Winter may be the best time to explore P.E.I.'s outdoor spaces, trail groups say

For Islanders looking to get outside more this winter, trail groups say the colder months are actually one of the best times of year to explore Prince Edward Island’s outdoor spaces.

From snowshoeing and hiking to fat biking, both Cycling P.E.I. and Island Trails say they are seeing strong use of the trail systems they help maintain.

On the province's longest trail, the Confederation Trail, winter access is more limited. The trail is now closed to all users except snowmobile riders, and it's managed and groomed by the P.E.I. Snowmobile Association.

An exception remains for sections of the Confederation Trail within the city limits of Summerside and Charlottetown. Those areas are not leased and remain open for walking during the winter months.

Beyond the tip-to-tip path, however, there are plenty of other groomed options.

Groomed winter trails across P.E.I.

Jordan Bober, executive director of Cycling P.E.I., said the organization is grooming several trail networks this winter, including Rotary Friendship Park in Summerside, the Brookvale Demo Woodlot, Glasgow Hills, the Acadian Forest trails in Charlottetown and the Cardigan trails in eastern P.E.I.

Those are groomed primarily for fat biking, but Bober said other users are welcome as long as they follow basic trail etiquette.

LISTEN | Trails on P.E.I. gearing up for winter:

The group does not encourage people to walk on groomed trails in regular boots if the snow doesn't support their weight, as that can create what are known as postholes — deep, boot-sized holes left in the snow by hikers not wearing snowshoes.

“When those postholes then go through… thaw cycles, they become hard, and then they become a hazard, and also difficult to navigate for other users, as you can imagine if you're going over that with a bike or even potentially with snowshoes,” Bober told CBC’s Island Morning.

He added that many trails have signs reminding users that if the snow doesn’t support their weight, they should stay off the trail or use snowshoes.

Bryson Guptill, director of trail maintenance with Island Trails, said the organization generally sees fewer issues with postholes because of the high volume of winter traffic on some of the systems it helps maintain.

“After you've had 20 walkers through, you’ve already got a solid base,” said Guptill, who’s also  the founder of the 700-kilometre Island Walk.

Still, Guptill said conditions can change quickly, especially after heavy snowfall. If the snow is deep, he also recommends using snowshoes.

He advised walkers to be prepared for icy conditions.

“At that time, we recommend people use grippers on their boots to keep from sliding.”

Trying something new this winter

For Islanders interested in winter cycling, Bober said fat bikes, especially those with studded tries, can open up new possibilities.

He said there is a big difference between studded and non-studded fat bikes, with the studded option being far superior for grip when there is ice on the trails.

“For those that are looking to experience it, they might not want to go buy a fat bike right away. There are a few places that they can rent them to try them out,” Bober said.

He added that fat bike rentals are available at Glasgow Hills, which has a fleet on site, as well as at the Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park at Brookvale.

Both locations also rent snowshoes, and some municipalities and the province's public library system also offer snowshoe borrowing programs.

Dressing for winter conditions

Both organizations said winter is far from a quiet season on P.E.I.'s trail networks.

With Island Trails, Guptill said popular winter routes include the Winter River Trail in Queens County, the Boughton River Trail in eastern end of the province, and Forestview Trail in western P.E.I.

“It’s a busy season. People love getting out," he said. "They bundle up a bit, but otherwise, it's good exercise and a good way to be hanging out with your friends too, because our hiking groups often will have 20 people in a group, so it's a very social occasion.”

However, Guptill said one common mistake people make when heading out on winter trails is overdressing.

“When you're out walking or snowshoeing, in particular, you're going to warm up very fast,” he said. “One of the keys is not to dress too, too warmly, and probably take a backpack so you can put extra clothes in your backpack.”

He added that after heavy use, many trails across P.E.I. can become icy. When conditions allow people to wear boots or sneakers, it’s important to choose footwear that's waterproof and, ideally, equipped with grippers for traction.

Finding trail conditions

Both groups encourage people to check trail conditions before heading out.

Island Trails posts updates on its website, and walkers often share real-time conditions in the Island Walking Trails Facebook group, which has more than 8,000 members.

Cycling P.E.I. maintains a winter riding page on its website with up-to-date grooming reports, including when trails were last groomed and current conditions. Updates are also shared through social media, including the P.E.I. Trails Report Facebook group.

For those looking to explore somewhere new, Guptill recommended Forest Hill in eastern P.E.I., which he said sees less traffic than nearby trails like Boughton River.

Meanwhile, Bober suggested Glasgow Hills, P.E.I.’s newest groomed trail network, with about 10 kilometres of trails and on-site bike rentals, making it an easy place to try winter riding for the first time.