The Trans Canada trail wants Canadians to cover the full length of the trail – 30,000Â kilometres – in 30 days.
Registration is now open for what is being called The Great Canadian Hike, a national challenge that invites people of all ages and abilities to get active in support of Canada’s nationwide trail system. From Sept. 20 to Oct. 19, people across the country will be hiking, biking, paddling and rolling on their section of the Trans Canada Trail, logging their distances to collectively cover 30,000 kilometres, the approximate length of the Trail, in 30 days.
To do the maths, that’s 1,000km per day. Considering the population of Canada is around 41 million, that works out to 24mm per day for every Canadian. Not that every single one can walk, and of course not every one will participate.
The Great Canadian Hike is free to join and open to all skill levels, and registration and donations are open now. The event begins on September 20, when participants have 30 days to log their activity, with everything from walking, biking, paddling or rolling counting anywhere in Canada. So, expats, you’re excluded.
Participants can register, create a team, raise funds and log their activity online at greatcanadianhike.ca
All funds raised directly support the Trans Canada Trail, including projects like trail maintenance, greenway development, climate resilience efforts and accessibility upgrades.
“Every kilometre of the Trans Canada Trail has the power to inspire and bring us together and I invite everyone to join the Great Canadian Hike to experience that power firsthand,” said Mathieu Roy, CEO of Trans Canada Trail.
“This challenge is about more than raising funds and logging kilometres, it’s about forging meaningful connections with nature and our nationwide community. The Trail is a truly national, multi-generational project and when we come together to support it, we are protecting an essential part of who we are as Canadians.”
Spanning nearly 30,000 kilometres and touching every province and territory, the Trans Canada Trail connects thousands of communities and reaches more than 80% of Canadians within 30 minutes of where they live. A 2023 study showed the Trail delivers significant benefits, including: $23.1bn in economic activity, $1.7bn in public health impact, and $82m in environmental benefits.
Canadians agree, as 94% say trails are essential for accessing nature, 92% use trails to support their mental health, and 91% value trails as a free, accessible way to stay active.
