Many parts of the East Coast Trail were left impassable by tropical storm Leslie. (CBC)

The East Coast Trail Association has a huge cleanup on its hands. The group just finished assessing the damage from tropical storm Leslie, and says more than 4,000 trees on the trail system blew down during the storm one month ago.

Association president Randy Murphy says that while every path of the 265 km system was affected, the trails on the Southern Shore got hit the hardest.

"If you go to Flambro Head Path, which is between Bauline East and Brigus South, there are 475 trees down or leaning across that trail— 3 times the number we had down with Igor," said Murphy.

He says it will take up to six weeks to remove all the downed trees, and that until then, they won't know the full extent of the damage to trail infrastructure.

Parts of some trails may be impassable, adds Murphy, who advises hikers to check the East Coast Trail website before heading out.