Written by: HEATHER GREENWOOD DAVIS
This newly opened island trail is 700 kilometres long and easy to navigate, but also challenging, and it shows stunning views of Canada's smallest province.
The new Island Trail happens to circle around Prince Edward Island in Canada. The route passes through North Point, wind turbines, windy cliffs and North Point Lighthouse. Photo credit: SANDER MEURS, TOURISM PEI
In fall 2019, Bryson Guptill hiked 700 kilometers on Prince Edward Island for 31 days. Like islanders, Guptill weaves through green hills and farmland every day, sometimes stopping on laterite roads to chat with strangers or watch herons and cormorants circle along the coast.
Guptill took inspiration from a hike that made his tour around the island what makes today's "island trail." The new trail is 700 kilometres long and is a loop that connects existing trails, dirt roads and public highways.
Hikers Sherry Gallant and Dominique Bourg stroll along an island walk in a small harbor at the eastern tip of Prince Edward Island. Photographed by Heather Ogg
Natural attractions are inland from the trail, such as Lakins Pond near Selkirk. Photo credit: Sander Meurs, Tourism Pei
The boardwalk of Suris Beach Provincial Park runs along shallow water beaches. Photo credit: Sander Meurs, Tourism Pei
Guptill said the original plan was to start the start-up hike in the spring of 2020. He is the past president of Island Trails, a volunteer organization that promotes and develops sustainable trails on the island.
Due to the pandemic, PEI has been cut off for much of the past two years with Canada and the rest of the world. The eastern coastal island, Canada's smallest province with an area of 5,660 square kilometres, quickly imposed travel restrictions at the start of the outbreak, keeping the island's 160,000 residents safe.
Recently, the Island Trail has been revived with the relaxation of travel restrictions and a new public awareness of outdoor activities.
Officially launched in September 2021, hikers will be here to enjoy a combined experience of trekking and pilgrimage, and like other great trails around the world, it gives visitors a real sense of accomplishment and opportunity for reflection.
The history of the trail
Trails are nothing new on the island. In 1989, the National Railways of Canada abandoned the construction of the Prince Edward Island Railway, and the tracks were left behind, and local residents persuaded the local government to convert it into a bicycle lane and a walkway. The road eventually became the Federal Trail (which has grown to 450 km long and branches throughout the province).
"The Federal Trail is great, but it used to be a railroad that's in the middle of the island, running through the east and west ends," Guptill explains. "In a sense, it lacks the character of a trail. Prince Edward Island is an island; one wishes to see the sea on the trail. ”
The Island Trail connects 350 kilometres of federal trails with traditional roads, secondary road shoulders, and a number of local trails and beach trails to form a roundabout trail that meets the expectations of hikers.
Space to think
The island trail also offers hikers the opportunity to be quiet and alone, a rare experience.
For Bernie Brunino, who just finished hiking last week, the hike is an opportunity for self-reflection. He said he might not have chosen the trail without the outbreak. Travel was restricted due to the pandemic and his international trekking plans were stranded. (Over the past few years, he has completed his walking tours of Avenue San Diego and Avenue Francie De Genie).)
Hiker Ijeoma Ekeruche stopped at the Dunedin Bridge in St. Catharines.
"This island is magical," he said. "I walked for days and didn't run into anyone on the way. I felt peace that I had never felt before. I have the opportunity to reflect on myself, as a father, husband and son, am I doing enough? This hike is indeed a good medicine. ”
Christine Renaud from Ontario's South Bay also completed a hike of the island trail last week. She used the opportunity to raise money for the Lennon House, an agency dedicated to helping patients with addiction and mental health disorders.
"Beautiful secluded paths and isolated beaches are more conducive to reflection than noisy cities," she says.
Including Brunino and Renaud, Guptill expects 50 people to complete the trail tour by the end of the year, and they will receive passports and completion certificates as proof. In contrast, 350,000 people completed the Royal Mile walking tour and received a certificate in 2019. "It's not as simple as we think."
Barrier-free pilgrimage
The Island Trail has a total of 32 routes, averaging about 20 km each. Compared to other international trails, such circular routes make traveling more convenient, and no matter where you are, you are not too far from the island's population center, making it convenient to eat, sleep or explore.
Before the pandemic, Prince Edward Island was already a well-known trail center in the Atlantic region. The new trail is very friendly to beginner hikers, with no tall rocks or steep peaks, and is probably the easiest trail on the island to pass. Parts of the Federal Trail have gravel trails and up to 3% gradients, where first-time hikers can try their hand at it.
A field of canola flowers in bloom, located near the Springbrook Sand Dunes in Prince Edward Island. Photo credit: Paul Baglole, TOURISM PEI
The island trail is still in its infancy, but local businesses (from hotels to breweries to restaurants) have begun to develop schemes to seek cooperation and try to support tourists, such as providing transportation and packing meals.
Brunino says some newbies may be nervous and can slow down and choose a few sections of the trail to explore.
"You'll get a taste of the island's charm, with its beautiful countryside, endless coasts and welcoming islanders." he said.
Travel Notice
The island trails are open all year round, although most hikers may choose to visit between May and November. Due to the proximity to the town, it is easy to get around, you just need to prepare a good pair of hiking shoes and a small bag of daily necessities. Bryson Guptill has written a travel guide with tips for every leg of the trip. All visitors to the island are required to pass an accounting test in order to enter the country.
Limited time? Take a look at the following recommendations for people with different needs.
Barrier-free access: Sections 31-32, Charlottetown. This is the best option for hikers looking for barrier-free sections. The area's federal walkways are paved with hard pavement, easier for wheelchairs or other means of transportation, and illuminated by street lights at night. Explorers can enter this historic city from this section.
Top Foodie: 12-13, Portch to Northam Harbour. The section is close to the Tyne Valley neighborhood, home to the island's best burgers (Backwood burgers), an oyster bar and a small grocery store to replenish supplies. The Island Trail Food Tour offers a half-day hike with breakfast served along the way, musical entertainment and lunch prepared by a chef at the end of the tour.
Craft beer lovers: 26-27 sections, Cardigan to Montague. Step out of the Montagu Trail and head to Bogside Brewing and Copper Bottom Brewing for craft beers paired with the best bread puddings on Prince Edward Island. This section is the shortest section of the Island Trail. It spans tributaries of three rivers, offering great views of the harbor's coast along the way.
Families with young children: Sections 23-24, Boswell to Suris. Stop by Basin Head Provincial Park outside Bothwell for a while and let the kids experience the famous Singing Sand (sand makes a sound as you walk on it because of the high levels of silica). Then, head to the Hyde Basin Fisheries Museum for a visit to learn about Prince Edward Island's long history of offshore fisheries. In the summer, intrepid stunt swimmers can often be seen jumping down the Hyde Basin Bridge and falling into the cool waters.
Photographer: Section 9-10, Miminigas to Christopher Cross. Hikers can circle North Point along this section, passing wind turbines and continuing along the boardwalk for spectacular views of the Red Cliffs, Blue Waters and North Point Lighthouse. If you like a similar landscape, you can also try the 22-23 section (New Zealand to Ermira), which also has bird sanctuaries and beaches along the way.
Fans of Anne of Green Gables: Section 16-17, Bayview to Cimbria. The Anne of Green Gables series has been critically acclaimed since its publication in 1908 and has also earned Prince Edward Island a global reputation. If you also like this red-haired girl, you can choose to walk through Cavendish, where the author spent most of her childhood, which gave her endless creative inspiration, and of course, you can also visit Prince Edward Island National Park. Both roads lead to Montgomery Park, the author's house, and the Green Gables Historic Site, which includes attractions mentioned in the book, such as Lover's Lane and haunted woods.
(Translator: Strange Flowers Blossom)