TRAIL DETAILS

Confederation Trail - Morell to St Charles

Touring Region — Points East Coastal Drive
Trail Location — Kings County

Trail Quick Facts
Difficulty Rating: 1.5 
Length: 26.4 km
Structure: Point-to-Point
Marked:
Island Trails Approved:
Environment: Rural
Wilderness
Surface Type: Crushed Aggregate
The Confederation Trail is Prince Edward Island's portion of the Trans Canada Trail. It is a rail trail constructed on the bed of the former Prince Edward Island Railway which opened in 1875 and closed in 1989.  Islanders were quick to notice a unique opportunity and the idea of a tip-to-tip shared-use walking and cycling trail was born and the final link is now in place.  The trail covers almost all of the former rail routes, including the "Tip-to-Tip" route from Tignish to Elmira (273 km).  Branch trails extend the trail to over 350km including Borden-Carleton (18 km); the Charlottetown spur (8 km); the Georgetown branch (39 km); the Montague spur (10 km); the Souris spur (9 km); and Iona to Murray Harbour (36 km).  The entire trail is owned and managed by the province of PEI as a part of the Provincial Parks system.

Approximate Time to Complete —  6 hours 30 minutes
Times are estimated assuming that the average person travels 4km/hr.
Time should be added for significant elevation gain/loss.
Associated Trails or Sections
Information & History
Crossing route 2, the trail follows the Morell River to its mouth on St. Peter's Bay.  The longest remaining bridge (235') on the trail crosses the river with fabulous views up the estuary and across the bay toward Greenwich.  This was once a "swing" bridge, opening to allow vessels to come up to the village and the gears are still visible on the round pier under the western end.  This is a salmon and trout fishing stream.
From there, the trail parallels the edge of the bay, following the headlands and coves.  The brackish bay supports the blue mussel fishing industry and neat rows of white buoys dot much of the surface. Long vistas down the shoreline allow shorebird watching.  

Km 224.3 - The next deep cove is the mouth of the Marie River and another bridge which  Kingfishers use for fishing. The Cemetery Road crosses the trail, ending on a small peninsula where mussel mud was once collected to use for fertilizer.  The railway built a short spur down to the shore for loading the mud and delivery to farms in the area.  The peninsula also contains a small pond favoured for duck hunting.

Km 226.9 - The third bridge along the bay crosses the Midgell River, near the highway. St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church has been visible for much of the trek up the edge of the bay.  The trail skirts the edge of the St. Peter's Park campground as it moves into the community.  This 10 km. section is the longest stretch in the province along the water.  The majority of trail is inland, since railway builders sought to reduce costs by avoiding expensive bridge projects.

Km 230.5 - St. Peter's Bay (originally known as Head of St. Peter's Bay) developed on both sides of the water.  A recent P.E.I. Tourist Bureau is located in the former station area which supplies parking for trail users.  The old railway station has been transformed into the Circle Club for senior citizens. The head of the bay is also the mouth of the St. Peter's River and a footbridge across the river above the highway bridge makes an excellent shore- and water-bird watching area.  It connects to a new commercial development near the fire station.  An adjoining trail will eventually connect to the Greenwich peninsula and the adjunct to the PEI National Park.
The trail crosses the St. Peter's River on an elevated bridge as it proceeds inland.  Large clumps of marsh marigolds flourish in the ditches and wet woodlands in the early spring.
Crossing route 2 once again at Five Houses, the trail moves into deep woodland.  Cow Creek is an extensive wetland featuring a beaver house amid drowned trees. Watch for ducks and woodpeckers. Further along is a trail shelter beside a spring used by the steam trains.  The square concrete-pad foundation indicates a former water tower. Watch for ruffed grouse as you proceed through mixed woodlands, especially in spring.  

Km 242.9 - Larkin's Pond, between Selkirk and St. Charles, is one of the larger bodies of fresh water in the province.  It was created by a dam on the Naufrage River.  Geese and ducks and perhaps a loon may be seen here and it is a popular resting spot. Some wood duck boxes are mounted at water's edge. Watch also for northern parula warblers in the low trees along the bank of the trail.  

Shelters: km., 222.2, 226.5, 230.5, 236.4, 242.9
Albums
Confederation Trail »
Friday, August 31, 2007  (44 images)