PAT LEE
Cycling is the new golf in Prince Edward Island, or so some have said. Although this might spark a lively debate, the sentiment does speak to the rise in popularity of exploring the postcard-perfect Maritime island on two wheels.
And it makes perfect sense with its jewel of the Confederation Trail – part of the newly branded national Great Trail – providing a tip-to-tail 273-km jaunt across the island from Tignish in the northwest to Elmira in the east.
Another 162 km of branch trails take you into Charlottetown and other waterside communities like Souris, Georgetown, Montague, Wood Islands, Murray River, or Murray Harbour.
In between is a gorgeous landscape of rolling fields, seaside cliffs, gentle woods, tiny villages, fishing wharves, and white sand beaches.
Oh, and golf courses too. Cycle it in bite-size pieces or take on the challenge of traversing the island (and get a certificate to say that you did) – either way it’s an amazing way to explore the province.
“It’s a wonderful place to cycle,” says Ruth DeLong, P.E.I.’s trails community relations co-ordinator, who acted as a tour guide on our recent exploration of the trail.
“A lot of people who come here are coming from a lot of pavement and concrete. They get out here and there’s just so much green and peacefulness and it really restores the soul.” Amen.
Five reasons to cycle on P.E.I.
1 The trail itself is in fantastic shape since it’s provincially managed and maintained (including filling in holes made by squirrels!). Motorized vehicles are banned during the summer months, with the trail system handed over to snowmobilers from Dec. 1 to March 31. Since it’s a rails-to-trails system, the main trail never exceeds a 2% grade up or down, making it a doable and safe outing for riders of all ages and ability. There are plenty of rest stops with benches and picnic tables and signage is clear and easy to follow. Interpretive signs also point out areas of interest.
2 The side branches are also fun to explore, although you may encounter a few hills on these jaunts (hello Hunter River!) so plan accordingly if that’s an issue. But treks into the coastal communities of Montague or Summerside are well worth the effort. Thanks to the proximity of towns, villages and visitors centres, it’s easy to find places to grab a bite to eat, use washroom facilities or spend the night.
3 The scenery is a main reason folks travel to the island and a cycling outing will only enhance that experience with views of everything from farms to fishing communities just around the next bend. One of the best parts about travelling by bike is the pace, which allows you to take in everything around you, including fields of lupins waving in a coastal breeze to colourful fishing boats bobbing in the bay. On P.E.I. there’s much beauty to behold.
4 The trail also leads you to many parks and beaches, including Prince Edward Island National Park on the north shore that has 50 km of its own bike trails to explore. Of course, once in the park, you’re steps away from gorgeous white sand beaches, sweeping sand dunes and other seaside attractions. Be sure to pack your bathing suit.
5 If trail riding is not your thing, the province has also mapped out five road routes, as well as various parks that provide mountain biking opportunities, including the Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park, described as the “mecca” of mountain biking on the island.
NEED TO KNOW
P.E.I. cycling: tourismpei.com/peicycling
Confederation Trail: tourismpei.com/peiconfederation-trail
Prince Edward Island National Park: tourismpei.com/peinational-park
Tourism P.E.I.: tourismpei.com
Published September 2018 in the Toronto Sun