Since the pandemic took over the world, more and more people have gotten into the outdoors. Spending as much time in nature as possible since that’s essentially the only thing you can do anyways. However, if you live in Canada then you’re in luck. The Great Trail is a long-time project of connecting all the small hiking trails into one singular grand trail. You will find every element of nature and terrain on this path. As it’s finally come to fruition, it is declared the world’s longest hiking trail as of 2017.
The World’s Longest Hiking Trail
Spanning over 16,777 miles across Canada, the world’s longest hiking trail consists of many twists and turns. Some require you to actually canoe or kayak across since some of this trail is made of water. To put things into perspective, The Great Trail contains 400 small trails connected together. Some pass through urbanized areas while other parts give you more scenic views. You’ll be able to visit major cities such as Calgary, Victoria, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax. That’s a lot of cities for a hiking trail to pass through!
However, there’s an abundance of nature that you will hike through before. On some of the other trails, you get to witness tall mountains, breathtaking lakes, stretching plains, lonesome islands, and even the arctic tundra. Even though you may feel like you’re extremely far away from civilization, you’re a lot closer than you think. Fortunately, there’s at least somebody located about a half-hour away from the trails. So you won’t have to fret too much if you find yourself in a bit of a pinch.
To give you a better idea, The Great Trail passes through 10 provinces as well as 2 of the 3 territories located in Canada. In a collaborative effort, each and every trail is tended to by the immediate locals. Which gives peace of mind to people since the world’s longest hiking trail needs a lot of love. Additionally, through the power of donations to the Montreal-based non-profit Trans Canada Trail, does a tremendous job in maintaining The Great Trail. This has been a lifelong project for the citizens of Canada as the idea dates all the way back to 1992. Volunteers have made this dream a reality and want everybody to treat The Great Trail with the respect it deserves.
Meant For All Walks Of Life
What’s even more incredible about the world’s longest hiking trail is that it is meant for everybody. If you want to hike, run, swim, bike, kayak, canoe, etc. You can do virtually anything you want on the trails. You just have to pick a spot and start your outdoor adventure. Additionally, if you love horseback riding, there are multiple trails dedicated to that. You’ll also be able to explore the Mackenzie River Trail, Lake Superior Water Trail, as well as the Yukon trail. Depending on the season or trail you’re at, there’s also snowmobiling allowed as well as cross-country skiing.
However, you may want to be a little strategic if you’re going in blindly on The Great Trail. If you’re looking for a decent starting point, Edmonton acts as a crossroads for you. Of course, that’s if you’re heading east to west. You’re given two different paths and they are marked with specific color coordination. Red indicates which trails have gaps that are connected now. Blue indicates that these trails are the most water intensive. Lastly, green tells you which trails have the most travelable land.
If you plan on going south from Edmonton, you’ll be able to pass through the Rocky Mountains all the way to Calgary and then ending in Vancouver Island. However, if you choose the northern path, you’ll pass through British Columbia and Alberta all the way to the Yukon. Going through the northwestern territories and all the way to the Arctic Ocean. Additionally, if you do decide to take the water trails, you’ll most likely need heavy warm clothing. It is the Great White North after all.
Be Prepared On The World’s Longest Hiking Trail
It should go without saying, especially if you’re a well-traveled person, you will need to be prepared in every capacity. Although there are some places for you to recuperate along The Great Trail, there are some areas not so forgiving. If you plan on taking the subarctic trails with all the water routes, you will not find convenient spots to catch your breath. These trails are considered to be some of the more dangerous and physically demanding ones out of them all. Simply because you have to know what you’re doing in case of an emergency.
This also includes if you plan on going snowmobiling, you aren’t allowed to bring any other motorized vehicles. You’ll want to have all the necessities for your trip and anyone else you plan on bringing with you. It is ideal that you take care of the trails you plan to travel on. Even with a large volunteer force maintaining the trail, it’s up to you to take responsibility. This includes being mindful of your trash, tampering with the trails in any way, and being respectful to the surrounding wildlife. The Great Trail may have been made for humans to explore and have fun. However, there are a vast number of ecosystems and animals that live there too. We can achieve coexistence with nature if we are being mindful of these certain things.
If you wish to donate, please visit the donation page for The Great Trail. You’ll be able to find more information as to how you can help as well as setting up your next trip!
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References
- “The Great Trail of Canada.” The Great Trail.
- “Together, we can keep The Great Trail’s outdoor spaces safe and healthy for everyone to enjoy!” The Great Trail.
- “Canada Opens World’s Longest Hiking Trail That Stretches Coast to Coast.” Tree Hugger. Matt Hickman. July 26, 2019.