Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2016 before the trail was complete and revised for publication with up-to-date information on September 11th, 2017.
24,000km. That’s the length of the now fully connected Great Trail , which connects 13 Canadian provinces and territories and is the world’s longest car-free trail. The TCT is dedicated to being car-free with proposed human-powered usage including hiking, cycling, and cross-country skiing. Snowmobiling and horseback riding are also permitted.
As of September 2017, 100% of the trail is completed and includes connecting a network of pre-existing infrastructure from city pathways to long distance hiking trails like Ontario’s Voyageur Trail. An interactive map, highlighting the path of the TCT, can be found online.
How to get there: The Trail is accessible (without a car) from major U.S. cities by Amtrak. Take the Adirondack line to Montreal, the Cascade Line to Vancouver or the Maple Leaf to Toronto. Note that currently only the Cascade Line has bike racks, otherwise you’ll need to box up and check your bike to bring it aboard. Amtrak’s up-to-date bike policies can be found here.
