What is the Trans-Canada Trail?

The Trans-Canada Trail (the Great Trail) is the longest multi-use recreational trail in the world, stretching about 28,000 kilometres across all 13 Canadian provinces and territories from coast to coast to coast (Atlantic to Pacific to Arctic Oceans). The Trail was substantially completed and connected on August 26, 2017 in time for Canada's 150th birthday celebrations. Major founder Pierre Camu envisioned the Trail in 1992, and the Trans-Canada Trail Foundation was incorporated in 1992 to coordinate development. The Trail combines walking, cycling, horseback riding, paddling, snowmobile, cross-country skiing, and other activities depending on the section.

The Trans-Canada Trail Foundation (now Trans Canada Trail) is a registered national charity that has coordinated Trail development since 1992. Trail design has used existing trails (Trans-Canada Highway service roads, abandoned rail lines, provincial parks trails, regional trails, and others) plus purpose-built segments. The Trail combines about 14,000 kilometres of land trails and about 14,000 kilometres of water trails (paddle routes through the Great Lakes, Mackenzie River system, Yukon River, and other bodies of water). About 80 per cent of Canadians live within 30 minutes of the Trail.

The Trail's connection on August 26, 2017 marked Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation. About 25,000 dollars in Canada 150 grants funded final-connection projects across the country. Federal funding for the Trail (beginning with the 2002 Liberal federal budget commitment of about 10 million dollars and continuing through subsequent governments) has totalled about 100 million dollars by 2024. Provincial governments, regional trail associations, and private donations have contributed additional funding. The federal Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program supported about 80,000 Canadian volunteer hours toward Trail development.

Major Trail features include the Confederation Trail in Prince Edward Island (the world's longest Confederation-to-Confederation Trail running 273 kilometres from Tignish to Elmira, including the famed spans across many of PEI's railway bridges); the Path of the Iroquois Loop in Ontario (a National Indigenous-themed segment); the Great Bear Rainforest section in British Columbia (a globally significant temperate rainforest ecosystem); and many Indigenous-led sections including Cree-language interpretive signage on the prairies and Inuit ecological knowledge integration in the North. The Trail is operated by Trans Canada Trail in partnership with provincial and regional trail associations and Indigenous nations whose territories the Trail crosses. The Great Trail app and online maps support users navigating the Trail.