Trans Canada Trail
Encyclopedia
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The creation of the trail was announced as part of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992. It is expected that when complete, it will be the longest recreational trail in the world. It has its counterparts in other greenway
Greenway
-People:* Barney Greenway , British death metal vocalist* Brian Greenway , Canadian guitarist and vocalist* Chad Greenway , American football player* Francis Greenway , Australian architect...
routes like the 12 EuroVelo
EuroVelo
]EuroVelo, the European cycle route network, is a project of the European Cyclists' Federation to develop 13 long-distance cycle routes crossing Europe. The total length is , of which more than are in place....
routes and the USA's East Coast Greenway
East Coast Greenway
The East Coast Greenway, or ECG, is a project to create a nearly urban path linking the major cities of the Atlantic coast of the United States, from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida, for non-motorized human transportation...
.
To date it has been funded largely by Canadian federal or provincial governments. There have also been corporate donors and individual donors. It is still under construction and, as of 2009, is about 70% complete. The first province to have completed its designated section of the trail is Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
(see Confederation Trail
Confederation Trail
Confederation Trail is the name for a 470 kilometre recreational rail trail system in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island.It was developed in the 1990s, following the December 31, 1989 abandonment of all railway lines in the province by Canadian National Railway .-Description and...
).
Much of the trail has been built as a walking trail along defunct rail lines donated to provincial governments by CP and CN
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
rail. As such, much of the Trans Canada Trail development emulated the successful Rails-to-Trails initiative in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, whereby these transportation corridors are "rail banked" as recreational trails, allowing conversion back to rail should future need arise. Other areas such as the large Kinsol Trestle
Kinsol Trestle
The Kinsol Trestle, also known as the Koksilah River Trestle, is a wooden railway trestle located on Vancouver Island north of Shawnigan Lake in the Canadian Province of British Columbia...
on Vancouver Island need expensive renovations to make the development and continuation possible.
Some parts of the Trans Canada Trail run along existing trails such as the Rideau Trail
Rideau Trail
The Rideau Trail is a hiking trail in Ontario, Canada, linking Ottawa and Kingston. Crossing both public and private lands, the trail was created and opened in 1971. It is named for the Rideau Canal which also connects Ottawa and Kingston, although the two only occasionally connect. The trail...
and Voyageur Hiking Trail
Voyageur Hiking Trail
The Voyageur Hiking Trail is a public hiking trail between Sudbury and Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario, Canada. The name honours the early European fur traders of the region who traveled largely by canoe and were known as 'voyageurs’ and ‘coureurs des bois’ The trail is used by all ages and levels...
, or along the trail system of parks such as Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park is a park located in the National Capital Region, in Quebec's Outaouais region, just north of Ottawa, Ontario. Administered by the National Capital Commission, the park is a 361 km² wedge of land to the west of the Gatineau River...
. Other parts of the right-of-way for the Trans Canada Trail have been paid for by individual donations. For $50 any person can have their name inscribed on a metre of trail and more than a hundred thousand people have done so.
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 which runs through Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
to Edmonton and then up through northern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
.
The trail is a multi-use trail, and depending on the section may allow hikers
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, bicyclists
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
, horseback riders, cross country skiers, all-terrain vehicle
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
s and snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
rs. In theory, the trail is equipped with regularly spaced pavilions which provide shelter as well as fresh water to travellers, but this varies widely from section to section, and particularly from province to province. In fact the quality, use and maintenance of the trails is quite different in different jurisdictions.
"Mile Zero" of the Trail is located outside the Railway Coastal Museum
Railway Coastal Museum
The Railway Coastal Museum is a transportation museum located in St. John's, Newfoundland. It is located in the historic Newfoundland Railway Station on Water Street and contains exhibits detailing the history of the Newfoundland Railway and the history of coastal water transportation in the...
in St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
.
See also
- Canol Heritage TrailCanol Heritage TrailThe Canol Heritage Trail is a 355 km trail running from Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, through the Mackenzie Mountains, to the Yukon border. Because of its remoteness, length and river crossings, it is considered one of the most challenging trails in Canada...
- Canol RoadCanol RoadThe Canol Road was part of a project to build a pipeline and a road from Norman Wells, Northwest Territories to Whitehorse, Yukon during World War II. The pipeline no longer exists, but the long Yukon portion of the road is maintained by the Yukon Government during summer months...
- Chrysler Canada GreenwayChrysler Canada GreenwayThe Chrysler Canada Greenway is a 42 km-long rail trail in Essex County, Ontario, stretching from Oldcastle, Ontario to Leamington, Ontario.- History :...
- Iron Horse Trail, Alberta
- Iron Horse Trail, OntarioIron Horse Trail, OntarioThe Iron Horse Trail was once the rail link running between Waterloo and Kitchener. It has been converted to a bicycle and walking trail. It covers a distance of 5.5 kilometres . The rail trail was opened on October 5, 1997 on an abandoned Canadian Pacific Railway line...
- Lake Charles Trail
- Newfoundland T'RailwayNewfoundland T'RailwayThe Newfoundland T'Railway Provincial Park is a rail trail in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Protected as a linear park under the provincial park system, the T'Railway consists of the railbed of the historic Newfoundland Railway as transferred from its most recent owner,...
- Rail trailRail trailA rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...