Trail Profile: Confederation Trail – Darlington Area
The Confederation Trail runs from tip to tip on Prince Edward Island, offering endless views, cultural gems and experiences for all ages and interests. In this article, we’ll explore a short section around Darlington, Prince Edward Island.
What we love about this trail section
Photo credit: Tourism PEI/Paul Baglole
• It’s ideal for a variety of activities, from cycling to walking and jogging.
• It’s near several of PEI’s top attractions, making it a great spot to explore the Trail and then hit the beach.
• It’s part of an incredible tip-to-tip trail, which spans the length of the island – so you can extend your journey for as long as you like.
Well-maintained trail with beautiful views and great amenities
Photo credit: Trans Canada Trail/Kristen Gabora
In Darlington, start out around the Route 9 parking lot at 439 Colville Road and walk west. You’ll pass great amenities, including covered picnic benches, a bench featuring beautiful views of the surrounding farmland, a composting washroom, and some interpretive panels.
Continue west towards Hunter River, stopping to admire the quintessential Prince Edward Island landscapes en route, or bring a picnic and have lunch or a snack, then continue along the Trail! If you like, continue to Hunter River and stop at the restaurant or ice cream stand for a meal or a snack.
Remnants of the railway
A common method used by railway engineers to cross waterways and lowland routes, trestles were used to maintain minimal grade changes for the railway. Now part of the Trail, the trestle bridges have been filled with rocks. Keep an eye out for an interpretive panel explaining how trestles work and what they were used for!
Explore Prince Edward Island’s gems
Photo credit: Tourism PEI/Stephen Harris
If you’re looking to extend your trip, you’re not far from some of PEI’s main attractions: Cavendish Beach, Canoe Cove Beach, or Brookdale Nordic Centre can all be found within a 20-minute drive of this trail section.
Check out the Island Walk.
Read our profile of the Tignish to O’Leary section of the Confederation Trail!
Find more information about Confederation Trail at Tourism PEI.
Feature photo credit: Tourism PEI/Carrie Gregory
