The T'Railway Trail is an 883 km rail trail that follows an abandoned rail line from Port-aux-Basques to St. John's Newfoundland Canada. This wild, remote trail is open year-around to hikers, cyclists, fat bikers, off-road vehicles, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobiles. Moreover, it offers a true wilderness experience, taking outdoor enthusiasts through bogs filled with wildflowers, stands of Boreal forest, across the wide open plains of the Topsails, and through the treed hills and mountains of eastern Newfoundland. Unusually, this rail trail is also a provincial park, meaning wild camping is permitted along its length and the abundance of small lakes, rivers, and gorgeous waterfalls makes finding water easy. While the majority of the trail is in remote, wild landscapes, it does pass through several communities along the way, the largest of which include Clarenville, Grand Falls, Deer Lake, Corner Brook, and Stephenville Crossing. As such, the T'Railway Trail in Newfoundland provides the perfect mix of immersion in nature and amenities. For these reasons it has been voted one of the Top 10 Trails for Winter Adventures in Canada, one of the Ultimate Canadian ATV Trails from Coast to Coast, and one of the Best Hiking Trails in Atlantic Canada.
The T'Railway Trail follows an old railway line which does not branch as it crosses the province. As such, the trail is relatively easy to follow, especially in summer when it isn't covered by blowing snow. The trail also features more than 120 trestle bridges and numerous tunnels, giving it a distinctive look. However, signage along the route is inconsistent, with more detailed information present in the larger communities, and less frequent markings in some of the more remote areas. Signs for the Great Trail (aka Trans Canada Trail), and directional signage provided by the snowmobile association are provided in between population centers, but it is a good idea to bring a decent satellite-based GPS with you as a backup for navigating if you are planning to tackle to entire trail. There are rest stops, picnic areas, washrooms, and interpretive signage along the trail in many of the communities along the way, but in between population centers warm-up huts provided by the snowmobile association are the only accessible shelters.
Most of the T'Railway Trail traverses wild, remote Boreal landscapes that consist of black spruce and balsam fir forests, many small lakes, rivers, wetlands, and bogs, and fascinating geological features such as the monadnocks of the Gaff Topsails. In spring, the woods are alive with birdsong, when millions of colourful warblers arrive to nest in North America's 'Bird Nursery.' When we hiked the trail in June we spotted hundreds of snowshoe hares, as well as moose, black bears, caribou, silver foxes, and even a rare pine martin. This wild, natural environment is home to over 30 species of mammals, 25 species of fish, and 427 bird species. Whether you're an avid bird watcher, a photography enthusiast, or someone looking to relax and reconnect with nature, this trail offers a true wilderness experience.
The T'Railway Trail is a converted rail trail, meaning the grade of the path does not exceed 4%, even as it passes its highest point on the Topsails plateau (122 m) and traverses the mountainous regions in the eastern half of the province. From St. John's to Holyrood the trail is an extremely well-maintained crushed stone dust hiking and cycling path. After Brigus Junction the surface becomes a little rougher, although it is generally hard-packed until at least Clarenville. Generally speaking, the trail passes through a community approximately every 25-35 km or so, with the exception of a 90 km stretch between Howely and Badger where it passes through the Gaff Topsails. In some stretches the trail surface in this area is deep, sharp gravel or soft sand, which may slow progress if hiking or cycling. Another section of trail which can be challenging is the Wreckhouse, between St. Andrew's and Cape Ray, which can experience exceptionally strong winds.
The T'Railway Trail is part of the 28,000 km long Trans Canada Trail, which is a network of pathways and waterways that link the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. The Trans Canada Trail in Newfoundland has two parts - the 883 km T'Railway Trail and the 336 km long East Coast Trail on the Avalon Peninsula. Adventurers continuing west on the Trans Canada Trail can catch a ferry from Port-aux-Basques to Sydney, Nova Scotia, where they can pick up the Trans Canada Trail on Cape Breton Island. This connection with other trail systems offers hikers and cyclists flexibility when designing custom itineraries. We walked the T'Railway Trail as part of our cross-Canada hike on the Trans Canada Trail and it was one of our favourite sections.
The trail is open year-around, and most services in the communities along the trail are also available all year, with the exception of seasonal campgrounds. Summer (June - August) is typically the warmest and driest season to hike or cycle the trail, but blackflies and mosquitos can be quite prevalent at this time of year. Fall (September - November) is generally cooler and wetter, but there are fewer insects and the fall colours can be stunning. Winter is a great time for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
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