St. John's - Port aux Basques, 883 km (549 miles), 45 days

Multi-purpose recreational trail. The entire former railway, which operated between 1898 and 1988, has been turned into an official park. A small one, but lengthy too: 883 kms from Newfoundland's east to west coast.

Many of the bridges and trestles (totalling to 3,5 km in length) on the route are in a poor state, and some are considered unsafe. Work is in progress to repair them. It seems a good idea, turning a disused railway into a trail, but it is in constant need of maintanance. The gravel surface varies in quality, and is suitable over its entire length for hikers and mountain bikers. The trail attracts motorists and ATV's, for whom the wild ride through the desolate interiors of Newfoundland is challenging.