Island Trails

Hiking & Cycling Trails | Prince Edward Island

Winter River Hiking Trail

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The Winter River Hiking Trail is located only 5 km from Charlottetown.

At the trailhead, the Winter River Hiking Trail heads off northerly, through the white spruce thicket, emerging shortly onto a woods road. There is a family of rabbits just north of the parking lot, dining on the colourful mushrooms in the vicinity. The road soon plunges again into white spruce over gently rolling terrain, except where it approaches the Winter River ravine via spurs, to catch the view. Small feeder streams are bridged and wet spots have boardwalks. A few mature white pine are found, including one patriarch 70 feet to 80 feet tall and 24 inches diameter at shoulder height. A 1,000 ft. boardwalk extends over what was a marshy area along the eastern boundary of the trail.

At the river lookouts you should look for great blue herons and bitterns among the shore reeds and grasses. As the river opens up toward Winter Bay, you may see various waterfowl offshore. In the woods you will see many songbirds, squirrels, and rabbits, maybe a fox, and evidence of coyotes.

This is an easy walk, of under 7 km with well protected snowshoeing terrain.

Selkirk Forest Walking Trail

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The Selkirk Forest Walking Trail is found in King’s County on route 23 (Selkirk Road) between 205 (Colville Rd) and 204 (Gairloch Rd). The name derives from the Selkirk Settlers who arrived from Scotland to settle the area beginning in the early 1800s. Today, the woodlot on which the trail is located is public land under the management of MacPhail Woods Ecological Forestry Project.  

The trail is one of amazing diversity covering approximately 6 km in a large loop with two smaller offshoot loops that add both interest and distance, as well as a couple of cross-tracks to shorten the main loop for those wanting an abbreviated walk. The trail begins from the parking area by heading north through some old white spruce to the tributaries of the Montague River. While following the course of the river west, a springtime walk will reward you with views along the riparian zone such as marsh marigolds, ferns, and many other beautiful plants making their seasonal debut. With a sharp eye you might spot a frog or newt, and as you move along the trail, there are many varied and sometimes colourful fungi, particularly as fall arrives.  

A boardwalk will take you to the other side of the river and eventually to a spectacular mature grove of eastern hemlocks….  a favorite spot for a snack break while just enjoying nature’s majesty! Leaving the hemlock grove, try to spot the rare hobblebush with its beautiful white flowers in early summer, and red berries in fall. In addition to the hobblebush, Selkirk is also home to other rare native plants including witch hazel and black ash. As you cross the bridge you may spot some recent evidence of beavers, or even meet up with a ruffed grouse.  

Passing through the back of the woodlot will take you to a wonderful beech forest….  always beautiful, but really quite spectacular in winter as the rust leaves hang on the trees long after snow has fallen. At the next junction, a loop allows one to walk along an old forestry road flanked with yellow birch, including a couple of huge old grand-daddies that are particularly impressive! Some of the old growth trees of Selkirk have been known to attract both barred owls, and the rare pileated woodpecker.   

The return trek towards the parking area will take you through a pine monoculture, and sections of old agricultural lands now infilled with white spruce. Enroute you may notice some of MacPhail’s ongoing stewardship for sustainable forest management and restoration of the native Acadian Forest. The creation of clearings allows for the planting of original species seedlings. 

In addition to all this, Selkirk Forest is the seasonal home to many birds, and to such an extent that the woodland has been the site of an annual bird banding program as part of monitoring avian species and their habitat.  

The Selkirk Forest really is one spectacular out-of-doors classroom for all to enjoy! It’s a trail for all seasons, to be experienced with sneakers, boots, and yes, definitely snowshoes; but not bikes as by its very nature it is strictly a walking trail only….  thanks, and enjoy your walk. 

International Appalachian Trail

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The International Appalachian Trail goes north from Mt. Kataden, ME into New Brunswick, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. The PEI section starts in Borden and runs along the Confederation Trail east to Mt. Stewart, then south through the Dromore Woodland Trail and then east through Gairloch and on the Wood Island. 150 km.

The trail is a good way to check out several legs of the Confederation Trail, including the Emerald line, the line from Emerald Junction to Mt. Stewart, and then segments of the Georgetown line. Just after Mt. Stewart the IAT goes south through Dromore and on the Wood Islands.

Dunelands Trail

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This well-maintained gravel trail, which is part of the PEI national park trail network, goes east from Cavendish Beach to the Gulf Shore Parkway trail. You can also connect on the west side to the Cavendish Grove trail and further west to the Homestead Trail. The trail features a floating boardwalk and many views of the Cavendish dune system. There is also a great view of Cavendish beach at the western end of the trail.

Rackham’s Pond Trail

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The Rackham’s Pond trail begins near the parking area at Rackham’s Pond and follows the west bank of the Wheatley River upstream for about a kilometer. In the first section, the trail is up the bank from the river and is mainly treed. In the next section, the trail curves down next to the water’s edge and is mainly tall grasses. The trail ends where the river forks; there is no loop at this time, so you have to turn around and come back along the same trail. Some features to take note of: tree swallow nesting boxes, wood duck nesting boxes, osprey nesting platform, and in-stream bank restoration structures. Please be respectful of the land and landowners who have allowed us to walk along their private properties.

Trout River, Coleman

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Whether you like to try some sport fishing or just take a relaxing walk along a nature trail, the Trout River Natural Area is the spot for you. Located on Route 2 in Coleman, this 2.5 km linear trail follows the provincially important Trout River, now a protected natural area. Watch for stinging nettles for the first kilometre, where the trail passes through a former pond. This trail also features the provincially uncommon white baneberry as well as a variety of songbirds. Wooden benches provide rest stops along the way and footbridges over wet areas will keep your feet dry.

West Point Hiking Trail

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Cedar Dunes Provincial Park and Campground is where you’ll find natural Island scenery, walking trails, recreational areas, woodland, and 100 acres of designated camping/RV space. Here, our dunes are populated by Eastern White Cedars – an extremely rare natural occurrence and a defining characteristic of the park. Our fully serviced waterside camping area provides outdoor necessities including firewood, drinking water, and a Laundromat, as well as a brilliant backdrop for your camping excursion. Reservations accepted after April 1.

Riverside Hiking and Biking Trails

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These trails have a number of names depending on the trail users. Collectively they are called the East Royalty trails – some are primarily for walkers and some are used mostly by mountain bikers in the summer, and fat bikes in the winter. The bikers tend to collectively call them the Riverside trails, although the trail that runs along Wright’s Creek is called the Wright’s Creek trail (also used by bikes). This trail runs 1.5 km from Acadian Drive to St. Peters Road. It is one of Charlottetown’s best kept secrets. Walk it (or bike it) at both low and high tides. You will see abundant wildlife year round. The trail is within or next to an original Acadian forest that has never been cut except for very selective harvesting of mature spruce trees for lumber for use by the land owners for their own buildings.

On the east side of Wright’s Creek, you’ll find another trail (yellow markers). This trail starts at the end of Acadian Drive and immediately crosses the wooden bridge, called by some as the Bird Island Bridge, after a former name of Wright’s Creek. The trail continues along former landfill roads and is partly paved. The trail goes around the previously active part of the landfill, which is now fenced. One can continue through the Parkman Soccer Complex parking lot, through a small park and across on a paved path to Cambridge Drive and the end of Oakland Road.

The Riverside mountain bike (and Fat bike) trails are east of the yellow trail. The trail has several serpentine loops in the summer months – the trail is a little abbreviated for Fat bikes in the winter months.

Fullerton’s Creek Conservation Park

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Fullerton’s Creek Conservation Park is a 140 acre conservation area around the Town of Stratford’s wellfield. The area includes walking trails, a multi-purpose field and viewing platform overlooking Fullerton’s Marsh. The park is designed for use in all seasons.

The viewing platform is a great addition to the park allowing visitors to get a better view of the marsh. Watch for Great Blue Herons, a variety of ducks and birds and maybe even see a muskrat!

Gulf Shore Parkway

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This is a 10 km hiking or biking route that follows the Gulf Shore Parkway from Cavendish to North Rustico. To quote from Parks Canada:

“There is no better way to explore the stunning landscapes of PEI’s North Shore than by cycling (or hiking) the Gulf Shore Way. This seaside route is a recent upgrade to PEI National Park that offers a paved, two-way trail that twins the Gulf Shore Parkway, providing cyclists (or hikers) with a smooth surface and a mix of flat stretches and gentle rolling slopes. Wind your way past the iconic red sandstone cliffs of Cavendish, panoramic dunescapes in Brackley, the iconic Covehead lighthouse and six of PEI National Park’s breathtaking supervised beaches. With so much to see and do on route, you’ll love the trip as much as the destination!”

Of special note to walkers, this paved trail along the Gulf of St. Lawrence is also part of the Island Walk – a 700 km journey around the perimeter of PEI using the Confederation Trail, public roads and pathways. For more info on the Island Walk check out our new website: theislandwalk.ca

Rotary Friendship Park Trails

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The Rotary Friendship Park is a beautiful network of tree-lined gravel and clay trails plotted on a 64 acre parcel of land. The park contains a network of nearly 5 km of trails suitable for walking, running or cycling. The trails take you past farmers’ fields, wetlands and old growth tree areas.

This is a great park to reconnect with nature, enjoying the sounds of birds singing and the crunching of leaves under your feet as you hike through the woods. The park does offer those with strollers or wheelchairs the opportunity to explore parts of the park on a compacted gravel trail.

Amenities include picnic areas, benches, washrooms, trails, and parking.

The main parking lot is located at 599 MacEwen Rd (between the Prince County Hospital and Walker Ave) in Summerside. There are other pedestrian/cycling entrances off of Colin Avenue and the Confederation Trail just east of Gillespie Dr.

The park is open 6:00 am – 10:00 pm. Trails are also groomed in the winter months for fat bikes and for hikers. All are welcome!