“The Great Lakes Coastal Trail Conference — taking place Thursday and Friday in Saugatuck, Mich. — aims to bring together supporters in the U.S. and Canada to formalize development of a roughly 11,270-kilometre route.

 

The route would include Great Lakes shoreline and the St. Lawrence River, which connects the lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

 

An aim is to draw tourists to the region, which includes eight U.S. states and Quebec and Ontario.

It would integrate independent biking and kayaking trail developments in states such as Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.”