Walking the Trans Canada Trail in Prince Edward Island: Research, Resources and Planning Information

Communities, resupply, camping and distances along the Confederation Trail

 

Preparing to Walk Across Prince Edward Island

 
Before setting out on the Trans Canada Trail in June 2019, we spent more than a year researching and planning the route across Canada. With no single comprehensive guide to walking the national trail network, we gathered information from maps, provincial trail organizations, tourism resources, community websites and other available sources. Our research focused on the practicalities of travelling long distances on foot: identifying communities, estimating distances, locating grocery and convenience stores, investigating formal camping opportunities and determining where supplies might be difficult to obtain.

 
The following information brings together our research for Prince Edward Island, the third province of our #Hike4Birds journey across Canada. We have condensed our extensive planning notes into an overview intended to help future walkers understand the distribution of communities, available services and significant logistical considerations along the route. Our notes were assembled and revised during 2018–2019 and should be treated as a historical planning resource rather than a current directory. Anyone preparing to walk the trail must verify existing services, camping regulations, access arrangements and trail conditions before departure.
 

The Confederation Trail in Prince Edward Island

 
The Trans Canada Trail in Prince Edward Island follows the Confederation Trail, a network of former railway corridors extending across the province. Unlike the more varied trail systems encountered in Nova Scotia, the Confederation Trail generally follows wide, gently graded pathways surfaced with compacted stone dust. The former railway alignment provides relatively gradual changes in elevation, while passing through agricultural landscapes, small communities, wooded corridors and areas of wetlands and rivers.

The Confederation Trail network extends approximately 435 km, including its principal route from Tignish to Elmira and several connecting branches. Our research concentrated on a 130.2 km crossing from Wood Islands to Borden-Carleton on the TCT, beginning at the ferry terminal from Nova Scotia, travelling toward Charlottetown and continuing west to the Confederation Bridge. We also investigated additional routes toward Montague, Georgetown, Summerside, Tignish and Elmira, anticipating opportunities to explore more of the island if time permitted.
 
Although the Confederation Trail appeared relatively straightforward to navigate, our research identified several practical considerations. Trail junctions required attention, particularly around Charlottetown and Emerald Junction, while the availability of groceries and camping facilities varied considerably. The pathway's raised railway embankments also meant that nearby ponds, streams or rivers would not necessarily provide convenient water access.

Communities and Resupply

 
The following communities were identified during our research as offering groceries, convenience stores, restaurants or other useful services. The table includes locations along the proposed Wood Islands–Borden-Carleton crossing, together with communities on the additional Confederation Trail branches we investigated.
 

Community or region	Supplies identified during research
Wood Islands	Ferry terminal, visitor information, food services and nearby accommodations
Belle River / Eldon	Small grocery and convenience possibilities, requiring travel off trail
Iona / Fodhla	Limited food possibilities, including a bakery identified near the route
Vernon River / Mount Albion	Limited local services and highway convenience supplies
Stratford	Supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacy and restaurants
Charlottetown	Extensive groceries, pharmacies, outdoor and general retail, restaurants and medical services
Winsloe	Convenience stores, restaurants and accommodations
Hunter River	Bakery, convenience supplies, restaurants and other community services
Emerald Junction	Limited food services near a significant trail junction
Kinkora	Convenience store, restaurants and accommodations
Albany / Borden-Carleton	Convenience stores, food services, accommodations and transportation connections
Montague	Major regional resupply centre with supermarkets, pharmacy, restaurants and medical services
Murray River	Restaurants, limited convenience supplies and accommodations
Murray Harbour	Grocery and food services
Cardigan	Convenience store, restaurants and seasonal market
Georgetown	General store, restaurants and accommodations
Mount Stewart	Convenience supplies, restaurants and some accommodation options
Morell / St. Peters	Grocery and convenience options, restaurants and accommodations
Kensington	Grocery stores, pharmacy, restaurants and general services
Summerside	Extensive groceries, pharmacies, general retail, accommodations and medical services
Wellington	Co-op grocery, pharmacy and food services
O'Leary	Grocery store, convenience stores, pharmacy and restaurants
Alberton	Grocery store, bakery, restaurants and hospital
Tignish	Co-op grocery, convenience store, pharmacy and restaurants

 
Charlottetown was the principal resupply centre along our intended crossing, offering supermarkets, pharmacies, general retail and a wide range of other services. Stratford also appeared to offer substantial grocery shopping, while Hunter River, Kinkora and Borden-Carleton provided more limited opportunities.
 
Our research indicated that communities on the Confederation Trail's western branches, particularly Kensington, Summerside, O'Leary, Alberton and Tignish, offered additional resupply possibilities. However, several smaller settlements appeared to have limited or no dependable groceries.
 
Some services were situated directly beside the Confederation Trail, while others required leaving the former railway corridor and travelling along local roads. The availability of a store in a nearby community should not be interpreted as guaranteeing convenient access from the trail itself.
 

Distances and Significant Gaps Between Services

 
Unlike the longer remote sections of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, much of our route across Prince Edward Island passed through agricultural communities and settled landscapes. Nevertheless, distances between useful resupply locations and the limited availability of formal campgrounds still required consideration.
 
Our research identified approximately 63 km between Wood Islands and Charlottetown, passing through rural landscapes where full grocery stores were not always readily accessible. Smaller food services and convenience stores were identified near several communities, but not all were located directly on the pathway.
 
From Charlottetown to Borden-Carleton, our original notes estimated approximately 68.7 km. Important points along this section included Winsloe, Hunter River, Emerald Junction, Kinkora and Albany. Emerald Junction was of particular interest because it marked the division between the route toward Borden-Carleton and the longer western branch toward Kensington, Summerside and Tignish.
 
Our research also considered the approximately 138 km western branch between Emerald Junction and Tignish, where grocery opportunities appeared in larger communities but became less frequent between them.
 
The eastern branches of the Confederation Trail offered additional routes through Mount Stewart, Morell, St. Peters, Cardigan and Georgetown, while the principal line continued toward Elmira. Their junctions required attention, especially for walkers intending to explore these branches before returning to the main east-west route.
 
These distances are historical planning estimates rather than current route measurements. Some include particular trail alignments or connecting roads, and should not be treated as exact distances between operating businesses.
 

Formal Camping Opportunities

 
Our research identified a range of provincial and private camping facilities across Prince Edward Island, although comparatively few were situated directly on the Confederation Trail.

Near the eastern arrival point, our notes identified Northumberland Provincial Park near Wood Islands, along with Lord Selkirk Campground near Eldon and private camping possibilities in the Murray Harbour and Murray River areas.
 
Around Montague and Georgetown, the research identified Brudenell River Provincial Park and nearby private campground facilities, although these required travelling away from some sections of the Confederation Trail.
 
In central and western Prince Edward Island, the original notes identified Linkletter Provincial Park near Summerside, camping possibilities around Mount Stewart and St. Peters, and the Sun-N-Shade/Yogi Bear campground near Borden-Carleton and the Confederation Bridge.
 
Not all facilities were convenient for walkers following the railway corridor. Some involved several kilometres of additional travel, while others operated seasonally and required advance reservations. A campground identified on a planning map should not be assumed to offer tent sites, accept walk-in visitors or remain open throughout the walking season.
 

Other Practical Considerations

 
Trail access and navigation: The Confederation Trail generally follows a recognizable former railway corridor, but junctions and connecting routes require attention. In particular, our research identified important choices around Charlottetown, Emerald Junction, Montague and Mount Stewart, where different branches could lead walkers considerable distances away from their intended route.
 
Water: Although the pathway passes through areas of wetlands, rivers and agricultural landscapes, natural water sources are not necessarily convenient or suitable for drinking. Raised railway embankments can make access difficult, and water quality cannot be established from the presence of a stream or pond on a map. Walkers should identify reliable drinking-water opportunities in advance rather than depend on untreated surface water.
 
Food and supplies: Prince Edward Island's rural communities appeared to offer a range of convenience stores, bakeries, markets and restaurants. However, smaller food businesses may be seasonal, and a nearby store may not provide sufficient groceries for several days of walking. Charlottetown and the larger communities on the western branches offered the most substantial supply options in our research.
 
Formal camping and accommodations: Many inns, bed-and-breakfasts and private accommodations were identified in communities near the trail, but these were not necessarily affordable or convenient alternatives to camping. Provincial parks and private campgrounds were often located away from the railway corridor, making overnight planning an important consideration even where communities were relatively close together.
 
Transportation: Our research identified the Northumberland Ferries connection between Caribou, Nova Scotia, and Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, along with the Confederation Bridge connection to New Brunswick. The bridge does not provide an ordinary pedestrian crossing; walkers must arrange authorized transportation across it. Regional bus services and other transportation options should be checked for current availability.
 
Medical and emergency services: Charlottetown, Montague, Summerside and Alberton were identified as important regional centres for medical services. Smaller communities offered more limited facilities, making it important to know where assistance could be obtained before entering longer rural sections.
 

A Note for Future Walkers

 
These notes represent the information we assembled while preparing for our 2019 journey across Prince Edward Island. They were intended to answer the practical questions associated with walking through the province, particularly the distribution of communities, access to groceries, availability of formal camping and distances between useful services.
 
The Trans Canada Trail is an evolving network, and the information recorded during our research may no longer reflect conditions on the ground. Businesses, camping facilities, transportation services and trail connections should be verified before travelling. We encourage future walkers to use these notes alongside current Confederation Trail resources, local information and direct inquiries to service providers.
 
For a fuller account of the landscapes, communities, wildlife, histories and experiences of our journey, we invite you to explore our daily Prince Edward Island #Hike4Birds entries.

 

Following Our Research: Additional Notes from After the Trail

 
Our subsequent walk across Prince Edward Island in September 2019 demonstrated how quickly even a well-researched route could change. We arrived shortly after post-tropical storm Dorian had caused extensive damage across the province, leaving sections of the Confederation Trail obstructed by fallen trees and some communities without electricity or reliable water supplies. On our first substantial day along the trail, we climbed over, under or around 109 fallen trees in approximately 12 km. With parts of the island still recovering, we adjusted our original plans, headed toward Murray River and subsequently used Highway 4 to reach Montague rather than continue along sections of the trail that remained obstructed.
 
Despite these unexpected challenges, much of the Confederation Trail proved to be among the most accessible and carefully maintained pathways we had encountered during the opening months of our Trans Canada Trail journey. Its smooth surfaces, benches, shelters, interpretive signs and relatively frequent communities made walking enjoyable once the storm damage began to diminish. Our experiences also reinforced the importance of planning for drinking water and overnight accommodation even in populated agricultural regions, where streams could be difficult to access, and formal campgrounds were not always conveniently located.

Wild camping is not generally permitted along the Confederation Trail without appropriate authorization, and land ownership and local regulations must be considered when planning overnight stops. During our journey, the distances between established campgrounds and the limited availability of affordable accommodations sometimes meant that we camped along the trail. When doing so, we made every effort to select secluded locations away from private property, residences and developed areas where our presence might inconvenience others.
 
We followed Leave No Trace principles, seeking to minimize our impact and leave our stopping places as we found them. These experiences should not be interpreted as indicating that informal camping is legally permitted or appropriate at any particular location. We encourage future walkers to investigate current regulations, obtain permission where required and make use of established camping facilities whenever possible.
 
We ultimately followed the trail through Charlottetown, Hunter River and Kinkora to Borden-Carleton, where we completed our crossing of the province. For future walkers, our experience is a reminder that good trail infrastructure does not eliminate the need to prepare for changing conditions, temporary closures and the unexpected.
 
For more detailed information, check out our Reflections on Hiking the Trans Canada Trail in Prince Edward Island.
 
See you on the trail!