Prince Edward Island’s particular combination of rugged sandstone cliffs, soft white sand beaches, wetlands and woodlands, hiking trails, winding country roads, and hundreds of kilometres of coastline make for an ideal opportunity to experience the Island’s natural beauty. In fishing communities across the Island, visitors and locals alike enjoy deep-sea fishing excursions to catch cod, mackerel, or giant bluefin tuna. Eastern Prince Edward Island tour operators offer seal-watching excursions. And, for the family angler, the Island has over 100 trout-fishing spots, one of which just might be harbouring tonight’s supper.
Whether for a few hours on a sunny summer morning or on a multi-day tour, cycling is a popular activity for visitors to Prince Edward Island. Island terrain can be classed into one of three categories: hilly, rolling, and level. Hills rarely exceed 1 kilometre in length or an incline of 30 degrees. The hilliest areas of the province are in the central part of the Island, a north-south swath from Cavendish-New Glasgow area to Strathgartney-DeSable area. The terrain west of this strip, around St. Ann and Kinkora, is characterized by rolling hills, as is the area surrounding Alberton in West Prince, and Souris in Eastern Kings. The rest of the province’s terrain is fairly level, with land along the coast being especially flat. The Prince Edward Island Cycling Association organizes cycling events, and many private companies conduct cycling tours of the Island. Cycle rentals and tours are possible on an hourly, daily, or overnight basis through numerous businesses in communities across the Island.
Outdoor enthusiasts can also enjoy many
opportunities for hiking. The Prince Edward Island
National Park offers six hiking trails varying in length
from 0.5 to 8.0 kilometres. The Confederation Trail,
which will eventually extend 354 kilometres from the
western tip of Prince Edward Island (in the community of
Tignish) to the eastern tip ending at Souris. Currently,
nine sections of the trail have been completed for a
total of 225 kilometres of 3-metre-wide stone dust
surface. There is a multitude of other hiking trails in
or near communities throughout the Island. The Indian
River Nature Trail, near Kensington, is located adjacent
to the Indian River Wildlife Management Area. Observant
hikers may sight ospreys and bald eagles along this
trail.
For
those interested in boating, communities all along the
coast of the Island have launches for boats up to 45 feet
in length. Meanwhile, canoe or kayak enthusiasts will
find plenty of paddling opportunities on our Island
rivers or along the coast. Several private operators rent
canoes, river kayaks, sailboards, paddle boats, jet skis,
and rowboats on an hourly or daily basis to individuals
or groups. Canoeing or kayaking tours of Prince Edward
Island are also offered by private tour operators.
If you are not satisfied with travelling atop the water, you can venture down below the surface. Divers can rent scuba gear, participate in dive-charters or take a scuba diving course. If you prefer your aquatic experience to be a bit more lightweight, the Island offers many kilometres of public white sand and bay beaches. Six beaches within the Prince Edward Island National Park (encompassing 32 kilometres of beach) and seven provincial parks are surfguarded during July and August.
Winter lovers will enjoy the Island’s rolling hills; they are a dream for cross-country skiers. Three provincial parks—Brudenell, Mill River and Brookvale—and the Prince Edward Island National Park offer groomed trails. The Brookvale Nordic Centre is ideal for alpine skiing, featuring chair lifts, night lighting, and a lodge. In winter, the Confederation Trail becomes a groomed snowmobile trail extending the length of the Island and featuring trail signage and clubhouses.
