Taking the Slow Road: Community Connections on PEI’s Island Walk
From taking a break to admire the coastline to enjoying a conversation over breakfast at your bed-and-breakfast, on Prince Edward Island, taking your time is part of the adventure.
The Island Walk invites visitors to experience PEI at a walking pace. Its 700-plus-kilometre route follows much of the Confederation Trail section of the Trans Canada Trail, running alongside Prince Edward Island’s quintessential natural wonders: red dirt roads, beaches, and skies that stretch… and stretch… and stretch. And from tour operators to café owners to accommodation providers, the Island Walk connects visitors and locals with the chance to make human-to-human connections along the route.
Photo credit: Heather Ogg
32 sections to fully explore Prince Edward Island
With a season of May through October, the Island Walk is divided into 32 sections, each spanning approximately 20 to 25 kilometres. The full itinerary is designed to be walked in 32 days, or it can be broken into shorter sections for day-long or multi-day trips. It’s also open to cyclists, who can complete the circuit of the island in about a week to two weeks.
Each section includes local business partners, points of interest, a suggested route, and more, and is meant to take a day’s travel on foot, really allowing Island Walk participants to immerse themselves in everything Prince Edward Island.
Photo credit: Heather Ogg
A slower pace, a warmer welcome
“Having never been on a walking vacation before, I was surprised at how in touch I felt with the sites and scenery as well as with the people,” says Lynn Lary, who completed the Island Walk in 2026. “Walking allowed me to stop and interact with locals in a way that I have not experienced before.”
Island Walk participants have been known to make close friendships along the way as well – with fellow walkers, and with business owners who have set up shop in the Walk’s vicinity.
For visitors, a stop for a meal or a night’s stay can become a memorable part of the journey. Many Island Walk participants will recount how impressed they were with the warm welcome from business owners en route, and some repeat participants come back to the same lodgings, restaurants, or tour operators year after year, building up friendships.
Photo credit: Heather Ogg
Local connections means local benefits
For communities along the route, connecting with Island Walk participants also creates opportunities for local businesses — the Island Walk’s partner network includes accommodations, food stops, attractions and transportation providers.
For visitors, it means they can receive expert recommendations from residents on the best of Prince Edward Island — and it pays off! For businesses, it gives them opportunities to welcome customers, both in the height of tourist season and in less-frequented shoulder seasons; the Island Walk’s most popular month is September, and participants often come in May, June or October to skip the crowds and really have time to experience everything the island has to offer.
“In the two years that we have been offering accommodation along the Island Walk, we have seen both an increase in interest for a slower-paced vacation activity, and an increase in the diversity of walkers coming to PEI. We feel that we now have friends who would welcome us across North America in Oregon, BC, Texas, and Alberta, and around the world in Asia and Europe,” says Todd Hinks, from Thistleboom Bed & Breakfast in Pleasant View, PEI.
“Many of our guests plan to return in future years, and we look forward to seeing them and hearing about their other travels. What we have had reaffirmed to us is the belief that no matter where people are from, they are more like us than not. The Island Walk has been described by some of our walker friends as life changing. For us, it has strengthened our belief in humanity.”
The connections between local business operators and visitors demonstrate the real-life impact of trail tourism on communities across Canada: a longer tourist season, repeat customers, and many trail users looking for overnight accommodation.
Photo credit: Heather Ogg
Working together to support the journey
As part of the Trail Destination Framework, Trans Canada Trail and the Island Walk worked together to help elevate the trail experience. With support from Trans Canada Trail, the Island Walk is focused on connecting walkers more closely with the people and places along the route. New tools like an app and upgraded AI trail companion, help walkers discover local cafés, attractions, and places to stay. Themed itineraries and shorter routes make the Island Walk possible for people who don’t have 32 days, while partnerships with local businesses and tour operators create experiences that benefit both walkers and the communities that host them.
The Island Walk app provides a one stop shop for walkers to house information while on the trail,” explains Hannah Maclean, Project Leader with the Island Walk organization. “The app includes a map with all of the partners and shows your location in relation to the route, lists all of the partners and other businesses along the route, any signs missing or detours on the route, details about each section, keep track of your sections completed, and so on. It is meant to help walkers explore the route and stay organized.”
Whether you’re drawn to coastal scenery, quiet stretches of trail or, dare we say it… the Potato Museum (!), the Island Walk offers an invitation to experience Prince Edward Island on a whole new level.
Photo credit: Heather Ogg
Learn more about the Island Walk and plan your adventure.
Learn more about Trans Canada Trail’s Trail Catalyst Fund and how we enhance the quality, connectivity, and sustainability of the national trail network.
Feature photo credit: Heather Ogg
