock band
Albums
* ''15'' (Buckcherry album), 2005
* ''15'' (Ani Lorak al ...
and the
2015 Parapan American Games
The 2015 Parapan American Games, officially the V Parapan American Games and commonly known as the Toronto 2015 ParaPan-Am Games, were a major international multi-sport event for Disabled sports, athletes with disabilities, celebrated in the tra ...
, the
Pan Am Path helps complete the of gaps in Ontario's portion of the Trans Canada Trail. In 2013, a one-kilometre-long honorary segment of the Trans Canada Trail was opened on the grounds of
Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall (officially Government House) is the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and their representative, the governor general of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main b ...
in Ottawa. The Lake Huron-North Channel Waterfront route reduces use of shoulders along the Trans-Canada Highway by about 50 kilometres.
Prairie provinces
The route through Manitoba is a mix of off-road hiking trails, road shoulders, and waterways.
Saskatchewan has managed to avoid major highways and paved roads and uses nothing more than rural gravel roads to link off-road hiking trails. The route through this province has been proclaimed as complete with the opening of the Wakamow Valley Suspension Bridge. However, parts of the land route include some waterways that require a canoe or small boat.
The off-road sections of the trail are very fragmentary in Alberta, where opposition to the trail by some special interest groups has been very strong. A major section in Alberta follows highway 2A between Edmonton and Calgary, a road that combines narrow shoulders with heavy traffic. The main role of the Alberta government so far has been to assist local trail associations in searching for better routes. Multi-use trails in the city of
Fort Saskatchewan
Fort Saskatchewan is a city along the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta, Canada. It is northeast of Edmonton, the provincial capital. It is part of the Edmonton census metropolitan area and one of 24 municipalities that constitute the Edmo ...
and
Sturgeon County
Sturgeon County is a municipal district the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada. It is north of Edmonton and west of the North Saskatchewan River. Sturgeon County is located in Division No. 11 and was named for the Sturgeon River ...
are planned to be connected with a new pedestrian bridge spanning the
North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows from the Canadian Rockies continental divide east to central Saskatchewan, where it joins with the South Saskatchewan River to make up the Saskatchewan River. Its water flows event ...
, which was funded as part of a project to completely twin
Highway 15 in the region.
East of Edmonton, the TCT from Elk Point to Waskatenau uses the Iron Horse Trail, which lies on the old route of the Oliver–St. Paul rail line once operated by the Canadian Northern Railway (later the Canadian National). The Iron Horse Trail allows use of feet, quads, and horses. At Waskatenau, the trail veers south to the banks of the North Saskatchewan River and winds westward to Fort Saskatchewan.
North of Fort Saskatchewan, the TCT forms the northern walking trail, which winds through northern BC and the Yukon. At Athabasca, the northern walking trail spawns a water trail that takes travellers down the Athabasca River to the Mackenzie and thence to the Arctic Ocean.
British Columbia
The main leg of the trail enters British Columbia from Alberta, following the
Elk River passing through
Sparwood
Sparwood is a district municipality in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is the second-largest community on the Elk River.
Located approximately 30 kilometres from Fernie, the District Municipality of Sparwood has approximately 4,2 ...
and the
Kootenays
The Kootenays or Kootenay ( ) is a region of southeastern British Columbia. It takes its name from the Kootenay River, which in turn was named for the Kutenai First Nations people.
Boundaries
The Kootenays are more or less defined by the Kootenay ...
and Columbia mountains. From there, it delves southward and westward near the
Kettle river. The trail passes through the
Okanagan Valley
The Okanagan ( ), also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as the Okanagan Country, is a region in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. It is p ...
over the
Kettle Valley Rail Trail
The Kettle Valley Rail Trail is a multi-use recreational rail trail located in the Okanagan-Boundary region of southern British Columbia.
The trail uses a rail corridor that was originally built for the now-abandoned Kettle Valley Railway. The ...
, including the very popular
Myra Canyon portion. From here, it heads through
Princeton
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ni ...
. Between Brookmere and the
Othello Tunnels
''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Cyprus, Island ...
, the trail officially follows the route of the
Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway
The Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway (VV&E) was a railway line proposed to connect Metro Vancouver with the Kootenays, in Canada. After acquisition by the Great Northern Railway (GN), most of the route was built, but a through service, ...
at Princeton and then onto parts of the Kettle Valley Railway south of Brookemere, but due to lost bridges, washouts, grade degradation, and freeway construction, it actually traces the
Coquihalla Highway Coquihalla may refer to:
*British Columbia Highway 5, also known as Coquihalla highway
* Coquihalla River
* Coquihalla Pass
* Okanagan—Coquihalla, a federal electoral district in British Columbia
* Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park
*Coquihalla Ri ...
. It then continues west on a mixture of dikes and rural roads to
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
and
West Vancouver
West Vancouver is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District, West Vancouver is to the northwest of the city of Vancouver on the northern side of English Ba ...
to connect to
Horseshoe Bay. The Vancouver-to-
Nanaimo section involves a trip on
BC Ferries
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., operating as BC Ferries (BCF), is a former provincial Crown corporation, now operating as an independently managed, publicly owned Canadian company. BC Ferries provides all major passenger and vehicle ferr ...
. From Nanaimo, the trail extends southward on various roads until meeting the Cowichan Valley Trail on
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...
. From there, it maintains its own right-of-way (sometimes shared with the
Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway) to
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
, where another ferry returns to Vancouver.
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is where the Trans Canada Trail meets the
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceans. It spans an area of approximately and is known as the coldest of all the oceans. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) recognizes it as an ocean, a ...
. The land-based trail comes through the Yukon up the
Dempster Highway
The Dempster Highway, also referred to as Yukon Highway 5 and Northwest Territories Highway 8, is a highway in Canada that connects the Klondike Highway in Yukon to Inuvik, Northwest Territories on the Mackenzie River delta. The highway crosses ...
and into the N.W.T., where it continues north through the Mackenzie Delta to
Tuktoyaktuk
Tuktoyaktuk , or ''Tuktuyaaqtuuq'' (Inuvialuktun: ''it looks like a caribou''), is an Inuvialuit hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, at the northern terminus of the Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway.Montgomer ...
, the most northern point on the Trans Canada Trail. There is also a significant portion of the water-based trail in the N.W.T. that comes from Alberta via the
Slave River
The Slave River is a Canadian river that flows from the confluence of the Rivière des Rochers and Peace River in northeastern Alberta and empties into Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. The river's name is thought to derive from the ...
, across
Great Slave Lake
Great Slave Lake (french: Grand lac des Esclaves), known traditionally as Tıdeè in Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì (Dogrib), Tinde’e in Wıìlıìdeh Yatii / Tetsǫ́t’ıné Yatıé (Dogrib / Chipewyan), Tu Nedhé in Dëne Sųłıné Yatıé (Chi ...
and north along the
Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean.
Nunavut
There is a small section of the trail on
Baffin Island, Nunavut, from the capital city of
Iqaluit
Iqaluit ( ; , ; ) is the capital of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian territory of Nunavut, its largest community, and its only city. It was known as Frobisher Bay from 1942 to 1987, after the Frobisher Bay, large bay on the c ...
south along the Itijjagiaq trail to
Kimmirut
Kimmirut ( Syllabics: ᑭᒻᒥᕈᑦ ; known as Lake Harbour until 1 January 1996) is a community in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located on the shore of Hudson Strait on Baffin Island's Meta Incognita Peninsula. Kimmirut means ...
.
Yukon
The Yukon provides the land link between British Columbia and the Arctic. The trail enters the Yukon from British Columbia on the
Alaska Highway, south of
Watson Lake. Due to the vast distances and sparse population, the Yukon's section of trail mainly follows the highway network between communities, branching off onto smaller multiuse trails near most settlements. Many of these multiuse trails are also historically significant routes, including the Copper Haul Trail near
Whitehorse
Whitehorse () is the capital of Yukon, and the largest city in Northern Canada. It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1426 (Historic Mile 918) on the Alaska Highway in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas ...
, the Dawson Overland Trail from Takhini to Braeburn, and the Heritage Ridge Road near
Dawson City
Dawson City, officially the City of Dawson, is a town in the Canadian territory of Yukon. It is inseparably linked to the Klondike Gold Rush (1896–99). Its population was 1,577 as of the 2021 census, making it the second-largest town in Yuko ...
. The route north is then completed by following the Dempster Highway up to the N.W.T. border, where the trail carries on north to the Arctic Ocean.
Promotion of the trail
In February 2018, a "special collector's edition" of the
Canadian Geographic Magazine was released, titled "The Great Trail". On the cover, four trails are highlighted for readers: Itijjagiaq Trail in
Nunavut, The Lake Superior Water Trail in
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
, The Edmonton River Valley in
Alberta
Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
, and
Cowichan Valley
The Cowichan Valley is a region around the Cowichan River, Cowichan Bay and Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. There is some debate as to the origin of the name Cowichan, which many believe to be an anglicized form ...
in
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
.
On September 14, 2019, the Trans Canada Trail and the Bateman Foundation teamed up to host the ''Nature Sketch on The Great Trail'' event. Seven communities across Canada hosted such events, including: Victoria, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Toronto, Ontario; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. An artist from the Bateman Foundation team led sketching workshops for participants. This event gathered 300 people across Canada.
Photos
File:Trans Canada Trail Pavilion.jpg, Trans Canada Trail pavilion in Fredericton, New Brunswick
File:B050702-35e.jpg, Trans Canada Trail along Coal Harbour
Coal Harbour is the name for a section of Burrard Inlet lying between Vancouver's Downtown Peninsula and the Brockton Point of Stanley Park. It has also now become the name of the neighbourhood adjacent to its southern shoreline.
Neighbourhoo ...
in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The ...
File:TransCanadaTrailGrandforksBC.jpg, Trans Canada Trail in Grand Forks, British Columbia
Grand Forks, population 4,112, is a city in the Boundary Country of the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Granby and Kettle Rivers, a tributary of the Columbia River. The city is just nort ...
File:TransCdaTrailManitoba.jpg, Trans Canada Trail in Manitoba at Silver Springs Park viewed from Birds Hill, R.M. of East St. Paul
File:Trans Canada Trail Peterborough Ontario.jpg, Trans Canada Trail in winter in Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough ( ) is a city on the Otonabee River in Ontario, Canada, about 125 kilometres (78 miles) northeast of Toronto. According to the 2021 Census, the population of the City of Peterborough was 83,651. The population of the Peterborough ...
File:Trans Canada Trail CYUB.jpg, Trans Canada Trail marker in Tuktoyaktuk
Tuktoyaktuk , or ''Tuktuyaaqtuuq'' (Inuvialuktun: ''it looks like a caribou''), is an Inuvialuit hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, at the northern terminus of the Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway.Montgomer ...
, Northwest Territories
File:Kinsol-Trestle-From-Riverside-Road.JPG, The newly restored Kinsol Trestle
The Kinsol Trestle, also known as the Koksilah River Trestle, is a wooden Rail transport, railway Trestle bridge, trestle located on Vancouver Island, north of Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Shawnigan Lake, in British Columbia, Canada. It ...
, which spans the Koksilah River on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...
See also
*
Canol Heritage Trail
*
Chrysler Canada Greenway
The Chrysler Canada Greenway is a 42 km-long rail trail in Essex County, Ontario, Canada, stretching from Oldcastle, Ontario, Oldcastle (near Windsor, Ontario, Windsor) to Leamington, Ontario, Leamington.
History
The trail dates back to ...
*
Iron Horse Trail, Alberta
The Iron Horse Trail is a rail trail located in east-central Alberta in Canada. The 300 km-long, multiuse recreational trail is used by all-terrain vehicles and also by horses, mountain bikes, hiking, hikers, and snowmobiles, depending upon the s ...
*
Iron Horse Trail, Ontario
The Iron Horse Trail is a multi-use urban rail trail which connects the cities of Waterloo, Ontario, Waterloo and Kitchener, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. It runs from Erb Street West in the north near Uptown Waterloo, to Ottawa Street S ...
*
Lake Charles Trail
*
Musquodoboit Trailway
The Musquodoboit Trailway is a multiuse rail trail located in Halifax County, Nova Scotia, running the distance from Gibralter to Musquodoboit Harbour. The entire route is part of the Halifax spur of The Great Trail, and follows Nova Scotia ...
*
Parc Linéaire Le P'tit Train du Nord
*
Riverfront Trail, Greater Moncton
The Riverfront Trail is a multiuse trail in Greater Moncton, along the shores of the Petitcodiac River. The trail comprises the Moncton section of the Trans Canada Trail, passing through the city's Riverfront Park, and extends to the neighbouring ...
*
Rideau Trail
*
Trans America Trail
The TransAmerica Trail or TAT is a transcontinental vehicular route, intended as a recreational pathway across the United States using a minimum of paved roads, traveled by dual-sport motorcycles, off-road vehicle, or touring bicycle.
The trail w ...
References
External links
Trans Canada TrailMoose Jaw, Saskatchewan section9953km Trans Canada Trail diary and photos: Victoria to St JohnsUnofficial Trans Canada Trail GPS MapA map of the entire trail
{{Authority control
Adventure travel
Rail trails in Canada
Cycleways in Canada
Hiking trails in Canada
Long-distance cycling routes
150th anniversary of Canada