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Anne of Green Gables fans, rejoice! Pour a glass of raspberry cordial. You can now walk a 435-mile trail around Prince Edward Island on its ‘Island Walk.’
As reported by Travel + Leisure, the trail opened in September and encircles the perimeter of Prince Edward Island. It goes through several cities, Charlottetown and Summerside, as well as winding along the red bluff shoreline past sea views and into small towns with chances to pause and dine. You’ll see windmills, lobster boats setting traps, bird sanctuaries, blueberry fields, fishing villages, a charming striped lighthouse and even a National Park.
The entire loop is meant to take about 32 days if you can manage 12-15 miles daily. There are no grades higher than 2 percent, so you can go at a fast clip. The trail is wheelchair accessible although since much of the pathway is red clay, so heavy rain may affect ease of passage.
The Island Walk is divided into 32 sections, and the group behind it has thought of everything — where to go to the bathroom, where to spend the night — and that information can be found on an online map. Some hoteliers and restaurateurs have registered as partners to provide extra services to walkers.
About 220 miles of the trail follow the Confederation Trail built on a decommissioned railway line (bonus: 1,600 geocaches are hidden on this route). The Confederation Trail also includes 250 French/English interpretive panels about everything from Irish moss to a train wreck site. There are no dangerous wild plants or animals on the Island Walk.
For those who love proof of their having accomplished things, you can buy a $13 passport; it comes with a free backpack patch. And if the walk is just too daunting, you can always cycle or e-bike it.