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6 Tips For Exploring Canada’s
Beautiful Trans Canada Trail One Mile At A Time
Canada
has some serious bragging rights. As the
world’s second-largest country, Canada has the longest coastline, the most
lakes, the most polar bears, and even the most maple syrup on earth. The
country is also home to another record-breaker that should be on every
traveler’s radar: the Trans Canada Trail.
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| 6 Tips For Exploring Canada’s Beautiful Trans Canada Trail One Mile At A Time |
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The Trans Canada Trail is
a cross-Canada system of greenways, waterways, and roadways that connects the
Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. At more than 15,000 miles, it’s
officially the longest recreational, multi-use trail network in the world.
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1-It’s Open
To Everyone
There’s absolutely no
cost or admission associated with the Trans Canada Trail. It’s open for
everyone, and that includes travelers. Don’t worry, absolutely no one expects
you to hike the length of it! The goal of the Trans Canada Trail isn’t to
encourage people to undertake some kind of extreme sporting challenge to
traverse the country but rather to enjoy deeper connections on a local level.
Chances are, no matter where you’re vacationing in Canada, you’re never that
far from a section of the trail and even an hour or two of hiking or cycling is
a great way to experience its beauty.
Lindsay Davies from
Niagara told me, “I’ve experienced multiple sections of the Trans Canada Trail,
but none have been as stunning as the section near Fort Smith in the Northwest
Territories. You can hear the rumble of the rapids from town while following
the trail. Mesmerized by the brilliant sunset, one can’t help but feel truly
connected to nature … though the Rapids of the Drowned serve as a reminder of
how we need to respect Mother Nature’s beauty!”
Stephanie Mayo of
Innisfil echoed this sentiment. She told me, “My local section is called the
Thornton-Cookstown. I love hiking this section of the Trans Canada Trail for so
many reasons: because it proves you can always find a slice of nature to escape
to close to home; the varying terrain — from farmer’s fields to charming
bridges over winding rivers; and because at either end sit two of Simcoe
County’s charming small towns. And nothing beats hiking it in the fall when the
trees that cover the trail create a carpet of colorful leaves to walk upon.”
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2-Conditions
Vary
The Trans Canada Trail is
not one endless path but actually a cross-country network of more than 400
different community trails. To say that conditions may vary is an
understatement! In many cases, the area where you’ll be walking or biking was
once a rail line. Former rail lines were donated by the Canada Pacific Railway
and the Canadian National Railway to be refurbished as walking trails.
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However, not all sections
of the trail are so quiet and isolated. Only about 32 percent of the Trans
Canada Trail consists of off-road trails like the old rail lines. Some sections
of the Trail (more than 3,700 miles worth) are actually waterways, which is
great for canoeing but not so helpful for long-distance trekkers or cyclists.
As well, a significant portion of the Trans Canada Trail — more than 5,300
miles — is made up of active roadways. These can range from genteel country
roads to much busier routes. Critics of the Trail argue, quite convincingly,
that these highways were never meant to accommodate hikers and cyclists, nor
was the trail ever envisioned as such.
For this reason, it’s
imperative that would-be adventurers read up on what their planned route
actually entails. You could find yourself on a narrow dirt path, a quiet
groomed trail that welcomes horseback riders and cross-country skiers, or
something much busier that also hosts snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, or
even a highly trafficked road.
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3-Understand Different Names
The Trans Canada Trail is a network of hundreds of community trails operated at a local level in each jurisdiction it passes through. As such, guidebooks and residents are likely to use the local name. In and around Halifax, Nova Scotia, for instance, you’ll find the Shearwater Flyer Trail, Forest Hills Trail System, Salt Marsh Trail, Atlantic View Trail, Blueberry Run Trail, Gaetz Brook Greenway, and the Musquodoboit Trailway. If you’re making trail-related inquiries, don’t despair if different names keep popping up.
“4-Mile Zero”
Is In A Pretty Cool Place
The Trans Canada Trail’s “Mile Zero” is located in Cape Spear, Newfoundland. The most easterly point in North America, Cape Spear offers incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean, is a fine spot for bird watching, and history buffs will enjoy seeing the remains of old gun batteries, part of Canada’s coastal defense system during World War II. It’s hard to think of a more memorable place to embark on a journey.
5-Plenty Of Tourist Attractions Are Connected
Back in 2013, a small honorary section of the Trans Canada Trail was established around Rideau Hall (home of Canada’s Governor-General) and 24 Sussex Drive (the Prime Minister’s residence) in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. Since then, this part of the Trail has been fully integrated, going from honorary status to a fully fledged component of the route through Ontario. While this may be the best example of how the Trail goes through many of Canada’s tourist attractions, it’s far from the only one. As it makes its way across Canada, the Trans Canada Trail touches many landmarks and attractions that visitors will love.
For instance, the Trans Canada Trail is connected to New Brunswick’s Fundy Trail Parkway, home to the world’s highest tides. It also connects with Saskatchewan’s Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park Trail, home to sand dunes that are five stories high. And in the aptly named community of Trail, British Columbia, the Trans Canada Trail crosses one of the longest pedestrian suspension bridges in the world (1,000 feet, for those curious).
Lauren Yakiwchuk from
Mississauga knows firsthand how the Trans Canada Trail can introduce someone to
new tourism attractions. As she told me, “I’m very fortunate to have the Trans
Canada Trail in my own backyard, and I walk there almost daily! In Port Credit
(part of Mississauga), the Trans Canada Trail is part of the Waterfront Trail
that runs right along the edge of Lake Ontario. When you’re visiting the
tourist area of Port Credit with its many shops, restaurants, and cafes, you
can easily pop down to the Trans Canada Trail for a stroll. It also meanders
through the Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens in town, so you can go for a walk
and admire all of the beautiful flowers, too.”
6-More Changes Are Coming
On August 26, 2017, Canada celebrated as the last sections of the Trans Canada Trail were connected. But that doesn’t mean that work has stopped. The TCT is planning to make segments of the Trail more accessible, repair and maintain some sections, and add new loops and spurs to the existing route in order to include more areas. Replacing interim sections of the trail that are presently roadways with safer greenways is another priority. Hopefully, the Trail will continue to grow and improve for all travelers and residents alike.
Trans Canada Trail Pro Tip
In case you’re feeling ambitious, the journey from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Victoria, British Columbia would take two years, two months, and one week along the Trans Canada Trail, assuming you’re traveling about 18.5 miles a day. And you won’t be alone in this feat! A few adventurous women, including Sarah Jackson, Mel Vogel (joined mid-adventure by an unexpected companion, Malo the dog), filmmaker Diane Whelan, and Sonja Richmond (together with her partner Sean Morton) have logged tens of thousands of miles and many many years crisscrossing the country. No matter where you go, you’ll be following in fine footsteps.
With my best wishes