The Trans Canada Trail (Great Trail)

[Soulboy#1]

Hi everyone and a happy new year.

Haven’t been in here in a while and hope everyone is tickety boo.

I’m considering riding across Canada on the trans Canada trail. I understand that much of this trail is now one long nirvana but also heard that it’s not perfect in parts?

Just looking for some preliminary information
about it and how it would be to take a couple of touring/gravel bikes along it, anything to look out for, highs, lows, good bad and of course bears!!!!

I did the trans am trail in the US a few years back and now looking to set up the next big adventure.

Thank you for any information in advance

David

[John Nettles]

I have wanted to do a TransCanada route for many years.  It is the stretch between Marathon and Thunder Bay Ontario that has given me pause as almost every journal I have read said the traffic was miserable.  The route you reference looks promising but it uses too many unsurfaced (only dirt) backroads (can be horrible when wet) with little to no services.  Plus there are significant gaps in the road routes.

I would suggest you take a look at Cycle Blaze or CrazyGuyonaBike for journals to get information.

Tailwinds, John

[Soulboy#1]

Thanks John,

Ive literally only started researching it. I have read that in parts the trails are a little null and void so its a shame that it being advertised incorrectly. I was supposed to do a tour to Norway last year but alas Covid knocked that back so im predicting a trans Canada trip might be a better option in maybe 18-24 months to see if the world has calmed down by then?

"It is the stretch between Marathon and Thunder Bay Ontario that has given me pause as almost every journal I have read said the traffic was miserable"

I did hear that the trail used to be bad for traffic but unaware its still not a cycling oasis? I'll have a look Cycle blaze, and CGOAB he always seems to be the go to!

Best regards

David

[John Nettles]

CGOAB he always seems to be the go to!

CGOAB is great for journals but I recommend you stay away from the forums as he can be quite moody at times and has repeatedly banned people (myself included) for saying or even clicking "agree" on forum posts.  Definitely can not recommend CGOAB forums.  The other decent forums is on BikeForums.net (Touring sub-group).

Tailwinds, John

[Soulboy#1]

Thanks John. I’ll bear that in mind.

[BikeFreak]

I have some info.

A few years back (2017) I wanted to do the Transcanada but stopped in Kapuskasing and went back home for some reasons.

Anyhow:

I started in Sept Iles, then hwy 138 and hwy 172 to Saguenay. Then from Saguenay to Chapais on 167 and 113. Then Amos, Matheson, Cochrane and Kapuskasing. There was no dirt at all. The longest stretch without services was north of Sagunay to Chapais which was 225 km which I managed to do in 1 day. I saw 1 bear on that stretch straight on the road.

I left mid July and for most of the time it was never really t shirt weather - I was wearing a thin jacket almost all the time. I could certainly feel there's a big difference between the transam and this route which is much further north. I recall having 1 day where it just poured down for like 6-7 hours.

At no time I felt unsafe due to traffic. Of course there were trucks but they were not a problem even on the stretch from Matheson to Kapuskasing. I cannot imagine there should be MORE traffic going west of Kapuskasing towards Thunder Bay - unless there are some crazy big mines I don't know of. During trips like these I am more worried about finding services, food, a safe place to sleep and stuff like that.

The most beautiful scenery was between junction 138/172 and Saguenay.

Just ask if you have more questions :-)

Lucas