2017 is a BIG year for Canada. They are celebrating their 150th birthday (sesquicentennial), they’ve been named as the second best country to live in for the second year running, and they’ve just been named as #1 country in the world in 2017 for quality of life.
And to add to, and mark these achievements, they’ve just announced that the ‘longest trail system in the world’ is now officially complete.
Twenty-five years ago (during their 125th birthday celebrations), a small group of visionaries had a dream to connect Canada and its people with a multi-use recreational trail. Now, The Great Trail, which stretches almost 15,000 miles (24,000 km), is finally connected.
When we stand on The Great Trail, there is one common element that unites us from coast to coast to coast. It’s the view that all those travelling the Trail share – the horizon. This view is full of possibilities, discovery and adventure, linking 15,000 communities along 24,000 km. To follow the horizon along The Great Trail is to discover the beauty of Canada. Its vanishing point leads us across our country, through the wild, the rural and the urban, by waterways, roadways and footpaths.
Canada is a huge country. Massive really. The second biggest in the world, in fact. So the idea that there is now a pedestrian trail (not a road) that connects from one end to the other is absolutely astounding. Ocean-to-ocean, border-to-border, whether you are looking for a place to hike, cycle, paddle, ride, cross-country ski or snowmobile, you can find an experience that resonates with you. The Great Trail offers a wide range of activities through a variety of landscapes – urban, rural and wilderness, along greenways, waterways and roadways. The Trail is a free resource open to all and chances are it can be found in any neighbourhood. Regardless of how you choose to experience it, the result is a connection with the outdoors, one another and yourselves.
This interactive map is incredibly detailed and lets you engage with the trail in an easy and fun way. You can focus on small stretches of the trail, see photos, and learn about the trail type in that area as well as the history of its build. Or you can download their app and have the map on your phone at all times.
The not-for-profit organization, Trans Canada Trail, was created in 1992 and has continued to expand through the consistent generosity of donors. Something you can become by giving to the trail right here.
