Great Trail in Canada, linking up 24,000 km worth of cycling routes, finally completed

The Great Trail in Canada, linking up 24,000 km worth of cycling, hiking and canoeing routes, has finally reached completion.

The trail is now fully connected, although further development is still ongoing in certain sections.

The project, started as the Trans Canada Trail in 1992, has been 25 years in the making.

As we reported in 2016, only the final 10-15 per cent of the trail was left to join up in time for Canada’s 150th birthday.

“I’m stoked, the Trans Canada Trail is now 100 per cent connected,” tweeted Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna.

It’s now the world’s single longest network of recreational trails, having begun construction in 1992 and is scheduled to be completed by 2017, just in time for Canada’s 150th anniversary.

But some users say that there are still lots of concerns to be ironed out - hardly surprising in a project of this scale.

Richard Roussey, from British Columbia, said: “On the face of it, it seems like a dream come true.
“The reality not so much. To date it is a hodge podge of local trails, some paved, most not paved. Some limited to bikes and pedestrians.

“Some are 'Oops, you have to use the highway for 35 kilometers because...canyon'

“One section that I know of close by was arbitrarily designated part of the trail, but is actually prohibited to bicycles!”