The Great Canadian Hike: You Can Make a Difference with Each Step
As the Great Canadian Hike kicked off, I want to share how thrilled our team is at explore to participate in the Great Canadian Hike this month.
The world’s longest multi-use trail network didn’t happen by accident. It exists because generations of passionate Canadians believed in building something magnificent together. By participating in the Great Canadian Hike, you aren’t just starting an outdoor adventure; you’re taking a stand that trails matter for our physical health, our local communities and our country. Every kilometre logged and dollar raised makes a tangible difference.
Working in ad sales for explore, I’m constantly reminded of how vital these wild spaces are to our readers, our partners and our own team. We’re lace-up ready to practice what we preach!
This month I will be hiking and biking in and around Winnipeg. Since my bike is my main form of transportation, I actually use the TCT almost daily.
I hope you enjoy exploring Canada’s beautiful landscapes over the next month. See you on the trail!
– Adrianna Szarek, Business Development Manager
If there’s ever a time for us Canadians to get together and do something good for ourselves, others and our country, it’s now. I love the Trans Canada Trail and feel blessed to have the TCT in Canadian’s backyards across the country. I’ve been lucky to visit nearly every province and territory, and seeing the TCT signs always makes me feel at home.
Just over a year ago, in June 2025, I hiked 163 kilometres on the Cotswold Way in England and raised over $2,000 for hearing health. Over 10 days, I crossed fields, farms and meadows, climbing up and down hills and exploring a new country.
For the Great Canadian Hike this September, I’m excited to hike trails near my home in Coquitlam, BC that are a part of the Trans Canada Trail, like the Coquitlam River Trail and the Shoreline Trail in Port Moody.
I kicked things off with a mini grind up the Coquitlam Crunch on September 1st. In mid-September, I’ll hiking Acropole des Draveurs in Quebec, an 11-kilometre hike with 700 metres of elevation gain.
As part of The Great Explorers with my colleagues at explore magazine, I’m personally hoping to raise $300 CAD and cover 60 kilometres total.
Thank you for donating and helping us reach our goal!
– Alison Karlene Hodgins, Editor
The Trans Canada Trail is the longest network in the world. The reason why I feel connected to it is because of its accessible, dynamic nature. As someone who enjoys more leisurely and relaxing hikes but sometimes likes to add in a bit of a challenge, I always look to the TCT for my hiking trails.
Back in Vancouver, I remember my siblings and I hiking the closest section on our free days and taking our friends and family who would visit from out of town to the trails.
Now, having shifted to Ontario just a year ago, I look forward to exploring new trails in the network like the hidden gem Caledon Trailway and the Niagara River Recreation Trail before heading to the world-renowned falls.
Hiking while making a difference has never been easier, with the Great Canadian Hike. My goal is discover Ontario’s wild spaces while aiming to raise $100.
It’s super easy, free and completely rewarding. I can’t wait to lace up my boots, hit the trails and hike. But mostly, I’m excited for that all-consuming feeling of satisfaction knowing that each step helped support a great cause.
– Dania Rashid, Editorial Assistant
