Eight years, 45,000 KM and a lifetime of memories: Aiden Beckett’s journey on the Trans Canada Trail

For Aidan Beckett it was a sunrise more than eight years in the making.  

On Nov. 16 as the sun came up over Cape Spear, Canada’s easternmost point, the 28-year-old was beginning the final hike of a journey that started when he was just 19. Later that morning — right at sunrise on Canada’s west coast, where Beckett’s journey began — he reached his ultimate destination: Trans Canada Trail’s kilometre zero marker in St. John’s, NL.  

That moment was the culmination of a journey that saw Beckett spend nearly a decade travelling from coast to coast to coast, mostly on the Trans Canada Trail. He covered nearly 47,000 kilometres between his direct route and side adventures, only taking a few months off every winter and overcoming a yearslong hiatus forced by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“It was an incredibly overwhelming feeling, knowing that I was finishing something that had been my main focus for eight years,” Beckett says. “Having my family there at the end made it even more special. It was a mix of excitement and joy, reflecting on all the memories and the journey’s challenges.”  

The first steps

Beckett was fresh out of high school when his journey began in May of 2017. Born in Saskatoon, SK, he spent most of his life living in British Columbia and at the time, like many recent grads, he was looking at travelling abroad. But then he made a realization that changed his plans: “I kept hearing the question in my mind: ‘Why travel so far when Canada itself is so beautiful?’ That made me realize I hadn’t truly explored my own country.”  

2017 was also the year the Trans Canada Trail reached full connection from coast to coast to coast. Beckett recalls hearing about the Trail during the final push towards 100 per cent connection and the timing was perfect: “I just thought, ‘why not attempt it?’”  

Motivated by the simple but profound goal of experiencing as much of Canada’s vast landscape as possible, Beckett started his hike on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island in Sooke, B.C. The plan was to use the Trail to travel from the Pacific Ocean to the Arctic coast and then across the country to the Atlantic — mixing in plenty of side trails and extra waterways for additional adventure.  

“Taking that first step was both thrilling and daunting, and I remember breathing deeply, thinking, ‘Here I am, ready to kayak and see what’s next,’” Beckett recalls. “As I moved forward, each step became easier than the last. It was amazing how facing that initial fear opened the door to so many incredible experiences.”  

The joy of travelling slowly

When he set out in the spring of 2017, Beckett’s plan was to finish his trek by 2020. Some travel would of course have to be completed by car, bus or ferry, but he was determined to stick to non-motorized transportation while on the Trail.  

Over the course of his journey Beckett used 28 different methods of non-motorized transport, everything from walking and cycling to canoeing and kayaking to ice skating and dogsledding — he even travelled a kilometre on a unicycle.  

Despite aiming to reach the Atlantic Ocean roughly three and a half years after he started, speed was never Beckett’s main motivator. In fact, focusing on slowing down made his journey even more meaningful. 

“Walking and paddling across the country allowed me to truly notice the smaller details of nature,” Beckett says. “Spending months walking through forests, I witnessed how they transformed day by day: the growth of leaves, the reaching of branches, the changing streams, and the comings and goings of animals.

“This silent, poetic beauty of nature became so apparent, and the slower pace of travel opened my eyes to the delicate balances and rhythms of the world.”   

Even though he was taking time to enjoy the trek’s small details, Beckett was making good progress on his timeline. By July 1, 2018, he reached the Trans Canada Trail’s Arctic kilometre zero in Tuktoyaktuk, NT. He traversed mountains, tundra, prairies, rivers and lakes and when he took his usual wintertime break from the Trail near the end of 2019, he was nearing the Quebec/New Brunswick border.  

Then came a challenge no one could have seen coming.  

When the COVID pandemic hit in March of 2020 Beckett tried to stick to his schedule, shifting his focus to waterways to best accommodate social distancing measures. But ultimately, in September 2020 he made the difficult decision put his mission on pause and head home to British Columbia.  

“During the pandemic, especially in 2020 and 2021, I remained hopeful and kept telling myself, ‘I’ll be back in a month, or two,’” Beckett says. “I had already invested three and a half years into this journey. The idea of not completing it felt impossible, and that determination kept me going.”  

‘Not finishing was never an option’

After four and half years away, Beckett picked up where he left off in April of 2025. From the beginning of his trek, he had been tracking his progress on his website and Instagram account, and returning to the Trail meant finally being able to add to his impressive ongoing totals. 

He had already travelled more than 30,000 kilometres across the country and the homestretch leg through Atlantic Canada would add another 15,000-plus. But kilometres weren’t the only way Beckett charted his progress. He meticulously documented his journey, which is why he can say with certainty that he visited more than 1,000 parks and historic sites and even 1,379 Tim Hortons locations.  

Travelling the varied terrain and climate of the Martimes and Newfoundland through the spring, summer and fall served as a perfect reflection on Beckett’s journey as a whole.  

Over the course of a few months, he hiked through forests and along rocky coastlines while experiencing both snowstorms and 35-degree temperatures. He persevered through another setback far out of his control when multiple provinces had to close their trails due to forest fires. And, just as he was throughout his journey, was helped along by the kindness of strangers.  

“Canada is vast and stunning, filled with remarkable landscapes and natural beauty from coast to coast to coast, “says Beckett. “But what truly stands out is the kindness and generosity of its people. Throughout my journey, I encountered countless individuals eager to help and support me, no matter where I was. It’s amazing how welcoming and willing to lend a hand Canadians are.”  

From the stunning scenery to unforgettable human connections, Beckett’s journey gave him countless lessons and lifelong memories. As he looks to the future, he is hopeful that he can inspire more people to find their own ways to engage with nature.  

“In every corner of Canada, I found something unique and awe-inspiring, and that’s a truly humbling experience,” he says. “It’s easy to say we live in a beautiful country, but experiencing it firsthand truly drives that point home. It’s a reminder of the importance of preserving these wonders for future generations.”

Photo credits: Aidan Beckett