Looking to go hiking on Prince Edward Island?
You’ve certainly come to the right place because I led a hiking club to the island to walk all the best trails that a visitor would want to take.
This helpful guide to Prince Edward Island walking trails can help you decide which ones would be of interest to you. Just keep in mind that to get to the best, you are going to have to drive a bit.
These are the best Prince Edward Island Walking trails, perfect for exploring the coastal areas, lighthouses, dunes, and beaches, perhaps the best way to see Canada’s smallest province. AllTrails route maps can assist with your planning, although the trails are well signed.
The walks are in four sections in Prince Edward Island National Park, plus a National Historic Site near Charlottetown, each with its own trails. Plus, there are other Hiking trails in PEI around the entire province, many sections of the Confederation Trail or the Island Walk.
From June 19 to September 7, 2026, the Canada Strong Pass provides free or discounted admission to Canadian National Parks, historic Sites, camping sites, Museums, and VIA Rail.
Cavendish – Prince Edward Island National Park
1. Homestead Trail Simpson Loop
Location: 355 Grahams Lane, Cavendish
Highlights: coastal views
Trail length: easy 6 km loop
Cost: Parks Canada Discovery Pass or daily pass (adult, senior, family/group)
Features flat terrain with a fine gravel surface surrounded by wildflowers and mostly forested, but with great viewpoints of the coast. During my visit, there were a lot of cyclists on the trail. Passes through former farmland but is now just a field.
2. Homestead Trail MacNeill Loop
Location: 355 Grahams Lane, Cavendish
Highlights: coastal views
Trail length: easy 10 km loop trail
You start on the Simpson Loop and continue an extra 4 km, passing a pond with better coastal views of New London Bay on this section, before heading inland to complete the loop. One of the longer trails in the park, but it can still be a fast walk.
3. Cavendish Dunelands Trail
Location: 500 Grahams Lane, Cavendish
Highlights: views of sand dunes and freshwater ponds
Trail length: easy 4.8 km linear trail (return) +
Cost: Parks Canada Discovery Pass or daily pass
There is a connecting trail from the same parking lot as the Homestead Trail, which is what I used, or just head down Grahams Road a bit to another parking lot. Easy to walk and view the sand dunes with a floating boardwalk. Expect to pass a lot of families and cyclists. Links to Homestead and Gulf Shore Way West.
4. Cavendish Beach Trail
Location: 8780 Route 6, Cavendish
Length: 1.1 km, easy one-way
An easy short walk that passes through a forest before reaching popular Cavendish Beach. Also, the 1.2 km Clarks Lane connects this trail with the Dunelands Trails.
5. Green Gables Homestead Haunted Wood Trail
Location: 8619 Route 6, Cavendish
Highlights:
Trail lengths: easy 0.9 km loop
Cost: Parks Canada Discovery Pass or daily pass
From the parking lot of Green Gables Heritage Place, you enter a large exhibit hall with exhibits about Lucy Maud Montgomery and Anne of Green Gables. There are washrooms, a gift shop, and a cafe where you can get a coffee or ice cream. Heading out to the outdoor area, you will find Green Gables Houses and several farm buildings. Costumed Parks Canada staff walk the grounds and are very knowledgeable. They stay in character no matter what, as my friend discovered when talking with the red-haired Anne.
The Haunted Wood is an easy 0.9 km loop with some stairs and is the inspiration for a section of the book. It passes Cavendish Cemetery, the resting place of L.M. Montgomery. This enchanted walk has ghosts, or so I was told by Anne with an “E”.
6. Green Gables Homestead Balsam Hollow Trail
The second of the forest trails, this easy 0.8 km loop starts next to the Haunted Wood trail and follows a brook in the forested area. It includes the famous Lovers’ Lane, mentioned often by Lucy Maud Montgomery in her writings. People love the feeling of walking in her footsteps.
7. Gulf Shore Way West
Location: 100 Terre Rouge Lane, Cavendish or 216 Churchill Road, North Rustico
Highlights: red sandstone cliffs, views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Trail length: 8.5 km one-way paved trail with a few short steep sections
Cost: Parks Canada Discovery Pass or annual pass
While you can walk, I saw mostly cyclists as the multi-use trail skirts along the top of the red sandstone cliffs for which Prince Edward Island is so well known.
Stanhope – Prince Edward Island National Park
8. Robinson Island Trails
Location: 740 Gulf Shore Parkway, Brackley Beach
Highlights:
Length: 5 km loop
Note: a 2022 hurricane left a lot of damage to this area, and the access road was closed in 2023, adding 3.5 km one way to the distance from the Brackley Beach parking lot.
Looping around the wooded areas of the island is used equally by cyclists and hikers. Observation points along the way. Parks Canada recommends using a hybrid or mountain bike; however, a friend used a road bike with no issues.
Also in Brackley Beach (just outside the park entrance) is the Dunes Restaurant and Art Gallery with gardens and a lot to see.
9. Farmlands Trail
Location: 735 Gulf Shore Parkway, Stanhope
Highlights: the only site was the old cemetery; otherwise just a forest walk
Length: 2.8 km easy loop
Cost: Parks Canada Discovery Pass or day pass
An easy 2.8 km wide dirt path, with lots of signs. First passes by a cemetery with graves dating to 1811, with the rest through the forest. There were some cyclists on the trail.
10. Bubbling Springs Trail
Location: 735 Gulf Shore Parkway, Stanhope.
Highlights: views of the pond, lookout points
Length: 2.5 km easy loop
Bubbling Springs PEI is best combined with the Farmlands Trail for a longer loop and is much more interesting. It is a dirt track, and you soon reach an area with bubbles in a clear pond with signs explaining why. A little further, you reach the lookout tower with great views over a section of Long Pond.
Then, a little further, there is another lookout point off a floating dock from which we were able to see an osprey. This last lookout location has a covered seating area. Bird watchers love this trail.
11. Gulf Shore Way East
Location: 4021 Brackley Point Road or 48 Gulf Shore Parkway, Dalvay.
Highlights: views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and red sand beach
Length: 12.2 km one way
You can walk the whole or part of this, as I did, going to Richard’s for lobster rolls. Most of the people I saw were cycling with many stopping at more secluded sections along the red cliffs before heading down to the sandy beaches. It goes right past the entrance to the Stanhope Campground in PEI National Park.
Greenwich – Prince Edward Island National Park
12. Greenwich Dunes Trail
Location: 61 Greenwich Road, Route 313, Greenwich
Highlights: Floating boardwalk
Length: 4.6 km, easy trail. Listed as a moderate trail by Parks Canada
Cost: Parks Canada Discovery Pass or daily pass
Note: cyclists can only ride partway where they are asked to dismount
My favourite hike is in the Prince Edward Island National Park. Start at the Visitor Centre (information, washrooms, and a few exhibits) and then head to the nearby parking lot, where you can access 3 trails. The Greenwich Dunes Trail is flat, going through a forest. But the best is still to come, as when you reach the Bowley Pond, there is a long floating boardwalk that takes you to the sand dunes and excellent beach.
Home to the biggest dunes on the island. On the way out, I stopped at Rick’s Fish & Chips and Seafood House beside the Confederation Cycling Trails.
13. Tlaqatik Trail
Location: 61 Greenwich Road, Route 313, Greenwich. Same trailhead as Greenwich Dunes
Highlights: St. Peter’s Bay
Length: 2.4 km side trail loop, 4.7 km from the parking lot
From the Greenwich Dunes Trail, walk through a field of wildflowers to St. Peter’s Bay for a great view from the lookout points. I encountered a lot of bicycles.
14. Havre Saint Pierre Trail
Location: 61 Greenwich Road, Route 313, Greenwich. Same trailhead as Greenwich Dunes
Highlights: view of St. Peter’s Bay
Length: 1.1 km easy loop
A short trail to view St. Peter’s Bay with the mussel beds and fishing boats.
Fort Amherst National Historic Site
15. Skmaqn Trail
Location: Follow Route #1, the Trans Canada Highway west from Charlottetown to Cornwall. Follow Route 19 for approximately 15 km.
Highlights: views of Charlottetown, learn about the history of the Skmagn
Length: 6 km over a series of trails
Cost: Parks Canada Discovery Pass or daily pass
Established by the French in 1720. From the Visitor Centre first, watch the 16-minute film about the site, then check out the interpretive panels, and finally, there is a series of short walking trails totalling 6 km in length.
Other PEI Walking Trails
16. Summerside Baywalk
Location: From Highway 2, exit south on Central Street, turn left on Water Street, and follow until you see a sign for Summerside Baywalk on the right. It is across from Staples.
Highlights: Waterfront walk, interesting shops, harbour
Length: easy 6.5 km one way
A waterfront walking trail in Summerside with lookouts, picnic shelters, and washrooms. I passed a fish processing plant, a Canadian Coast Guard station, a collection of shops, and further along an area with ponds and plenty of birdhouses, chipmunks, and squirrels. It is on a wooden boardwalk for much of the way, sharing the path with the Confederation Trail and Island Walk.
On the return walk, stopped at the Knot Bar, which has a small red sand area outside, rents bicycles, and serves Summerside Lite Beer made by Alex of the Brew Pub.
17. Black Marsh Trail
Location: North Cape
Highlights: red sandstone cliffs, bog, boardwalk
Length: 5.5 km, part of the Island Walk
Cost: none
As it was an 188 km drive one way from the Stanhope Campground, I debated whether it was worth going to North Cape – it was worth it, as it turned out to be one of the best hikes in PEI. I arrived at the large parking lot and saw a coyote running by. Headed into the lighthouse, where there is a cafe and gift shop with snacks. The restaurant was closed during our visit.
Outside at the starting point, there were signs describing the area before we headed along the Black Marsh Nature Trail. This first part is fairly open with cliffs over the ocean. In the second section, the trail splits into a forested section (with lookouts), so I went one way and took the other route returning.
The last section is in the open again as you walk on a boardwalk over a bog with 2 large viewing platforms of the bog and the coast, and more signs explaining things. This trail is part of the Island Walk and was my second-favourite walk on the island.
On the way back to break up the drive, I stopped at the Acadian Museum in Miscouche. Acadians make up 25% of the population of PEI, and the museum explains their history with a film and interesting exhibits. I was surprised at how much I liked it.
18. Ji’ka’we’katiki Trail
Location: Bonshaw Hills Provincial Park
Highlights: views of the Bonshaw River
Length: a total of up to 18 km in the park
Another of the PEI walking trails. The Ji’ka’we’katiki Trail is the traditional Mi’kmaq name for the West River and means “the place where bass are plentiful.” There are lots of loops in the park totalling 18 km, but this is the main trail with many hills, so it is a workout.
19. Goat Trail
Location: Strathgartney Provincial Park
Highlights: views of the West River
Length: total of up to 5.8 km in the park
The Goat Trail is short but very rugged and challenging, the nicest in Strathgartney Provincial Park. It continues with the trails in Bonshaw Hills Provincial Park, so there are many hiking opportunities.
PEI Long Distance Trails
20. Confederation Trail
Location: A rail trail that runs the length of PEI, with branch trails including one to Charlottetown
Length: 449 km, including branch trails with 273 km for the basic trail. Suitable for walkers or cyclists
The Confederation Trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail that runs the length of the island along an abandoned railway with many sights, including the Canadian Potato Museum and accommodation options along the way.
While much is interesting, such as in the Greenwich area, there are some sections of basic rail trail with little to see. Along bicycle trails and red dirt roads.
21. The Island Walk
Length: 700 km route around Prince Edward Island
Highlights: basically get to see the entire coast, including Charlottetown, Summerside, lighthouses, fishing villages, red sand beaches, museums, local theatre, and more.
A fairly new trail, the Island Walk is the longest trail in PEI. The PEI Island Walk creator was Bryson Guptill, and the route compares itself to the Camino de Santiago as it goes around the entire island.
This new route is a combination of quiet roads, coastal sections, existing routes such as parts of the Confederation Trail, and other trails such as the Black Marsh. The Island Walk also goes through Charlottetown, which has several city walking tours.
PEI Accommodation
Both booking.com and Expedia have suggestions for hotels, motels, and cottages
Prince Edward National Park has two campgrounds on the north shore, including the one at Cavendish and the most family-oriented one at Stanhope. I stayed at the Stanhope Campground and liked the large sites, the entertainment provided by the park, and the beach right across the road. There are also plenty of hotels, motels, cabins, and B&Bs around the island.
Lobster Dinners
I went to the New Glasgow Lobster Restaurant located in one of the small towns, which makes this province so interesting. The restaurant, located next to a river, is large and very crowded. If you walk in with a reservation (less waiting time), you pay in advance for your main course and receive unlimited side dishes. Good value as it includes unlimited chowder or soup (or both), salad (potato, coleslaw, and green), rolls/butter, mussels, and soft drinks.
The Original Richard’s has locations in Covehead Wharf, across from the lighthouse in Stanhope, and Victoria-by-the-Sea. At Covehead Wharf, it is in a fishing hut with a long lineup and limited seating, so most people take away. This was the best Lobster Roll I had on the island, and everyone knows it.
Prince Edward Island Tours
When not going on walks, you may wish to go on a tour
Getting to PEI
The airport is located in Charlottetown with flights from major cities in Canada and connections across North America. Rental cars are available if needed.
By driving, you can take the Confederation Bridge for 12.9 km over the Northumberland Strait from New Brunswick. There is also a ferry on the east end of the island connecting with Nova Scotia. I found that Google Maps frequently gave incorrect driving directions on the island.
My Prince Edward Island Road Trip post provides information for exploring the entire island.
What to Bring for your hike
✔️ Backpack – to hold your lunch and other items
✔️ Water Bottle – as it can be hot out there
✔️ Rain Poncho – should you encounter rain during your hike
✔️ Sunscreen – for protection from the sun as many hikes are over open areas
✔️ Sunglasses – from Beacool
FAQs: Best Prince Edward Island walking trails
When is it best to go to PEI?
The peak tourism months to visit Prince Edward Island are from mid-June to September when attractions are open, and the temperatures are most pleasant, especially if visiting the famous red sand beaches.
What is the famous trail in Prince Edward Island?
The Confederation Trail, along a decommissioned railway line that crosses the entire province for 273 km, is the most famous, and it totals 445 km if branch trails are included.
Is Prince Edward Island walkable?
The easy Island Walk goes around the entire island, including several existing trails and quiet roads.
What is Prince Edward Island known for?
Red sand beaches, lobster rolls and dinners, lighthouses, walking trails, Anne of Green Gables, the Charlottetown Festival, and welcoming people.
Looking for information on Atlantic Canada Parks?
- Point Pelee National Park in Ontario is a favourite for bird watchers and is the southernmost point in Canada.
- Find out about the best things to do in Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland
- Nearby to PEI is Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park in New Brunswick
Thoughts: Best Prince Edward Island Walking Trails
If you just want to consider scenic, short, and easy coastal walks, check out my post. Look here if considering the best Anne of Green Gables tours.
While this is active travel, there is the opportunity to relax as well. These Prince Edward Island walking trails are a great way to see the simple beauty of the island, including fishing villages, floating boardwalks, sand dunes, red sand beaches, lighthouses, and scenic lookouts.
