Island Trails

Hiking & Cycling Trails | Prince Edward Island

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!

Robinson’s Island Hiking and Cycling Trail

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Welcome to the Robinsons Island Trail System, 5 kilometres of multi-use trail and the newest addition to the park’s outdoor offerings. Located on a small island that was once home to a popular campground, this family-friendly trail has options for hikers and bikers of all levels. Designed as a stacked loop, bikers and hikers can choose a shorter or longer route depending on skill level or time constraints.

The trail has been designed with mountain bikers in mind and features 11 technical trail challenges located in spurs that break off of the main trail. An afternoon at Robinson’s Island is an outdoor adventure meant to challenge beginner to intermediate mountain bikers, but those who dare not test their skills on the ramps and teeter totters need not shy away; just skip the branches and stick to the main trail for a beautifully scenic cycling adventure.

St. Catherine’s Trail

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This popular hiking and biking trail was built by volunteers in the mid-1990 and continues to be maintained by volunteers today. Like many trails in PEI, the St. Catherine’s Trail crosses many private land parcels and exists thanks to collaboration with local land owners. The trail is 6.5 km in length and it is often hiked or biked in both directions, making it one of the longest privately-owned trails on the Island. The trail is somewhat difficult because of switchbacks and the frequent changes in elevation.

The trail traverses a mostly hardwood forest which makes it a favourite destination in the fall. Beach, birch and maple trees are found along the entire length of the trail as are many species of birds as well as fox and snowshoe hares. The eastern portion of the trail (east of the MacEachern Road) is less frequently travelled and can be difficult to locate in the winter when it is snow covered.

Farmlands Hiking Trail

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Farmlands and Bubbling Springs trails are interconnected loops, each with their own unique features. Farmlands is mostly a wooded walk through a relatively immature softwood forest of white spruce and balsam fir. Along the trail you will notice an old road that once led to Charlottetown – one of the oldest roads on the Island. It’s an easy trail in the summer, suitable for walkers and cyclists. In the winter the trails are not groomed, so the trail is more suitable for boot hikers and snowshoes. Fat bikes can also tackle the trail but only after the trail has firmed up from snowshoe and boot traffic. Dogs are not permitted in the spring, summer and fall.

Bubbling Springs Hiking Trail

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Bubbling Springs and Farmlands trails are interconnected loops, each with their own unique features. Bubbling Springs is mostly a wooded walk, but it passes by some “bubbling springs” that are active year round. The trail also has great views of a small lake that lies to the east of the trail. It’s an easy trail in the summer, suitable for walkers and cyclists. In the winter the trails are not groomed, so the trail is more suitable for boot hikers and snowshoes. Fat bikes can also tackle the trail but only after the trail has firmed up from snowshoe and boot traffic. Dogs are not permitted in the spring, summer and fall.

Greenwich Dunes Trails

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Here’s what Parks Canada says about Greenwich…

“The site contains an extensive and fragile coastal dune system, wetlands and various natural habitats in which numerous rare plant species are found. Among the most spectacular natural characteristics to be protected at Greenwich are the unusually large and mobile parabolic dunes with their associated counter ridges or Gegenw’lle. This phenomenon is very rare in North America.

Greenwich is also noted for its cultural and historic richness. Research at the site is ongoing, and evidence found thus far indicates a landscape that has changed drastically over time. Several archaeological digs conducted between 1983 and 2002 by the Canadian Museum of Civilization and Parks Canada have found traces left by the major cultures that have existed on Prince Edward Island over the past 10,000 years. These include early Aboriginal peoples, the Mi’kmaq, French and Acadian settlers, and Scottish, Irish, and English immigrants.”

What Parks doesn’t say is the walk around the point at Greenwich is lovely. It increases the length of the trail to 8km. You cannot do this walk when the Piping Plovers are nesting in the summer.

Cardigan River Trail

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This new 6km walking and cycling trail is located behind the ball diamond on the western outskirts of Cardigan. The trail was built over the summer months by master trail builder Albert Flavell with support from Cycling PEI and Transportation Minister Steven Myers. The trail is undulating, smooth and fast, with lots of twists and turns – mountain bikers love it, but it’s also fun to walk in the summer and winter months. If you’re biking or walking in the spring or winter, please respect the need to keep the trail smooth and fast – no walking when the snow is soft or the trail is muddy! The trail is suitable for snowshoes when the snow is deep, and the trail is being groomed by a SnowDog when conditions permit. Thanks to Cycling PEI for taking the initiative to develop and maintain this trail!

There are two excellent vistas of Cardigan village and the Cardigan River – one near the beginning of the trail and one a little later on. Enjoy this new biking and hiking trail on PEI!

Beach Grove Nature Trail

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Located in and around the property adjacent to Beach Grove home, this easy 3.5km trail extends through a softwood forest up to and beyond the Prince Edward Home and the Trans Canada Highway (Rte 2). There are plans to eventually continue the trail to the Upton farmland across the highway and even to the Confederation Trail several kilometers north of Beach Grove.

The trail itself runs along the perimeter of the Beach Grove property. There are spectacular views of Charlottetown harbour from the trail and numerous benches where you can stop and enjoy the view. The provincial government has a forestry property on the east side of the trail and it’s possible to walk through a forest plantation on your way around the trail.

Beach Grove Trails GPX and KML

Beach Grove AT Trail GPX and KML

Upton Farmlands Trails GPX and KML

Homestead Trail

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The Homestead Trail is one of the longest trails in Prince Edward Island National Park. The long loop is 10 km and the short loop is 6 km. Both segments have spectacular views of New London Bay and sand dunes on the north side of the Bay. The trail circles around a series of farm fields that included a farm homestead in years gone by. In addition to the bay view and sand dunes there are several stream crossings and a couple of sturdy Parks Canada bridges. The trail surface is crushed gravel and the trail is wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The trail is well signed and well maintained (summer and fall only).

Dunk River Trail

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The Dunk River trail, which is maintained by the local watershed group, is a delightful 3.5 km (7 km return) stroll along the picturesque Dunk River, just north of Kinkora in central PEI. The trail winds its way through several stands of 100-year old hemlock and yellow birch beside a fast moving river that feels more like it should be in Maine or New Brunswick than in PEI.

The river bank is steep in places, making walking the path a little tricky in the winter months. There were a number of sweepers lying across the river when we walked it – perhaps they’ll be gone after a good spring freshett!

Dalvay Woodland Trail

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This trail runs through a primarily softwood stand parallel to the Eastern Road. The trail is on land owned by Parks Canada, but the trail has not been maintained by Parks for several years. The trail can be walked in conjunction with the Campbell’s Pond trail for a combined distance of approximately 7 km (if you include all loops).

Forestview Trail

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Forestview Woodland Trails are located in a mixed hardwood and softwood forest in West Prince very close to the town of O’Leary. Features are trails skirting and a bridge over the Carruthers Brook which may overtop its banks during heavy rains. Much of the trail is located on low-lying land and there are extensive boardwalks throughout. The trail is well-signed and very well maintained by the local community.