• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Wandering Carol's

Luxury Travel Blog

The Unpretentious Guide to Luxury Travel

  • Home
  • About Wandering Carol
  • Destinations
    • Asia Travel
    • Caribbean Travel
    • Europe Travel
      • Austria
      • Czech Republic
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Ireland Travel
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Wales
    • North America Travel
      • Canada Travel
      • Mexico Travel
      • USA Travel
  • Spas and Wellness
  • Experiences
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Romantic Travel
    • Sacred Places
    • Adventure
    • Solo Travel
  • Contact

Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI

Luxury travel blog » Places to Travel » North America Travel » Canada Travel » PEI » Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI
September 10, 2013 by Carol Perehudoff

This post may contain affiliate links.

Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI, Canada, seemed like an excellent excursion from Charlottetown. Little did I know disaster was lurking. And I confess it wasn’t my first choice of Prince Edward Island activities when I was in Charlottetown for a travel conference but I took too long to decide what to do.

Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI, Charlottetown
Pretty as a picture

 

By the time I got around to choosing the Cycling Cavendish Tour it was full, as was kayaking. Determined to do something outdoorsy, I went downstairs to the lobby and tried to hone in on the lobster fishing tour, but got shunted out as they were full, too.

“Waaah,” I said.

Whining pays off almost as well as procrastination. Within minutes of me standing in the lobby like a loser while all the boaty-y people went off, the Prince Edward Island Tourist Board had arranged a bike rental for me just down the street at the visitor’s centre and I was off to cycle the Confederation Trail.

Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI, from Charlottetown
And she’s off!

 

The History of Prince Edward Island’s Confederation Trail

In 1989 the Prince Edward Island railway was abandoned, and a 435 km tip-to-tip walking and cycling trail of this Canadian maritime province was born. Whohoo! Of course I intended to do all the 435 km in one day, because I’m fast like that. (Other, non super humans might want to take 5 or 6 days.)

The Confederation Trail itself, called the Main Trail, is 273 km long. Beginning in Tignish, PEI, at kilometre 0 and ending in Elmira at kilometre 273, the Confederation Trail also consists of numerous branches, one of which extends into Charlottetown.

The Branches of the Confederation Trail

Branches run to the waterside communities of Souris, Georgetown, Montague, Wood Islands, Murray River and Murray Harbour, plus there is a link to the Confederation Bridge in Borden-Carleton.

While cycling through Charlottetown is probably not the most scenic part of the Confederation Trail, there is still plenty to see, especially once you got out into the groomed wilds of PEI.

Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI, horses
Wildlife! Only not so wild

 

What can you see when cycling Confederation Trail in PEI?

On the Charlottetown branch of the Confederation Trail you can see leaves getting ready for fall, reminding us that life goes on and we are all aging and eventually will be nothing but carbon. (Unless you’re cycling in spring, then you can be much more optimistic.)

Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI, leaves in fall
Enough already. Stay green!

 

Ravenwood

You can see farmland and fields and houses where you are sure that Anne of Green Gables once lived, or at least where her cousin’s mother’s stepfather’s son probably did. Actually, the property is called Ravenwood. It was built in the 1820s and is a heritage property.

Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI, Ravenswood Heritage Home
Anne didn’t live here

 

You can see pretty scenery …

Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI, from Charlottetown, scenery
Berry nice

 

And then I spotted the real draw. Target! It was a bit unexpected on a nature trail, but resisting temptation I road on.

Target PEI
She had a Target on her back

 

Back to nature on the Confederation Trail

Ah, being back outside felt good. I had successfully resisted the lure of the shopping stop. Who has time for shopping when you’re cycling 435 km in one day?

Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI, from Charlottetown, people walking
Back to nature

 

Cycling the Confederation Trail in PEI should be about history and scenic locales. I should be thinking about things such as the Canadian Confederation, which is when Canada became a nation, the Dominion of Canada, in 1867.

Before that, British North America was a hodgepodge of provinces, the North-Western territory and large tracts of land owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company.

What does Charlottetown have to do with Canadian Confederation?

After years and years of bickering and debate three historic meetings with various important delegates, who would become known as the Fathers of Confederation, were held. One in Quebec City, one in Charlottetown and one in London, England. Out of these meetings the fledgling nation of Canada emerged.

Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI, from Charlottetown, wandering carol
Still cycling

 

Cycling in PEI

I should have been thinking of how lovely Prince Edward Island is, and how it has so many cycling trails and how, because the island is relatively flat, it’s my kind of cycling.

  • You can do the 75 km Cabot Route, from Cabot Beach Provincial Park to Kensington and French River.
  • The 68 km Charlottetown-Mt. Stewart Loop from downtown Charlottetown’s Victoria Row to the village of Mt. Stewart.
  • 2 different loops of a Lord Selkirk Campground Route
  • The 58 km St. Peters Loop or the 20 km Greenwich Day Trip
  • And the 42 km Tyne Valley Route from Green Park

How about a shopping route?

But I couldn’t get that stupid Target out of my mind. Maybe they should create a cycling shopping expedition on the Confederation Trail. Think of the possibilities, you could buy crafts, and Anne of Green Gable’s souvenirs. There could be kiosks selling Cows Creamery ice cream and trailside restaurants serving nothing but PEI oysters. It could be a whole new tourist industry.

I turned around. And once I had parked my bike, and gone into the mall I learned that Target was closed.

Shameful advertising

So back to Charlottetown I went, only once I got to the Visitor’s Centre, it was such a beautiful day I couldn’t stop. Just a wee ride along the harbour I thought. After all, I had planned on cycling the entire 435 kilometres of the Confederation Trail in PEI and not just an hour’s worth.

The harbour at Charlottetown is a fun place to hang out. It’s well developed with boardwalks, parks and shops, and was all very pleasant and photo worthy.

Cycling in PEI, Charlottetown along the water
Mesmerizing, but keep your on the trail

 

And then I fell down.

Cycling Confederation Trail in PEI, from Charlottetown, falling down
Oh, crap

 

I tried to bounce up, saying “I’m okay I’m okay,” because I really was, but 1) no one was around to hear me or help me up and 2) I was too tangled up in my bike. Finally I twisted my way out and I’m sure there is a moral to this story. Something about if I hadn’t procrastinated in the first place when choosing a Prince Edward Island tour, I would have been cycling in Cavendish or kayaking or out catching lobsters, and not falling off my bike.

Then again, I wouldn’t have had the experience of cycling Confederation Trail. So here are my tips: don’t veer off without knowing what you’re getting into (and don’t try to take a photograph while riding) because unexpected adventures await at every turn.

And PS. If I have time on Thursday I plan to rent a bike again. Bike rentals are available at the Visitor’s Centre. $20 for 4 hours, $30 after that. And I’m sure I’ll be cycling the entire Confederation Trail then.

 

 

Confederation Trail PEI travel guide

If you really are keen on cycling Confederation Trail in PEI, the entire thing, and not just in a day, here is a suggested itinerary from Tourism PEI.

Day 1 – Tignish to O’Leary (45 km easy to moderate)
Day 2 – O’Leary to Wellington (45 km easy to moderate)
Day 3 – Wellington to Hunter River (65 km moderate to hard)
Branch Trail – Emerald to Borden-Carleton (18 km easy)
Day 4 – Hunter River to Morell (65 km moderate to hard)
Branch Trail – Royalty Junction to Charlottetown (9 km easy)
Branch Trail – Mt. Stewart to Georgetown (40 km moderate)
Branch Trail – Cardigan Junction to Montague (10 km easy)
Day 5 – Morell to Elmira (54 km moderate)
Branch Trail – New Harmony Junction to Souris (9 km easy)
Branch Trail – Charlottetown to Murray Harbour (80 km moderate)

You can download a full cycling Confederation Trail in PEI guide here.


Read more about the Maritimes:

Lobster tour through the Bay of Fundy

What to do in Saint John, New Brunswick

 

 

 

For more about travel to Canada: visit Things to do in Canada

Category: Canada Travel, PEI, Soft adventure

About Carol Perehudoff

A former freelance travel columnist for the Toronto Star, Carol has won more than 30 writing awards and honours. A spa and luxury travel expert, she’s written for top travel publications around the globe.

Previous Post:Thai Spas to salivate over
Next Post:Lobster tour through the Bay of Fundy

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol Perehudoff

    Ha, Dane. You and my niece Molly are my shopping gurus so next time I spot a store like that I’ll cycle on. If I pass a Burberry though, there’s no telling what could happen.

  2. Dane Moore

    Target has opened in Saskatoon…and always interested in a new version of shopping I took a look…..its unexciting …almost undignified….reminds me of some low end version of consumerism….I won’t need to go back as far as I can tell ..the bike ride with fall would be more rewarding!!!!

  3. Lesley Peterson

    Looks like you had a great ‘fall’ day, Carol! Hope you followed it up with a cozy fall evening. PEI looks lovely. I’d like to peek inside Ravenwood.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

luxury travel blogger wandering carol on train

About Wandering Carol

In my 10+ years as a travel writer and columnist I've seen the best of what the world has to offer and written for some top publications around the globe - and now my goal is to bring this expertise to you. For more blah blah blah, visit my
About page.

Book Your Next Adventure

Booking.com

Connect with me online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
Carol Perehudoff published in top media, logos for newspapers and magazines

How to Use This Site

  • Use the SEARCH BOX if you’re looking for something specific.
  • Click on the ‘DESTINATIONS’ tab on the top menu to see the countries we write about.
  • SUBSCRIBE to keep up with the latest articles and get tips to make your next journey inspiring.

Caribbean Travel

golden sand beach in Saint Lucia

14 Fun Things to Do in St Lucia

golden sunset in the caribbean

5 Ways to Budget and Plan a Luxury Caribbean Vacation

Paradisus Palma Real Beach, Dominican Republic

Paradisus Punta Cana and Paradisus Palma Real, tale of two paradises

Beautiful beach, affordable luxury Caribbean

Affordable luxury Caribbean – vacation tips and tricks

Welcome to this luxury travel magazine

Click around to find some top destinations and fab adventures - and put a spark in your life through travel.
Carol Perehudoff on the media, logos
Restored chapel in The Jaffa that shows why this is one of the best hotels in Tel Aviv

Hot Hotel Alert – The Jaffa in Tel Aviv

The Jaffa Hotel Review Once you leave The Jaffa, a ‘hip-meets-history’ luxury hotel in Yafo Tel Aviv, it’s all downhill. At least it was for me when I cycled down to the seafront promenade from the hotel’s perch above the Old Port of Jaffa. The bike, being from The Jaffa, was no ordinary battered rental …

Inspiration

“Who says you can’t run away?”

Share

  • https://www.facebook.com/pages/WanderingCarolcom-A-Luxury-Travel-Blog-for-those-who-Love-to-Laugh/1503397106575455
  • https://instagram.com/wanderingcarol/
  • http://pinterest.com/wanderingcarol
  • https://wanderingcarol.com/feed
  • http://twitter.com/WanderingCarol

Copyright © 2023 · Wandering Carol’s Seeking Elsewhere Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Disclosure and Privacy Policy