Explore & Community
The Confederation Trail: A Section-by-Section Biking and Walking Guide
Section-by-section distances on PEI's 449 km Confederation Trail, where to rent a bike, and how the Tip-to-Tip Certificate actually works.
1. What the Trail Actually Is
When Canadian National abandoned the PEI railway in 1989, the province converted the corridor into a dedicated walking and cycling trail. The main tip-to-tip route runs from Tignish (kilometre 0) to Elmira (kilometre 273), with branch trails extending the total network to 449 km.
2. Main Route, Section by Section
| Section | Distance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Tignish to O'Leary | 45 km | Easy to moderate |
| O'Leary to Wellington | 45 km | Easy to moderate |
| Wellington to Hunter River | 65 km | Moderate to hard |
| Hunter River to Morell | 65 km | Moderate to hard |
| Morell to Elmira | 54 km | Moderate |
The surface is rolled stone dust throughout, and the grade never exceeds 2 per cent in either direction, so the "moderate to hard" ratings above are about distance and exposure, not hills.
3. Branch Trails Worth Knowing
Branch trails connect the main route to coastal communities, including Charlottetown, Souris, Georgetown, Montague, Murray River, Murray Harbour, Wood Islands, and Borden-Carleton at the Confederation Bridge. The Emerald to Borden-Carleton branch is an easy 18 km stretch through farmland if you want a short outing rather than a multi-day trip.
4. Bike Rentals
- Confederation Trail Bike Adventures, St. Peter's Bay
- MacQueen's Bike Shop & Island Tours, Charlottetown
- E-Bikes East PEI, Souris
Most rental outfits supply helmets, panniers, and trail maps, and several offer point-to-point shuttle drop-offs for one-way rides.
5. Certificates and Practical Notes
- Completing any distance earns an Achievement Certificate; finishing the full 273 km main trail earns the Tip-to-Tip Certificate, available at Provincial Visitor Information Centres.
- Nearly 250 bilingual interpretive panels line the trail with historical and geographic notes.
- Frequent villages along the route mean food, washrooms, and accommodation are rarely more than a short ride away, so overnight wilderness gear isn't necessary.
- The trail is usable three seasons of the year; expect snowmobile use in winter on some sections.