Hiking in the Sentier Récréatif Des Lacs Des Cèdres: trails, map and practical info

Description

The Trans Canada Trail—promoted since 2016 as The Great Trail—is a coast-to-coast-to-coast network of recreational routes that links together hundreds of locally run trail sections. It began construction in 1992, inspired by Canada’s 125th anniversary celebrations, and it’s designed to eventually form one continuous system stretching 24,000 kilometres (15,000 mi) from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic oceans. As of November 2016, just over 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi) were completed and usable—about 90% of the project. To fully connect it, 240 gaps totaling 6,200 kilometres (3,900 mi) still needed to be bridged, and the Trail set itself the goal of reaching that objective by its 25th anniversary and Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017.

On the ground, this isn’t one single “trail tread” you’ll recognize from start to finish—it’s an enormous patchwork of routes developed to fit local landscapes, communities, and existing corridors. In many places, that means gentle grades and long, straightforward stretches where you can settle into an easy rhythm. In others, it can feel more like a classic park trail, because sections run through protected areas and established trail networks. What makes it stand out is the sheer variety: urban waterfront paths near major cities, quiet rural greenways, and wide-open corridors that once carried trains and now carry walkers and cyclists.

How the network is built

The Trans Canada Trail network is made up of more than 400 community trails. Each section is developed, owned, and managed locally by a mix of trail groups, conservation authorities, and municipal, provincial, and federal governments. That local control is a big part of what shapes your visit: signage, surface type, grooming, and amenities can change noticeably from one section to the next, especially when you cross into a new province or a new local jurisdiction.

Some pieces run through major park systems—examples include parks such as Gatineau Park—and other sections connect to or overlap with existing long-distance trails such as the Rideau Trail and the Voyageur Hiking Trail. The overall system supports and is made up of greenways, so even when you’re close to towns or roads, you’ll often be traveling along corridors intended to keep you moving through connected natural or semi-natural spaces rather than hopping between disconnected short paths.

Rail corridors and what that means for hikers

Considerable parts of the Trail are built on repurposed defunct rail lines that were donated to provincial governments by CP and CN rail and rebuilt as walking trails. That history is more than trivia—it often tells you what the experience will be like. Former rail beds typically mean a wider corridor, gradual slopes, and a surface designed to be durable. For hikers, it can translate to an easy-going outing with fewer steep climbs and a more consistent pace than you’d find on a rugged backcountry footpath. Those corridors also tend to create long sightlines and a steady, linear “travel” feeling, rather than a tight loop through varied terrain.

This approach emulated the Rails-to-Trails initiative in the United States, where transportation corridors are “rail banked” as recreational trails, allowing conversion back to rail should future need arise. Practically speaking, that rail-banking idea is why so many sections feel like they were made for multi-use travel: the corridors are built to move people efficiently and to connect places, not just to provide a short scenic stroll.

Who runs it and who maintains it

Even though the Trans Canada Trail is a single name and a single vision, it’s important to know how it functions: the Trans Canada Trail does not own or operate any trail. Instead, the system depends on thousands of Canadians, community partner organizations, corporations, local businesses, and all levels of government to develop and maintain the sections. As an ensemble, the project might be one of the largest volunteer projects ever undertaken in Canada.

Funding has come largely from Canadian federal and provincial governments, with significant contributions from corporate and individual donors. One notable milestone: the first province to have completed its designated section of the trail was Prince Edward Island (see the Confederation Trail).

Route layout across Canada

The Trail’s main section runs along the southern areas of Canada, connecting most of the country’s major cities and most populous regions. There is also a long northern arm that runs through Alberta to Edmonton and then up through northern British Columbia to Yukon. For trip planning, that geography matters: the southern alignment tends to make city-to-city connections more common, while the northern arm emphasizes long-distance travel through more remote landscapes.

Because the system is a network rather than a single corridor, you can approach it in many ways: a short afternoon walk on a community greenway, a multi-day bike tour linking towns, or a longer expedition-style trip in a region where the next community is far apart. The experience changes dramatically depending on which local trail section you choose.

Allowed uses and shared-trail expectations

The Trans Canada Trail is multi-use, and depending on the section it may allow hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders, cross country skiers, and snowmobilers. If you’re planning a visit, it’s worth going in expecting shared-trail dynamics. On some stretches, you may be walking beside fast-moving cyclists; on others, the trail may be winter-focused with grooming patterns that prioritize skis or snowmobiles. Because each section is locally managed, permitted uses can change from place to place, even within the same broader region.

Terrain and surfaces also tend to follow the intended uses. Sections built from rail corridors are often straighter and more open, which can make it easier to see other trail users coming. Park-based sections may feel more enclosed and “trail-like,” with turns, trail junctions, and a more varied pace. Either way, the multi-use nature is part of the Trail’s design: it’s meant to be a practical travel route for different kinds of recreation, not just a hiking path.

Facilities, shelter, and water

In theory, the Trail is equipped with regularly spaced pavilions that provide shelter as well as fresh water to travellers. In practice, this varies widely from section to section, and particularly from province to province. For planning, that means you’ll want to treat amenities as optional rather than guaranteed. On a well-serviced community section, you might pass developed rest spots that make a day outing comfortable in mixed weather. On a less-developed stretch, you may need to be more self-sufficient and plan around longer distances between reliable services.

Because the network is made up of many different local trails, the “feel” of the infrastructure can shift quickly: one segment might have clear trailheads and built structures, while the next relies on simple corridor access and the facilities of nearby towns. That variability is normal here, and it’s part of what you’re signing up for when you choose a section of a country-spanning network instead of a single park trail.

Comparable international routes

The Trans Canada Trail has counterparts in other large greenway systems, including the 12 EuroVelo routes, the UK’s National Cycle Network, and the United States Numbered Bicycle Routes network. If you’ve traveled on any of those, the idea will feel familiar: a big umbrella network that connects many smaller routes, with local character and local management shaping what you actually experience on the ground.

Where it “starts”: Mile zero

“Mile zero” of the Trail is located outside the Railway Coastal Museum in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Even if you’re not attempting a long-distance journey, this is a meaningful reference point for the whole system and a concrete place where the scale of the project feels real: a specific spot tied to a trail that ultimately aims to connect three oceans.