Just in time for Trails Day – 310 km in Northern Ontario

TORONTO, June 5 /CNW/ – Trail users in Northwestern Ontario will
celebrate International Trails Day – Saturday, June 7 – by hiking, cycling and
canoeing newly-designated sections of the Trans Canada Trail.

The routing of the Trans Canada Trail on existing hiking trails,
cross-country skiing trails and canoe routes within nine Ontario provincial
parks is the result of a new partnership between the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Trans Canada Trail Ontario.

“This signals a major step forward for trail building in Ontario,” said
Cameron Clark, Chair of Trans Canada Trail Ontario’s Board of Directors. “As
we celebrate all the achievements in the trails community across the country
today, we are delighted to welcome the additions to the trail within Ontario
provincial parks. Not only do they anchor the Trans Canada Trail in
Northwestern Ontario, but provincial parks like Quetico and Sleeping Giant
allow trail users to witness the majesty of Northern Ontario landscapes and
add to the overall grandeur of the Trans Canada Trail.”

Located in Ontario provincial parks between Marathon and the Manitoba
border, the 310 kilometres of trail offer park users and trail enthusiasts new
opportunities to enjoy the distinct qualities of each park while exploring the
trail. When completed, the Trans Canada Trail will be the world’s longest
recreational trail, connecting Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

“Ontario’s provincial parks contain outstanding examples of the
province’s natural and cultural heritage that belong on the Trans Canada
Trail, and they offer unmatched opportunities for recreation enjoyed by
visitors from around the world,” said Natural Resources Minister Donna
Cansfield.

Trans Canada Trail Ontario is responsible for connecting Ontario’s
4,000-kilometre section of the Trans Canada Trail, which is the longest of any province or territory along the 21,000 kilometre cross-country route. With the new trail designations in northwestern Ontario parks, Trans Canada Trail Ontario has now surpassed the 2,500 km milestone. While this is a huge achievement, there still much work to be done to realize a continuous trail that spans the province.

The Trans Canada Trail designation in the nine provincial parks – which
include Rushing River, Winnange Lake, Eagle-Dogtooth, Turtle River-White Otter Lake, Quetico, Kakabeka Falls, Sleeping Giant, Rainbow Falls and Neys – began three years ago with a Memorandum of Understanding between Trans Canada Trail Ontario and the Ontario government. The partnership supports efforts to connect sections of the Trans Canada Trail in Ontario by 2010.

For further information: Dan Andrews, General Manager, Trans Canada
Trail Ontario, (705) 743-0826, dan@tctrail.ca; David Bauer, Minister’s Office,
Ministry of Natural Resources, (416) 314-2212; Jolanta Kowalski, Ministry of
Natural Resources, Communications Services Branch, (416) 314-2106