Some 400 community trails have been linked and new pathways connected. The Great Trail will extend 15,000 miles! See why we asked about free time? The trail will run completely across Canada, through 13 provinces and territories and touch three oceans (the Atlantic and Pacific, obviously, but also the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean!) It thus is being called the longest recreational trail in the world.

The trail map (https://thegreattrail.ca/explore-the-map/) is colored coded: the extensive green pathways indicate existing dirt, gravel or paved road trails through wilderness, rural and urban landscapes; smaller interspersed red markings indicate proposed trail connections; and the blue lines mean you'll need a kayak or other means of water transportation. For instance, the northern side of Lake Superior is wilderness, but no trail, so the choice is a water route of 614 miles along the shoreline! Again you see about "if you have the time." About a quarter of the "trail" is water. But wow, talk about awaiting adventures and a variety of land and waterscapes. And when the sunshine turns to snow and ice, the trail accommodates cross country skiing and snowmobiling, and not doubt some skating on some water bodies.