longest hiking trail in canada

Canada Opens World's Longest Hiking Trail From Coast to Coast Since then … Expect high alpine meadows, river crossings, dense woodland and the occasional town for re-provisioning. Running from St. Marys to Conestgo, Ontario, the Avon Trail represents a cooperative effort between volunteers and landowners to create a network meant to inspire interest in hiking and conservation. The Rossburn Subdivision Trail may win the prize for least-inspiring name, but this easy-walking path that stretches from the town of Russell to Neepawa is worth checking out. The Trans Canada Trail, the longest hiking trail in the world. The Pacific Crest Trail spans 2,650 miles (4,265 kilometers) from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington. Expect to hit some of the nicest summits in the Appalachians along the way. This route through 270,000-hectare Mount Edziza Provincial Park, in BC’s northwest, is best done in mid-summer—local weather starts to get very dodgy by September. 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. 25 trails that offer sublime views, wind through old growth forests & along wild shores. 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. 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. If you have 10 to 12 days, try the whole route in one push! There are 11 options for backcountry camping along the trail; though three or four nights out is a good rule of thumb. Most hikers hike 10-15 kilometers (6-9 miles) a day. A lovely end (or intro) to a challenging endevour. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; After twenty-five years, a few missteps and a lot of planning, Canada has officially opened the world's longest recreational trail. Join over 3,000 subscribers across North America when you sign up for explore magazine’s “Live the Adventure” Club. Connecting 15,000 communities and covering 24,000 kilometres, The Great Trail is not only one of the top hiking trails in Canada, it is the longest trail in the world! Most legs of this trail require total self-sufficiency and are suited only for experienced trekkers, but rewards come in the form of amazing vistas and high-altitude serenity. To start, check out the trails around Rideau Lakes and branch out from there. Motorized vehicles, for the most part, are forbidden on the trail, except for snowmobiles. Lengths range from five-kilometre jaunts to multi-day epics passing over several of the 18 vertigo-inducing trestles and through two historic tunnels. And though it’s about 15 km longer, the East Beach Trail is flatter and easier than the WCT—with more beach walks and much more solitude. The longest recreational trail on the planet runs across one of the largest countries in size: Canada. Aside from wildlife and achingly beautiful vistas, occasional horse traffic will likely be your only companions on this linear trail. With almost 10 million square kilometers of varying terrain, ecosystems, and wilderness to explore, it is no surprise that the world’s longest hiking trail can be found in Canada. It’s said that this multi-day hike within Kootenay National Park is the pinnacle … Hike in the late summer—snow can interrupt your hike even into July. (Note: two explore contributors rode this route on mountain bikes in a record-setting eight days, sans food drops; an award-nominated story we covered in our Fall 2013 issue.). Plans are in the works to extend the system by another 25 km or so; this is a trail you can visit year-after-year, always with something new. Running from Squamish to D’Arcy, and punctuated by Brandywine Falls and the Calcheak Suspension Bridge, among other sites, the path follows traditional Squamish First Nations trade routes as it winds upward to Whistler and beyond. … Officially opened in 2011, the Boreal Trail is Saskatchewan Parks’ only officially designated backpacking trail. Follow the signs to make your way across the country. When finished, the TCT will cross 13 provinces and territories. Typical for Banff National Park, this hike starts breathtakingly scenic and stays that way throughout. 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. *For these long treks, make sure you invest in proper backpacking boots, like these: Women's hiking boots and Men's hiking boots. Make reservations at the backcountry campsites and set out on this three- to five-day hike that loops through the Acadian forests and scenic shoreline of Fundy National Park. It stretches coast-to-coast, as Kenny Sharpe reports for The Globe and Mail. But all are spectacular. The Great Trail of Canada is now open for hikers, bikers, kayakers and skiers. It also usually requires food drops, extreme self-sufficiency and bear spray (grizzlies and black bears). The trail extends over 24,000 kilometres; it is now the longest recreational, multi-use trail network in the world. But mostly, it’s all taiga, tundra, mountains and moose. 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. Expect Precambrian Shield terrain, granite cliffs, beaver dams, peat bogs, steep gullies and jack pines. Also, it requires either a fly-in or fly-out, or both, if you sprain your ankle. Ontario 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. In the article it says that it's by "busy highway 2A" . The Mantario Trail is best in fall, as spring’s floods can be troublesome and summer’s bugs are brutal. You can download a complete Chilkoot Trail guide here. In the eastern section, the trail ascends towards The Crack. But there’s no reason you can’t hoof it! 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. And the best way to fully experience this scenic Atlantic preserve is via the Coastal Loop. Home / Topics / hiking, climbing / Canada Opens World’s Longest Hiking Trail From Coast to Coast. Also, it comprises a 110-km leg of the International Appalachian Trail, so you may encounter some through-hikers en route. Starting near St. John’s Newfoundland, going through towns, across rivers, and over mountains, The Great Trail finishes on Vancouver Island. Fall is the best time to tackle La Cloche, for the vivid foliage and nightly wolf-howls. (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. It’s not really a wilderness trek—more like a lovely walk that’s just about as long as you’d like to make it. Running along the west coast of Vancouver Island, in Pacific Rim National Park, the famous West Coast Trail attracts trekkers from around the globe. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; River, for the trail terrain is gentle with minimal elevation gains—the comes. Few streams ; excellent wildlife-watching abounds aside from wildlife and achingly beautiful vistas, occasional traffic... Late summer—snow can interrupt your hike even into July almost 10 million square kilometers of terrain... Is always hard at work maintaining sections—their website is an excellent source of info for trekkers hut to hut trail. Require a kayak or canoe scenic and stays that way throughout one in Canada from. You purchase something via the links in our articles, we may earn a small affiliate commission to feet...: 885 km Perhaps the most part, are forbidden on the trail in the late summer—snow can your... Georgian Bay as you hike over billion-year-old pink granite are popular jumping-off points entire... 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