Few things can recharge your personal well-being like experiencing and reconnecting with nature. The stunning landscape in communities across Prince Edward Island lends itself to trail-based activities like hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
This list of trails is a selection of the many snowshoe-friendly trails across Prince Edward Island. The distance and difficulty by trail may be approximate. For conditions, visit PEI Trails Report.
North Cape Coastal Drive
1. Black March Trail (5.5 km) - Located at 21831 Route 12 in North Cape, this trail winds through a forest, along the red capes, across a vast bog and under a giant windmill. It is marked by 25 interpretive panels describing points of interest. (Easy) View in Google Maps
2. Alberton Hiking Trails (6 km) – This trail forms somewhat of a loop connecting streets of the 1800s that are no longer in use. Start at the end of College Street. View in Google Maps
3. Mill River (4.8 km) – Find snowshoe trails at the Mill River Resort alongside groomed trails with grooves for classic skis. (Moderate)
4. Forestview Hiking Trail (3.7 km) – Located on Route 143 (Howlan Road) near O'Leary in a mixed hardwood and softwood forest. A bridge and extensive boardwalks throughout the loop with signage. (Easy) View in Google Maps
5. Trout River Trail (5 km) – This linear nature trail is located at 36927 Route 2 in Coleman and is part of a natural area protected by the Island Nature Trust. (Easy) View in Google Maps
6. Tyne Valley Trail (5 km) – Linear trail with one set of steps and a bypass loop. Park at the Britannia Hall, 816 Canada Road, and enter trailhead between the hall and the graveyard. (Moderate) View in Google Maps
Drive along to Lennox Island (2.9 km) to hike or snowshoe the historically rich Path of Our Forefathers at 8 Eagle Feather Trail. Enjoy the beautiful views of the scenic shores along this groomed trail. View in Google Maps
Summerside
7. Rotary Friendship Park (4.5 km) - A beautiful network of trails with a groomed loop within the 64 acres. Parking at 599 MacEwen Road.
8. Heather Moyse Heritage Park (1 km) - An easy loop with entrance at Ottawa Street.
Red Sands Shore
9. Dunk River Trail (3 km) – Located on Route 109, this trail parallels the Dunk River and was developed by the community as an offshoot of a community park at Scales Pond, also home to International Children's Memorial Place. (Easy)
Green Gables Shore
10. Kensington Nature Trail (1.5 km) - Discover the beauty of lush greenery and calming landscapes of the Alysha Toombs Memorial Park and beyond. As the trail is not a loop, snowshoe in and out or return via path between two baseball fields. Park at rink at 25 Garden Drive.
11. Glasgow Hills Trail (5 km) – Enjoy new trails on the edge of Glasgow Hills Golf Club. Take in the beautiful view of the pastoral landscape from the hilltop before venturing into the trail. Park just beyond the back corner of the main parking lot. View in Google Maps
12. Cavendish Grove – Located at 8780 Route 6 in the PEI National Park. Trails, parking lot and other facilities of the PEI National Park are not maintained yet visitors are welcome. (Note: Limited emergency service provided by Parks Canada in winter).
13. Haunted Wood Trail (0.9 km loops) – Located in the heart of Cavendish, peek around Green Gables Heritage Place in the snow and explore one of Anne Shirley’s famous haunts. (Easy) View in Google Maps
Red Sands Shore
14. Brookvale Winter Activity Park (1, 2 & 4 km) – The park has wooded trails for snowshoeing. There is a trail fee to use the trails using your own snowshoes. The starting point is Brookvale Nordic Centre. (Easy, Intermediate)
15. Brookvale Demonstration Woodlot (4 km) – Trails weave through softwood plantations and mixed hardwood trails. (Intermediate) View in Google Maps
16. Bonshaw Hills Provincial Park (6.5 km of trails with shorter loops) – Located 20 km west of Charlottetown, woodland trails take advantage of scenic views and vistas of the West River and offer some of the hilliest wooded terrain in PEI. (Easy, Intermediate, Difficult)
17. Strathgartney Provincial Park (5 km of trails with many shorter loops) – Located adjacent to Bonshaw (above), wooded trails offer scenic views for all levels. (Easy, Intermediate, Difficult)
18. Skmaqn-Port-la-Joye-Fort Amherst National Historic Site (6 km) – Discover what compelled Louis Denys de la Ronde to write "...one of the most beautiful harbours that the eye can behold" in 1721 from the coastal paths. Trails, parking lot and other facilities of Parks Canada are not maintained yet visitors are welcome. (Note: Limited emergency service provided in winter) (Easy) View in Google Maps
19. Terry Fox Trails (2.5 km) – Explore the trails and disc golf course at the Terry Fox Complex at 85 Hilltop Drive, Cornwall. (Easy)
20. Beach Grove Trails (3 km) – Located behind the Beach Grove Home at 200 Beach Grove Rd, these nature trails are a popular retreat that offer wooded pathways and scenic views. (Easy)
21. Victoria Park – This downtown park is a 40-acre expanse with easy trails through its forested area. (Easy) View in Google Maps
22. Robert L. Cotton Trail – Located just across the Hillsborough Bridge, this trail is a 17-acre park located at 57 Bunbury Rd, Stratford. (Easy)
23. Riverside Ride Trail (4 km) – Located on the east side of the city, this narrow trail snakes its way through the woods along the Hillsborough River. Parking available at Hillsborough Hospital. (Intermediate) View in Google Maps
24. Confederation Trail – Within city limits, the wide, flat and well-groomed trail is the perfect way to get from downtown to midtown and uptown. On Saturday mornings, stop at the Charlottetown Farmers’ Market at Belvedere Avenue. (Easy)
25. Winter River Trail (6 km) – Located in Suffolk, this trail has a wooded road, white spruce trees, gently rolling terrain and plenty of chances to view wildlife and waterfowl in the woods and along the river as it opens to Winter Bay. (Intermediate) View in Google Maps
26. Bubbling Springs and Farmland Trails (4 km) – From Stanhope, enjoy a trek through fields and mixed forest of the PEI National Park. And yes, you will come upon a spring bubbling up from the ground along the trail. (Easy) View in Google Maps
Points East Coastal Drive
27. Forest Hill Trail (10.4 km) – Located near Bridgetown in Kings County, this trail loops through extensive wooded areas and along two large ponds. (Intermediate) View in Google Maps
28. Boughton River Trail (9 km with the shorter loops) – The trail is built in four interconnected loops, plus a short spur to a lookout to view the typical “drowned estuary” of the Boughton River. The trail winds through white spruce thickets, open hardwoods, river flats, steep ravines, and grassy meadows. Begin at the fire hall. (Intermediate) View in Google Maps
29. Brudenell and Dundarave Golf Courses (10 km) - Groomed snowshoe trails. 82 Dewars Lane, Cardigan. (Easy) View in Google Maps
30. Gairloch Trail (7 km) – This site located near Belfast presents approximately 400 acres of the full range of typical woodland cover. The trail runs through and skirts dense white spruce thickets, as well as more open pine and hardwood copses, where ground pine and other club mosses abound. (Intermediate with difficult sections) View in Google Maps
31. Selkirk Forest Walking Trail (6.6 km) – Named for the Selkirk settlers who arrived to this area from Scotland in the early 1800s, this wooded trail is located at 1457 Route 23. (Easy)
Prince Edward Island offers an array of trails for so many exciting winter activities. Whether you're a novice or an experienced winter adventurer, there's a trail waiting to be explored on this winter wonderland.
This list of trails is only a selection of the many snowshoe-friendly trails across Prince Edward Island.
Advisory
During winter months, access to some trails may be more challenging than others. Parking lots may not be maintained, and washroom facilities may not be available. Some of these trails are more remote so people should be prepared for winter conditions. Exercise caution and use your own judgement when setting out on your snowshoeing adventure.