Flora includes dwarf birch, willow, Labrador tea, Arctic heather and grassland tundra. The route follows an old industry road, unmaintained since 1945, so expect the occasional rusting hulk and oil barrel along the way. Bon voyage! Motorized transport aside—and some key sections are combustion-free—trekkers should be able to find solitude somewhere along this mammoth cross-province path. https://www.flickr.com/photos/zachbonnell/. The Sentiero Italia (Grand Italian Trail) traverses the entire country of Italia. (And try the hike in autumn, when the trees are alight with fall colours. Some nice, 30-plus-km routes exist around Whistler, or enjoy a day-hike to Brandywine. Some front-country campsites feature stores and hot showers. Though a loop, the end is still 30 km from the trailhead; a car shuttle is a good idea. Also, unofficial side-trails extend the possible length to more than 900 km. Rocky Mountain alpine - milky lakes - wide open plains - hoodoos and more. One reason I belive that it shouln't be near a highway is that it should be about nature and you shouldn't be able to hear cars or other vehichles. Just looking to take a quick stroll? A hike rich with natural wonders and human history, and set within Jasper National Park, Athabasca Pass is a challenging, weeklong mountain trek that follows a route once taken by explorer David Thompson. Just catch a scheduled flight to Pangnirtung then arrange a boat ride into the park. Cross-country skiing, horseback riding and cycling are other acceptable modes of transportation. Perhaps the most famous trail system in Canada, the... 3. It is a huge feat. So let’s talk logistics here. Bonus: Keji is a Dark Sky Preserve, so the nighttime scenery rivals the daytime. The hike crosses several access points if the full route is too daunting—and you must register with the non-profit group that maintains the trail (and pay a fee). Hikers can explore routes from a few hours, to a full day, to a week or more—overnighting at the 12 huts and 20-odd campsites along the way. Rich with mixed-woods forests, Canadian shield lakes, historic sites, charming towns, vibrant birdlife and more, hikers can enjoy walks that range from an hour or two right up to an End-to-End epic, which takes about two weeks. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; The views in and around these waters are absolutely stunning. In the eastern section, the trail ascends towards The Crack. It’s said that this multi-day hike within Kootenay National Park is the pinnacle … amzn_assoc_asins = "B01EIBUHCW,B06XC1931H,B07XTJFNZ6,B07XPJFYST"; Copyright © 2020 Return to Now. Once again, we see former industry turned to tourism opportunities with PEI’s Confederation Trail—a railway line converted into a hiking and cycling path. Winding through rainforests, along beaches, through rivers, and up ladders, this infamous trail can take anywhere from five to seven days to successfully complete. Expect Precambrian Shield terrain, granite cliffs, beaver dams, peat bogs, steep gullies and jack pines. Officially opened in 2011, the Boreal Trail is Saskatchewan Parks’ only officially designated backpacking trail. And remember your passport—you cross the U.S./Canada border midway. Most Tuesdays, members of the Avon Trail run organized hikes at various locations; support in the form of donations or guidebook purchases helps maintain this lovely path. Akshayuk Pass is the most popular route in the park—if the word “popular” can be applied—a 10-day, 97-km trek that carves between imposing peaks and permanent icefields. Now, you just have to hike back out again. Since then … The world’s longest recreational trail, which spans a staggering 14,913 miles, has finally opened after 25 years in the making. Soon, you’ll be enjoying views of Georgian Bay as you hike over billion-year-old pink granite. More than 1,600 geocache sites are tucked along the route, which also passes through many towns for tastes of classic Maritime hospitality. amzn_assoc_title = "My Amazon Picks"; While most the trail is found in the back-country, a good chuck still runs through urban areas in major cities such as: Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton. This 75 kilometre (47 miles) trail, originally called the Dominion Lifesaving Trail, is an epic backpacking route that follows along the southwestern edge of Vancouver Island. Kluane National Park has several wilderness routes carving through its immense backcountry—Cottonwood is a top choice, as it’s a marked trail, making it more accessible than some of the arduous unmarked “routes.” Starting from Kathleen Lake, trekkers travel for 83 km through a loop that leads along old mining roads and over two alpine passes. Accented by the famous Bay of Fundy tides ebbing-and-flowing below, views from atop Cape Chignecto Provincial Park’s 180-metre-tall sea cliffs reduce one to mumbling superlatives. The Pacific Crest Trail spans 2,650 miles (4,265 kilometers) from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington. Read more about our policy. Linking northern BC and Alaska, and an absolute classic for two countries, this 53-km trek has been a backpacker’s must-do for decades. If you’re aching to tackle multi-day routes, the trails runs through some public campsites and private “stopovers” en route. This park has a similar terrain to Banff's but with one waterfront town instead of several large villages. All Rights Reserved, When you purchase something via the links in our articles, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Running along the west coast in Naikoon Provincial Park, hikers will wander through evergreens, over gold-sand beaches and even past a haunting shipwreck. Typical legs range from a few kilometres to an overnight. The full GDT runs for a staggering 1,200 km, roughly following the Continental Divide through BC and Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. Copyright © Explore Magazine. Notably, the Berg Lake section is the most scenic of all—arguably the most beautiful trail in the Rockies. Elevation change: 1,800 metres. (Watch for fallen trees and rockslides in some remote sections.) Well maintained and updated, there are campsites and suspension bridges along the route—though you will need to be self-sufficient and may still ford some creeks. This seven-day route from Buckley Lake to Mowdade Lake—the only marked trek in the park—requires total self-sufficiency; at times, even water is scarce. Set in Ontario’s largest national park—Pukaskwa—the Coastal Hiking Trail traces the wildest shore on all the Great Lakes for 58 memorable kilometres. Pyzote/Wikimedia Now about 90 percent complete, the TCT (also dubbed “The Great Trail”) will connect the east, west, and north coasts of Canada. When you purchase something via the links in our articles, we may earn a small affiliate commission. With a short season—mid-June to early September—inclement weather (expect snow in July) and hardy sections like The Pass, you’ll want to be in top-shape and well-prepared. Trans Canada Trail (Canada) – 14,912 miles when completed (24,000 km) – The Trans Canada is a network of recreational trails that stretches from coast to coast. The Great Trail of Canada is now open for hikers, bikers, kayakers and skiers. And make sure to buy an SCT Passport to document your achievement—and to receive congratulatory goodies from local supporting businesses. Explore editor David Webb handpicked 35 treks, ensuring they were lengthy, offered a quality experience and represented our country coast-to-coast-to-coast. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; So, if you’re looking for the adventure of a lifetime, look no further. The Mantario Trail is best in fall, as spring’s floods can be troublesome and summer’s bugs are brutal. It’s a demanding four to six day hike that starts on tidewater in Alaska and ends in Bennett, BC. It is used for hiking, biking and paddling. Strap on your hiking boots and pack your backpack: The worl d’s longest hiking trail just opened in Canada, and it’s begging for a major trip.. Named the Great Trail and clocking in at 14,864 miles long, the pathway stretches from St. John’s on Canada’s east coast all … Hiking trails are mostly well-maintained by … It’s Canada’s longest hut-to-hut hiking trail, and the only free one—forged and maintained by the Powell River Parks & Wilderness Society. As you might imagine, the Dawson Overland Trail historically connects Whitehorse and Dawson—though only 97 km of this stretch is maintained today as a true “trail.” Part of the Trans Canada Trail, the multi-use section from Whitehorse to Braeburn treats trekkers to mountain and valley vistas, with occasional Gold Rush relics lying about. Some are multi-use; others are most certainly hikers-only. It was officially finished on August 26. The Chilkoot Trail has a unique history of being the ‘gold rush trail’ back during the … (Editor’s note: ultimately, the Trans Canada Trail is our country’s longest trail at more than 18,000 km—but it comprises hundreds of trails and even includes sections of water travel. If you have 10 to 12 days, try the whole route in one push! Yes—it’s a renowned bicycle route. The Sunshine Coast Trail showcases 180 scenic kilometres through the mountains, along the coastline and past the lakes of BC’s northern Sunshine Coast. The longest part of the trail wraps around the Great Lakes in Ontario, where there’s the most fresh water in the world. Although still under construction in places, the Sea to Sky Trail is still an incredible hike in one of BC’s most scenic areas. Follow the signs to make your way across the country. Camp, or book B&B stays along the way and enjoy Newfoundland hospitality. Start your hike near the Upper Salmon River, for easy vehicle access when you’re done. The path never exceeds a 2.2 per cent grade, which is why it’s popular with cyclists. After twenty-five years, a few missteps and a lot of planning, Canada has officially opened the world's longest recreational trail. Expect a workout: there is more than 1,500 metres of elevation difference between the highest and lowest points on the trail. Running right across The Rock, from St. John’s to Port Aux Basques, this former railway line cuts through 55 towns and crosses 150 bridges—totalling 3.5 km of bridgeway. The Great Trail was founded by Pierre Camu, Bill Pratt and Paul LaBarge. Length: 885 km Read on to discover why Canada is the best country in the world for hiking—with 35 of Canada’s longest hiking trails! Follow rock cairns along empty pebble beaches, meander through serene woodland, scramble over steep shoreline rocks and marvel at expansive views of Lake Superior. Meandering through Meadow Lake Provincial Park, hikers can choose to embark on a multi-day tour of this east-west route—spending days beneath poplar, jack pine and spruce trees and falling asleep to a loon’s call at one of the plentiful back- and front-country campsites—or tackle it in smaller stages for easy day-hikes. Tucked away in Temagami, this backpacking network extends for days into rolling rocks, past sandy beaches, under old-growth pine and through peaceful northern serenity. Canada is Home to World’s Longest Hiking Trail Stretching From Coast to Coast The World’s Longest Hiking Trail. 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