Confederation Trail

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Confederation Trail is the name for a 470 kilometre recreational 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 (CN).

Comprising almost the total mileage of the historic Prince Edward Island Railway, development of the Confederation Trail was discussed by a number of rails to trails advocacy groups in the province in the early 1990s, culminating in the decision by the provincial government to purchase the entire railway right-of-way from CN in 1994 after CN had removed all track.

In addition to provincial government employees, the development of the Confederation Trail was assisted by the Trans-Canada Trail foundation, and by various community groups, volunteers, and Canadian Armed Forces engineers who have volunteered in reconstructing abandoned railway bridges for recreational trail use across Canada in the past decade.

Since its completion from Tignish to Elmira in 2000, the Confederation Trail has proven a popular recreational trail for residents and tourists. Given its railway heritage, the trail has little to no grades and is well drained. Stone dust has been placed over the traditional railway crushed rock ballast, giving a surface suitable for walking/running, biking, and horse-back riding. No motorized vehicles are permitted on the trail, although during the winter months, the provincial government leases the trails to the provincial snowmobile federation which provides grooming for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

The entire trail system is marked with kilometre posts and directional and interpretive signage, as well as benches, picnic table shelters, and scenic look-offs throughout. The trail winds through Prince Edward Island's scenic agricultural and forested landscapes and is frequently crossed by public roads.

Although highly unlikely in Prince Edward Island's case, the concept of "rails to trails" is based on the premise that abandoned rail corridors should be preserved as recreational trails in order to "rail bank" these transportation arteries should the need for a future conversion back to rail usage arise. Prince Edward Island will likely not see this occur as the connection to the North American rail network was removed on May 31, 1997 when the ferry system to the mainland that had been used for carrying rail traffic was replaced with the Confederation Bridge.

[edit] Currently completed

Currently, the Confederation Trail has several major routes:

  • Main Trail: Tignish - Elmira (279 km, official map says 273.4 km)

Branch Trails:

  • Emerald to Borden-Carlton Trail: Emerald Junction - Borden (19 km)
  • Royalty Junction to Charlottetown Trail: Royalty/Brackley - Charlottetown (9 km)
  • Georgetown to Mount Stewart: Mount Stewart - Georgetown (39 km)
  • Montague Junction to Montague Trail: Montague Junction - Montague (10 km)
  • Harmony Junction to Souris Trail: Harmony Junction - Souris (9 km)

Note: Currently, these two sections are not connected via a trailway.
There is a roughly 20 km-long section currently under construction from Mt. Stewart south to Lake Verde. The Trail is planned to be linked directly to the Wood Islands Trail along the Iona to Murray Harbour Trail.

  • Iona to Murray Harbour Trail:
    • Iona - Murray River (27 km, meets Wood Islands Spur at km 17)
    • Murray River - Murray Harbour (7 km).
    • Total length of Iona to Murray Harbour Trail: 35.5 km
    • Wood Islands Spur: Wood Islands Road/Iona to Murray Harbour Trail - Wood Islands (3.9 km)

During the early 2000s, the provincial government has built a new section of non-railway trail between the ferry terminal at Wood Islands to the former railway line running between Maple Hill Junction (near Mount Stewart Junction) and Murray Harbour.

[edit] Currently building

With over 75% of total railway mileage transformed into recreational trails, the provincial government is currently working at rebuilding the railway lines west of Murray River to Lake Verde Junction and eventually Mount Stewart Junction, although this portion of the railway right-of-way was leased to local landowners in the early 1990s by CN prior to provincial ownership. The lease expires in 2015 when it is expected full trail development will take place on these remaining sections, including the rebuilding of several bridges.

The last portions of the trail which have yet to open include:

  • Maple Hill Junction - Murray River (70 km)
  • Lake Verde Junction - Vernon Bridge (8 km)
  • Lake Verde Junction - Southport/Mount Stewart (20 km, currently under construction)
  • St. Eleanors - Slemon Park (3 km) (north of Summerside.

[edit] External links


Flag of Canada Hiking Trails in Canada edit
Bruce Trail | Canol Heritage Trail | Chilkoot Trail | Confederation Trail | Galloping Goose Regional Trail | International Appalachian Trail | Iron Horse Trail | Mantario Trail | Oak Ridges Trail | Rideau Trail | Trans Canada Trail | Waterfront Trail | West Coast Trail | Wildside
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