Tired of your usual cottage-country rambles? Looking for a great long-distance trail adventure? Strap on your multiday pack and tackle one of these bucket listers.
East Coast Trail
The east coast of Newfoundland, along the Atlantic Ocean
Length: 265 km (plus 275 km “undeveloped”)
Slog-o-meter: Varies by section
Known for: Icebergs, whales, and lighthouses (oh my!)
Cool feature: Cape Spear, on the Avalon Peninsula, is the easternmost point in Canada
More info: eastcoasttrail.ca
Great Lakes Seaway Trail
The shores of Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River
Length: 830 km
Slog-o-meter: Easy
Known for: Grapes, both wine and table; the Lake Erie area is the largest Concord grape region in the world.
Cool feature: History alert! The area along the trail was a key front in the War of 1812
More info: seawaytrail.com
Coastal Hiking Trail
The Lake Superior shore, in Pukaskwa National Park
Length: 60 km
Slog-o-meter: Moderately hard
Known for: Beautiful vistas of the world’s largest freshwater lake
Cool feature: Pukaskwa park staff set out recorders in spring and summer to capture birdsong; they have recorded 47 species so far, including two species at risk
More info: pc.gc.ca/pukaskwa
West Coast Trail
The southwestern edge of Vancouver Island, in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
Length: 75 km
Slog-o-meter: Tough
Known for: Its “hiking Holy Grail” status; oh, and rain (it’s the Pacific Northwest)
Cool feature: The Graveyard of the Pacific, site of some of the most famous shipwrecks in Canada
More info: pc.gc.ca/pacificrim
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