View source for Trans Canada Trail

{{Short description|Network of multiuse trails across Canada}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
 | name        =
 | embed       =
 | cellstyle   =
 | title       = [[Cape Spear]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador]]
 | photo       = 30km Bike Trek on the Trans Canada Trail.jpg
 | location    = Canada
 | designation =
 | established = {{start date and age|1992}}
 | completed   =
 | length      = ({{Asof|2024}}) {{convert|28,000|km|abbr=on}}
 | trailheads  = Mile zero, [[Cape Spear]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador]]; [[Victoria, British Columbia]]; [[Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories]]
 | use         = {{hlist|[[Hiking]]|[[biking]]|[[equestrianism]]|[[cross-country skiing]]|[[snowshoeing]]|[[canoeing]]}}
 | elev_gain_and_loss =
 | elev_change =      <!-- Use elev_gain_and_loss if the gain and/or loss is known. Use this field when only the change is known. -->
 | highest_m   = 2,185
 | lowest      = Sea level
 | grade       = Variable
 | difficulty  = Variable
 | season      = All seasons
 | months      = All seasons
 | sights      = Numerous
 | hazards     = Multiple
 | surface     = Variable
 | ROW         = Multiple
 | website     = {{URL|tctrail.ca}}
}}

The '''Trans Canada Trail''' is a cross-[[Canada]] system of greenways, waterways, and roadways that stretches from the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] to the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] to the [[Arctic Ocean|Arctic]] oceans. The trail extends over {{cvt|28,000|km}}; 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tctrail.ca/ |title=Trans Canada Trail |publisher=Trans Canada Trail |access-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205043552/https://tctrail.ca/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="annualreport2017">{{cite web |url=http://thegreattrail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCT_AnnualReport2016-2017_FINAL_26-28edit_ENGLISH_smaller.pdf |title=Annual Report 2016–17 |publisher=Trans Canada Trail |page=6 |date=2017 |access-date=January 28, 2018 |archive-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413144839/https://thegreattrail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCT_AnnualReport2016-2017_FINAL_26-28edit_ENGLISH_smaller.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.

Between September 2016<ref>{{cite web |date=September 22, 2016 |title=Trans-Canada Trail rebrands, seeks to connect Canadians |url=http://marketingmag.ca/brands/trans-canada-trail-rebrands-seeks-to-connect-canadians-183509/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507185048/http://marketingmag.ca/brands/trans-canada-trail-rebrands-seeks-to-connect-canadians-183509/ |archive-date=May 7, 2019 |access-date=May 7, 2019 |publisher=marketingmag.ca}}</ref> and June 2021,<ref>{{cite web |date=June 1, 2021 |title=Say Hello to Your New Trans Canada Trail! |url=https://tctrail.ca/news/name-change/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612002410/https://tctrail.ca/news/name-change/ |archive-date=June 12, 2021 |access-date=June 11, 2021 |website=tctrail.ca}}</ref> the TCT was known as '''the Great Trail'''. In 2021, the name was changed back to the '''Trans Canada Trail'''. 

==Origin of trail idea==
The creation of the trail was born of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992.<ref>Trans Canada Trail: The 18,000 kilometre dream, second edition, 2006</ref> It has its counterparts in such other [[greenway (landscape)|greenway]] routes as the 12 [[EuroVelo]] routes, the UK's [[National Cycle Network]], and the [[United States Numbered Bicycle Routes]] network.

==Funding==
The Trans Canada Trail has been funded largely by Canadian [[Government of Canada|federal]] and [[Provinces and territories of Canada|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]] (see [[Confederation Trail]]).

==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]] or along existing trails such as the [[Cataraqui Trail]] and [[Voyageur Hiking Trail]]. The Trans Canada Trail supports the construction and use of [[Greenway (landscape)|greenway]]s to replace roadways.

Moreover, considerable parts of the trail are repurposed defunct rail lines donated to provincial governments by [[Canadian Pacific]] and [[Canadian National Railway]] railbeds rebuilt as [[walking trails]]. As such, much of the Trans Canada Trail development emulated the successful [[Rails-to-Trails]] 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.

[[File:The Great Trail.jpg|thumb|Trail marker]]

==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]] and then up through northern [[British Columbia]] to the [[Yukon]].

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.<ref name="Explore the Map">{{cite web | url=https://tctrail.ca/explore-the-map/ | title=Trans Canada Trail &#124; Explore the Map | date=May 19, 2016 | access-date=December 19, 2022 | archive-date=December 10, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210080733/https://tctrail.ca/explore-the-map/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

The trail is multi-use and depending on the section may allow [[hiking|hikers]], [[bicycle|bicyclists]], horseback riders, [[cross country skiing|cross country skiers]], and [[snowmobile]]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]]" of the trail is located outside the [[Railway Coastal Museum]] in [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/the-government-of-canada-invests-30m-to-enhance-and-maintain-the-great-trail-692390051.html |title=The Government of Canada invests $30M to enhance and maintain The Great Trail |publisher=newswire.ca |date=September 4, 2018 |access-date=May 7, 2019 |archive-date=May 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507184421/https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/the-government-of-canada-invests-30m-to-enhance-and-maintain-the-great-trail-692390051.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Criticism==
[[File:Sentier Transcanadien à Chemin de Wakefield Heights mosbo6.jpg|thumb|Section of the Trans Canada Trail that is confluent with a road and has no dedicated pedestrian path, near [[Wakefield, Quebec]].]]

Edmund A. Aunger, professor emeritus of political science at the [[University of Alberta]], 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".<ref name="aunger">{{cite web |url=https://albertaviews.ca/shattered-dream/ |title=Shattered Dream:The Trans Canada Trail has become a dangerous hoax |publisher=albertaviews.ca |date=May 1, 2017 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822033507/https://albertaviews.ca/shattered-dream/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Because only 32 per cent (i.e., {{cvt|7,898|km|disp=sqbr}}) 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]]. 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.<ref>Markusoff, Jason. [https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/how-the-dream-of-the-trans-canada-trail-soars-and-falls-short How the dream of the Trans Canada Trail soars—and falls short] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219202330/https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/how-the-dream-of-the-trans-canada-trail-soars-and-falls-short/ |date=December 19, 2019 }}. Maclean's Magazine, September 3, 2017</ref>

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."<ref name="aunger" />

In 2012, Aunger's wife, Elizabeth Ann Sovis, was killed while cycling on a portion of the trail in Prince Edward Island.<ref name="aunger" />

==Infrastructure and route details by province and territory==
{{Expand section|1= information about infrastructure in other provinces/territories |date=June 2014}}
[[File:Train Cars at the Railway Coastal Museum in St. John's, NL.jpg|thumb|The former eastern terminus of the Newfoundland T'Railway at the Railway Coastal Museum in St. John's, NL]]

===Newfoundland and Labrador===
As of May 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eastcoasttrail.com/en/about-us/trans-canada-trail-partnership.aspx|title=Trans Canada Trail Partnership|last=Trans Canada Trail|date=May 25, 2017|access-date=February 26, 2018}}</ref> "Kilometre 0" begins at [[Cape Spear]], the most easterly point in continental [[North America]]. Here it is known as the [[East Coast Trail]], 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 (St. John's)|Grand Concourse]] walkway network at [[Fort Amherst, St. John's|Fort Amherst]]. 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]]. From here it follows the former Newfoundland Railway route travelling south, crossing [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 2|Route 2]] into [[Kilbride, Newfoundland and Labrador|Kilbride]] then through [[Bowring Park (St. John's)|Bowring Park]]. It continues northwest through [[Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador|Mount Pearl]] then [[Donovans, Newfoundland and Labrador|Donovans]] crossing [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 1|Route 1]] into [[Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador|Paradise]], passing [[Neils Pond (Newfoundland)|Neils Pond]] and [[Octagon Pond]]. The route then turns southwest in [[Conception Bay South]] and crosses Route 60 before it meets and follows the Conception Bay coastline. At Indian Pond, the [[Grand Concourse (St. John's)|Grand Concourse]] trail ends, and the route is known as the [[Newfoundland T'Railway]], an 883&nbsp;km linear park that consists of the former railbed and permits motorized access.

The route continues as the Newfoundland T'Railway southwest, passing through the east side of [[Holyrood Bay]]. The trail passes through [[Briens, Newfoundland and Labrador|Briens]] as it enters [[Holyrood, Newfoundland and Labrador|Hollyrood]]. The route again crosses Route 60, then the [[North Arm River (Newfoundland and Labrador)|North Arm River]], then travels north through [[Burnt Stump, Newfoundland and Labrador|Burnt Stump]]. The route travels southwest passing [[Woodsford, Newfoundland and Labrador|Woodsford]], then passes through [[Brien's Gullies, Newfoundland and Labrador|Brien's Gullies]] before then crossing Route 1 again. It then passes through [[Brigus Junction, Newfoundland and Labrador|Brigus Junction]], [[Mahers, Newfoundland and Labrador|Mahers]], then [[Ocean Pond, Newfoundland and Labrador|Ocean Pond]], then a mostly treed area before entering [[Whitbourne, Newfoundland and Labrador|Whitbourne]] and crossing [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 80|Route 80]]. Continuing, the route crosses [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 100|Route 100]], then enters [[Placentia Junction, Newfoundland and Labrador|Placentia Junction]] before turning north, passing over [[Coles Pond (Newfoundland and Labrador)|Coles Pond]]. Crossing [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 120|Route 120]], the next major location is [[Tickle Harbour Station, Newfoundland and Labrador|Tickle Harbour Station]], where it again touches Route 1 and follows it, crossing a few more times before entering [[Cobb's Pond, Newfoundland and Labrador|Cobb's Pond]], then [[Come By Chance, Newfoundland and Labrador|Come By Chance]]. The route continues as it enters [[Subdivision 1A, Newfoundland and Labrador#Goobies|Goobies]], then [[Northern Blight, Newfoundland and Labrador|Northern Blight]], then crosses Route 1 as it enters [[Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador|Clarenville]]. It follows [[Shoal Harbour River (Newfoundland and Labrador)|Shoal Harbour River]] as it enters [[Thorburn Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador|Thorburn Lake]], then crosses [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 233|Route 233]] at [[Port Blandford, Newfoundland and Labrador|Port Blandford]], then crosses Route 1 again as it enters [[Terra Nova, Newfoundland and Labrador|Terra Nova]].

The trail changes to [[Gambo to Terra Nova Trail]] as it continues to Alexander Bay, then route 1, then [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 320|Route 320]] as it enters [[Gambo, Newfoundland and Labrador|Gambo]].

Continuing north, the next leg of the trail is called [[Cobb Corridor Trail]] as it enters [[Butts, Newfoundland and Labrador|Butts]], then [[Benton, Newfoundland and Labrador|Benton]], then it turns northwest as it enters [[Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador|Gander]]. As it continues, the route passes [[Glenwood, Newfoundland and Labrador|Glenwood]], then continues to [[Notre Dame Junction, Newfoundland and Labrador|Notre Dame Junction]], passing [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 340|Route 340]] and finally [[Norris Arm, Newfoundland and Labrador|Norris Arm]].

The next section is [[Newfoundland Trailway Park]], continuing to [[Rattling Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador|Rattling Brook]], as it follows the [[Exploits River (Newfoundland and Labrador)|Exploits River]] through [[Junipers Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador|Junipers Brook]], [[Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador|Bishops Falls]], crossing [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 350|Route 350]] and continuing through [[Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador|Grand Falls]].

Now known as [[Exploits Valley and Beothuk Trail]], the trail moves along into [[Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador|Windsor]], then [[Badger, Newfoundland and Labrador|Badger]]. From here it is known as [[Newfoundland Trailway Park]] and travels through [[West Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador|West Lake]] and [[Millertown Junction, Newfoundland and Labrador|Millertown Junction]]. The route then passes through [[Quarry, Newfoundland and Labrador|Quarry]], [[Gaff Topsails, Newfoundland and Labrador|Gaff Topsails]], [[Kittys Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador|Kittys Brook]], and [[Howley, Newfoundland and Labrador|Howley]], where it crosses the [[Main Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador|Main Brook]] and ends in [[Deer Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador|Deer Lake]].

The next stretch is called the [[Deer Lake to Corner Brook Trail]] and closely follows Route 1 through [[Pasadena, Newfoundland and Labrador|Pasadena]], [[Steady Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador|Steady Brook]], and [[Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador|Corner Brook]] on the south side of the [[Upper Humber River (Newfoundland and Labrador)|Upper Humber River]], ending as it crosses [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 450|Route 450]].

Continuing south, the route is now known as [[Newfoundland Trailway Park]], passing through [[Mount Moriah, Newfoundland and Labrador|Mount Moriah]], then continuing on [[Harrys River, Newfoundland and Labrador|Harrys River]] into [[Gallants, Newfoundland and Labrador|Gallants]], then crossing [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 460|Route 460]] as it intersects with [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 461|Route 461]] at [[Stephenville Crossing, Newfoundland and Labrador|Stephenville Crossing]] in [[St. George's Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador)|St. George's Bay]]. Passing through [[St. George's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. George's]], the route crosses [[Fischells Brook (Newfoundland and Labrador)|Fischells Brook]], then crosses [[Newfoundland and Labrador Route 404|Route 404]] in [[Cartyville, Newfoundland and Labrador|Cartyville]]. Passing through [[St. Fintan's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. Fintans]], the route continues to [[Codroy Pond, Newfoundland and Labrador|Codroy Pond]], then [[South Branch, Newfoundland and Labrador|South Branch]], [[Benoits Siding, Newfoundland and Labrador|Benoits Siding]], [[Doyles, Newfoundland and Labrador|Doyles]], [[Tompkins, Newfoundland and Labrador|Tompkins]], [[St. Andrews, Newfoundland and Labrador|St Andrews]], and ends in [[Cape Ray, Newfoundland and Labrador|Cape Ray]].

The last stretch of the trail in Newfoundland is known as the [[Wreckhouse Trail]]. This section passes through [[Osmond, Newfoundland and Labrador|Osmond]], [[Grand Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador|Grand Bay]], and ends in [[Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador|Port aux Basques]], where you would take the [[Port Aux Basques to North Sydney Ferry]] to [[North Sydney, Nova Scotia]].

===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, Nova Scotia|North Sydney]], separating itself from [[Nova Scotia Highway 105|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 [[Nova Scotia Highway 125|Highway 125]] following Old Branch Road on the North Side of [[Pottle Lake]].

From here, the trail changes to Old Branch Road - George River Division and continues through [[Georges River, Nova Scotia|Georges River]] and then heads southeast, touching the north east corner of [[Scotch Lake (Nova Scotia)|Scotch Lake]], then enters the community of [[Scotch Lake, Nova Scotia|Scotch Lake]] and follows Scotch Lake Road.

The route continues as Upper Leitches Creek to Scotch Lake, briefly merging with [[Nova Scotia Route 223|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]]. Here it crosses [[McLeod Brook (Nova Scotia)|McLeod Brook]] as it passes through [[Bodale Hills (Nova Scotia)|Bodale Hills]]. The route changes to Little Narrows as it enters the community of [[Rear Christmas Island, Nova Scotia|Rear Christmas Island]]. It again merges onto Highway 223 in [[Christmas Island, Nova Scotia|Christmas Island]] and follows the highway through [[Grand Narrows, Nova Scotia|Grand Narrows]], [[Iona, Nova Scotia|Iona]], [[Jamesville, Nova Scotia|Jamesville]], [[Jamesville West, Nova Scotia|Jamesville West]], and [[Ottawa Brook, Nova Scotia|Ottawa Brook]]. As the route passes [[Bras d'Or Lake|Bras D'or Lake]], it crosses at [[Little Narrows, Nova Scotia|Little Narrows]], using the [[Little Narrows Ferry]] and crossing the Trans-Canada Highway at [[Nova Scotia Highway 105|Highway 105]] in [[Aberdeen, Nova Scotia|Aberdeen]], then continuing north through [[Lewis Mountain (Nova Scotia)|Lewis Mountain]], where it becomes the Celtic Shores Coast Trail.

====Celtic Shores Coast Trail====
The Trans Canada Trail continues, passing [[Nova Scotia Route 395|Route 395]] and going through Scotsville to a fork north of Strathlorne in the [[Municipality of the County of Inverness]].

====Halifax, Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, and Eastern Shore area====
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2022}}

The only trail in [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]] is the [[Halifax Boardwalk]]. The boardwalk travels from [[Pier 21]] to near [[Casino Nova Scotia]]. There are two trails in [[Dartmouth, Nova Scotia|Dartmouth]]. The Dartmouth Waterfront Trail starts at [[Alderney Landing]] and ends in [[Woodside, Nova Scotia|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]]. The Trans Canada Trail continues straight on trail from [[Shearwater, Nova Scotia|Shearwater]] to [[Meaghers Grant, Nova Scotia|Meaghers Grant]]. Shearwater Flyer Trail, Forest Hills Trail System, Salt Marsh Trail, Atlantic View Trail, Blueberry Run Trail, Gaetz Brook Greenway and [[Musquodoboit Trailway]] 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, Nova Scotia|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 [[Nova Scotia Route 252|Route 252]] as it passes through [[Rankinville, Nova Scotia|Rankinville]], then crosses [[Nova Scotia Route 19|Route 19]] in [[Mabou, Nova Scotia|Mabou]].

===Prince Edward Island===
Prince Edward Island's portion of the Trans Canada Trail is known as the [[Confederation Trail]]. 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]] is an {{cvt|265|ft|order=flip}} [[suspension bridge]] in [[Lakeland Ridges|Lakeland Ridges, New Brunswick]]. Part of the Trans Canada Trail and the [[Sentier NB Trail]] network, it was opened in October 2011 by a ribbon-cutting ceremony with journalist [[Valerie Pringle]] 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]] 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]] and the [[2015 Parapan American Games]], the [[Pan Am Path]] helps complete the {{convert|250|km|mi}} of gaps in Ontario's portion of the Trans Canada Trail.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2013/10/ontario-expanding-trails-in-time-for-the-peoples-games.html|title=Ontario Expanding Trails in Time for the|website=news.ontario.ca|access-date=June 21, 2020|archive-date=May 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524181857/https://api.news.ontario.ca/api/v1/legacy?slug=opo%2Fen%2F2013%2F10%2Fontario-expanding-trails-in-time-for-the-peoples-games|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, a one-kilometre-long honorary segment of the Trans Canada Trail was opened on the grounds of [[Rideau Hall]] 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<ref>{{cite web|url=https://macleans.ca/news/canada/how-the-dream-of-the-trans-canada-trail-soars-and-falls-short/|title=How the dream of the Trans Canada Trail soars—and falls short|date=September 3, 2017|first1=Jason|last1=Markusoff|publisher=[[Maclean's]]|access-date=January 22, 2024|archive-date=January 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127143540/https://macleans.ca/news/canada/how-the-dream-of-the-trans-canada-trail-soars-and-falls-short/|url-status=live}}</ref> to the trail by special interest groups<ref>{{cite web|url=https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/aunger-trans-canada-trail-has-lost-its-way-in-alberta|title=Trans Canada Trail has lost its way in Alberta|first1=Edmund A.|last1=Aunger|date=July 2, 2014|publisher=[[Calgary Herald]]|access-date=January 22, 2024|archive-date=May 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524181910/https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/aunger-trans-canada-trail-has-lost-its-way-in-alberta|url-status=live}}</ref> 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]] and [[Sturgeon County]] are planned to be connected with a new pedestrian bridge spanning the [[North Saskatchewan River]], which was funded as part of a project to completely twin [[Alberta Highway 15|Highway 15]] in the region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/2018/06/28/45m-pedestrian-bridge-en-route/wcm/970ae872-e272-2c87-8a6b-1f69b1f51ce9|title=$4.5M pedestrian bridge en route|first1=Jeff|last1=Labine|date=June 28, 2018|website=[[Fort Saskatchewan Record]]|access-date=April 8, 2020|archive-date=April 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408000943/https://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/2018/06/28/45m-pedestrian-bridge-en-route/wcm/970ae872-e272-2c87-8a6b-1f69b1f51ce9|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fortsaskonline.com/local/fort-saskatchewan-hub-of-the-trans-canada-trail|title=Fort Saskatchewan Hub of the Trans Canada Trail|website=FortSaskOnline.com|language=en-gb|access-date=April 8, 2020|archive-date=April 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408004240/https://fortsaskonline.com/local/fort-saskatchewan-hub-of-the-trans-canada-trail|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Explore the Map"/>

Just north of Fort Saskatchewan, the TCT forks, with the "Northern walking trail" winding north to Athabasca, across northern Alberta, 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.<ref name="Explore the Map"/>

===British Columbia===
[[File:Trans Canada Trail in British Columbia.jpg|thumb|This map of the province British Columbia shows the Trans Canada Trail, starting in North Saanich.]]

The main leg of the trail enters British Columbia from Alberta, following the [[Elk River (British Columbia)|Elk River]] passing through [[Sparwood, British Columbia|Sparwood]] and the [[Kootenays]] and Columbia mountains. From there, it delves southward and westward near the [[Kettle River (Columbia River)|Kettle river]]. The trail passes through the [[Okanagan Valley]] over the [[Kettle Valley Rail Trail]], including the very popular [[Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park|Myra Canyon]] portion. From here, it heads through [[Princeton, British Columbia|Princeton]]. Between Brookmere and the [[Othello Tunnels]], the trail officially follows the route of the [[Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway]] at Princeton and then onto parts of the Kettle Valley Railway south of Brookmere, but due to lost bridges, washouts, grade degradation, and freeway construction, it actually traces the [[Coquihalla Highway]]. The route then sideskirts down the Silverhope logging road and over the steep, overgrown, and isolated Paleface Pass into the Chilliwack Lake basin. Once down to the lake level, pavement resumes. It then continues west on a mixture of dikes and rural roads to [[Vancouver]] and [[West Vancouver]], to connect to [[Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver|Horseshoe Bay]]. The Vancouver-to-[[Nanaimo, British Columbia|Nanaimo]] section involves a trip on [[BC Ferries]]. From Nanaimo, the trail extends southward on various roads until meeting the Cowichan Valley Trail on [[Vancouver Island]]. From there, it maintains its own right-of-way (sometimes shared with the [[Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway]]) to [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], where another ferry returns to Vancouver.

The Salish Sea Marine Trail is an alternate route to Victoria from Horseshoe Bay, crossing the [[Strait of Georgia]] from the [[Sunshine Coast (British Columbia)|Sunshine Coast]] and the northern [[Gulf Islands]] to [[Nanoose Bay]], then travelling south to Victoria via the southern Gulf Islands.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2021 |title=Sea to Sky Marine Trail {{!}} Paddle in Howe Sound Squamish BC |url=https://www.bcmarinetrails.org/sea-to-sky-marine-trail/ |access-date=June 20, 2024}}</ref> Another marine route, the Sea to Sky Marine Trail, connects Horseshoe Bay and [[Gibsons]] to [[Squamish, British Columbia|Squamish]] via the [[Howe Sound]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2015 |title=Trans Canada Trail {{!}} A brand new water Trail in British Columbia |url=https://tctrail.ca/news/a-brand-new-water-trail-in-british-columbia/ |access-date=June 20, 2024 |website=tctrail.ca}}</ref> From Squamish it joins the [[Sea to Sky Trail]], which is officially designated as a spur of the Trans Canada Trail to [[Whistler, British Columbia|Whistler]] and [[Pemberton, British Columbia|Pemberton]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sea to Sky Trail |url=https://www.slrd.bc.ca/services/recreation-culture/parks-trails/sea-sky-trail |access-date=June 20, 2024 |website=Squamish-Lillooet Regional District}}</ref>

===Northwest Territories===
The Northwest Territories is where the Trans Canada Trail meets the [[Arctic Ocean]]. The land-based trail comes through the Yukon up the [[Dempster Highway]] and into the N.W.T., where it continues north through the Mackenzie Delta to [[Tuktoyaktuk]], 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]], across [[Great Slave Lake]] 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]] south along the Itijjagiaq trail to [[Kimmirut]].

===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, Yukon|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]], the Dawson Overland Trail from Takhini to Braeburn, and the Heritage Ridge Road near [[Dawson City]]. 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".<ref>{{Cite web|title=January/February 2018 {{!}} The Great Trail|url=https://shop.canadiangeographic.ca/products/january-february-2018-the-great-trail|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Canadian Geographic|language=en|archive-date=May 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524181857/https://shop.canadiangeographic.ca/products/january-february-2018-the-great-trail|url-status=live}}</ref> On the cover, four trails are highlighted for readers: Itijjagiaq Trail<ref>{{Cite web|title=Katannilik Territorial Park {{!}} Travel Nunavut|url=https://travelnunavut.ca/things-to-see-do/parks-special-places/katannilik-territorial-park/|access-date=April 20, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420050911/https://travelnunavut.ca/things-to-see-do/parks-special-places/katannilik-territorial-park/|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Nunavut]], The Lake Superior Water Trail<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lake Superior Water Trail {{!}} Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy|url=https://www.superiorconservancy.org/water-trail|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=The LSWC Website|language=en|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420033854/https://www.superiorconservancy.org/water-trail|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Ontario]], The Edmonton River Valley<ref>{{Cite web|last=Edmonton|first=City of|date=April 19, 2021|title=River Valley Parks|url=https://www.edmonton.ca/activities_parks_recreation/parks_rivervalley/river-valley-parks.aspx|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=www.edmonton.ca|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420033853/https://www.edmonton.ca/activities_parks_recreation/parks_rivervalley/river-valley-parks.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Alberta]], and [[Cowichan Valley]] in [[British Columbia]].

On September 14, 2019, the Trans Canada Trail and the Bateman Foundation<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home Page - The Bateman Foundation - Robert Bateman|url=https://batemanfoundation.org/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=The Bateman Foundation|language=en-US|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420035356/https://batemanfoundation.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 16, 2019|title=Join us for Nature Sketch on The Great Trail!|url=https://tctrail.ca/news/nature-sketch-on-the-great-trail/|access-date=June 24, 2021|website=Trans Canada Trail|language=en-US|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211905/https://tctrail.ca/news/nature-sketch-on-the-great-trail/|url-status=live}}</ref> An artist from the Bateman Foundation team led sketching workshops for participants. This event gathered 300 people across Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 17, 2019|title=More than 300 Canadians embrace creativity in the great outdoors|url=https://thegreattrail.ca/stories/more-than-300-canadians-embrace-creativity-in-the-great-outdoors/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=TC Trail|language=en-US|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420033853/https://thegreattrail.ca/stories/more-than-300-canadians-embrace-creativity-in-the-great-outdoors/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2023 documentary film ''[[500 Days in the Wild]]'' portrays the efforts of photographer [[Dianne Whelan]] to travel the entire length of the trail.<ref>Janet Smith, [https://www.createastir.ca/articles/dianne-whelan-500-days-in-the-wild-whistler-film-festival "Dianne Whelan's 500 Days in the Wild captures her epic trek along 24,000-kilometre Trans Canada Trail"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123223522/https://www.createastir.ca/articles/dianne-whelan-500-days-in-the-wild-whistler-film-festival |date=January 23, 2024 }}. ''Stir'', November 29, 2023.</ref>

==Photos==
<gallery>
Trans Canada Trail CYUB.jpg|Trans Canada Trail marker in [[Tuktoyaktuk]], Northwest Territories
Kinsol-Trestle-From-Riverside-Road.JPG|The newly restored [[Kinsol Trestle]], which spans the Koksilah River on Vancouver Island
B050702-35e.jpg|Trans Canada Trail along [[Coal Harbour]] in downtown [[Vancouver]], British Columbia
TransCanadaTrailGrandforksBC.jpg|Trans Canada Trail in [[Grand Forks, British Columbia]]
TransCdaTrailManitoba.jpg|Trans Canada Trail at Silver Springs Park viewed from Birds Hill, [[Rural Municipality of East St. Paul|R.M. of East St. Paul]], Manitoba
Trans Canada Trail Peterborough Ontario.jpg|Trans Canada Trail in winter in [[Peterborough, Ontario]]
Pont Saint Prosper de Champlain 001.jpg|Former railway line ([[Canadian National Railway|CN]])<ref>{{cite web |title=A Century of Our Stories 1919–2019 |url=https://www.cn.ca/en/ |website=Canadian National Railway (CN) |access-date=October 6, 2023 |page=300 |date=2019 |archive-date=December 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206230604/https://www.cn.ca/en/ |url-status=live }}</ref> converted to the Trans Canada Trail, [[Saint-Prosper-de-Champlain, Quebec|Saint-Prosper-de-Champlain]] Bridge, Quebec
Trans Canada Trail Pavilion.jpg|Trans Canada Trail pavilion in [[Fredericton, New Brunswick]]
</gallery>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Canol Heritage Trail]]
* [[Chrysler Canada Greenway]]
* [[Iron Horse Trail, Alberta]]
* [[Iron Horse Trail, Ontario]]
* [[Lake Charles, Nova Scotia#Lake Charles Trail|Lake Charles Trail]]
* [[Musquodoboit Trailway]]
* [[Parc Linéaire Le P'tit Train du Nord]]
* [[Riverfront Trail, Greater Moncton]]
* [[Rideau Trail]]
* [[Trans America Trail]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [http://www.thegreattrail.ca Trans Canada Trail]
* [http://wakamow.tripod.com/transcanadatrail/ Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan section]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}
* [http://www.planetranger.com/transcanada 9953km Trans Canada Trail diary and photos: Victoria to St Johns]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080804040101/http://mapcenter2.cgpsmapper.com/mapview.php?id=1882 Unofficial Trans Canada Trail GPS Map]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090814151328/http://www.mrta.mb.ca/transcnd.html Trans Canada trails in Manitoba]
* [http://www.canadatrails.ca/tct/#MAP A map of the entire trail]

{{Canadian Trails}}
{{Adventure travel}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Trans Canada Trail| ]]
[[Category:Adventure travel]]
[[Category:Rail trails in Canada]]
[[Category:Cycleways in Canada]]
[[Category:Hiking trails in Canada]]
[[Category:Long-distance cycling routes]]
[[Category:150th anniversary of Canada]]