Duration
6 days
Activities
  • 4 days self-guided hiking
Accommodation
  • 3 nights B&B's/guesthouses
Meals
  • 3 Dinners
  • 3 Lunches
  • 3 Breakfasts
THIS TRIP IS
100% CARBON OFFSET
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Trip Code: SOG8153

Overview

Trip highlights

  • Enjoy stunning coastal multi-day hiking
  • Opportunities to spot whales, icebergs, puffins, and moose
  • Discover colourful and historic fishing villages and communities
  • Step foot on the most easterly point of North America
  • Experience first-hand friendly Newfoundland hospitality

As whale pods patrol an emerald coast, sea birds flutter overhead in the salty fresh breeze, while plump golden bakeapples sprout across windswept barrens. Bright-painted clapboard houses sit alongside worn nets and lobster traps. With this stunning coastal beauty enriched by colourful seafaring communities, it’s little wonder Newfoundland captures the imagination. Comprised of 26 wilderness paths totalling over 300km/186mi along the province’s Avalon Peninsula, the East Coast Trail covers towering cliffs, deep fjords, dense greenery and dramatic sea-stacks, arches and ocean caves. Our itinerary gathers the very best of these trails while removing all your logistical headaches, lightening your load with friendly transfers and providing comfortable, authentic accommodation too. Offering plenty of flexibility, Newfoundland’s nature and culture are on full display, from popular day hikes along Cape Spear and Deadman’s Bay to the less-trafficked wonders at Flamber Head and Berry Head. You’ll meet the story-rich characters that breathe life into the coastal communities, and discover the history and seafood available in small villages from Quidi Vidi and Petty Harbour all the way to the capital of St John’s. The East Coast Trail is less arduous but no less stunning than its western counterpart, an unforgettable adventure no come-from-away will want to miss.

Activities:
Grading:
5

Moderate

More info about grading system

Itinerary

Expand all | Collapse all

Technically today’s loop is not part of the East Trail, but it’s too beautiful to miss. We walk along a lake north of St John’s to the old fishing village of Quidi Vidi (pronounced Kiddy Viddy), which is home to the province’s largest microbrewery, and an acclaimed restaurant in one of the oldest buildings in North America (lunch reservations are required). After refreshing yourself with Quidi Vidi’s Iceberg beer, made with the pure waters of 20,000-year-old iceberg water, head over to the Sugarloaf Path located at the southern end of the ECT. It’s a solid hike up to the top of Bowdens Highland for an incredible view over the village, and St John’s in the distance. The walk back to your B&B in the city follows a gorgeous coastal path, crossing the National Historic Site of Signal Hill and the Battery of St John’s Harbour.

Meals:  Nil

After breakfast, you'll be picked up at your hotel and dropped off at in Cape Spear. Today, your hike begins at the most easterly point of North America: Cape Spear. Perched on a rugged cliff lies Cape Spear Lighthouse – the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province and an iconic symbol of Newfoundland and Labrador's mariner history. Constructed in 1836, the Cape Spear Lighthouse consists of a stone light tower surrounded by the lightkeeper's residence. In 1955 a new lighthouse tower was built on the site using the active light from the original lighthouse. A morning arrival allows us to enjoy this popular attraction with few others... and few others are likely to be leaving the site by foot! The walk back to Petty Harbour is a beautiful outing with a variety of terrain, hills, long views, boardwalked bog crossings, and two river crossings. Pack your windbreaker and be mindful of your footing - The continent's edge is a windy one! Transfer back to St Johns following your Whale Watching tour in Bay Bulls.

Meals:  Nil

Transfer from St John's to Cape Boyle and drop off at Belle Maison.

Meals:  D

If there’s a single photo of your trip that will stop people in their tracks, it will be the massive sea arch at Berry Head located on the Spurwink Island Path section of the trail. Chunks of the stratified archway continue to fall to the ground below, while the reflecting ocean window is sublime on a summer day. You have the option of hiking the full distance southwards from Aquaforte back to your accommodation or to do an out-and-back hike to the archway from your accommodation. Both options result in similar hiking distances, but the latter (out and back) route avoids the north section, which is a rugged hike through dense forest with few coastal views.

Meals:  B,L,D

Kayaking

Meals:  B,L,D

Beginning with grassy meadows and mixed woods, today's path crosses numerous brooks in taking you to a fantastic lookout point overlooking The Forge. This monumental cinder block of rock regularly has high waves break over it during rough seas. This is one of many impressive lookout points to be found on the day's hike which also features views of Renews harbour, of a thriving cormorant colony nesting on Renews Island, and of more waves breaking over rocks and sea-washed ledges. Stop in Ferryland on the way back to St John's

Meals:  B,L

Inclusions

What's included

  • Meals while at Belle Maison
  • 3 nights at Belle Maison on a double occupancy basis
  • Luggage transfers (1 piece per person)
  • Transfers to/from trailheads as indicated in itinerary
  • Navigation APP inclusive of detailed route notes and points of interest (available offline while hiking)
  • Use of Garmin emergency communications device (1 per group)
  • $50 donation to the East Coast Trail Association

  • Services and hotels in St. John's
  • Items of a personal nature including alcoholic beverages
  • Meals and transfers where not indicated in the itinerary
  • Travel insurance (compulsory)
  • Entrance fees and optional activities
  • Airport transfers
  • Applicable taxes

Accommodation

Haven for hikers

Belle Maison in Port Kirwan offers a distinctive experience with accommodations tailored for hikers. Every room is equipped with a private ensuite and sufficient storage space. The snack shack is equipped with boot dryers and offers additional hiking poles. The hot tub is a revitalizing amenity, ideal for unwinding after hiking. Situated in a fishing village, our skilled host frequently prepares fresh fish and seafood.

Trail Surface

Expect diverse and often rugged terrain

The East Coast Trail is considered one of the world’s best coastal hikes. The trail covers a variety of terrain, and its location along the rugged coast of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland is exposed to unpredictable weather variation. Each segment of the East Coast Trail is unique, offering a variety of trail surfaces and memorable experiences but potentially creating challenges that require sure footing and extra preparation.

You will encounter everything from relatively flat to short, steep sections. Mixed ascents and descents will range up to 150 meters. Most of the walk is on well-marked trail with some boarded surfaces, exposed tree roots, and likely mud and/or rocks to tread over or around. Some sections of the East Coast Trail can get particularly slippery after rainy days, including stream crossing, we recommend using hiking poles. You will need suitable footwear with good support to avoid rolling ankles or encountering blisters. This is not a trip for breaking in new hiking boots! Be sure you have tried and tested your boots in wet conditions and over uneven terrain. Expect long hiking days as distances may vary from 8 to 16km per day with variable weather conditions. Be prepared for each day's weather by carrying a variety of gear appropriate for adverse weather (rain gear, windbreakers, sunscreen, long pants, etc.).

Suitability

Moderate

5

Moderate. Daily walks are between 8km and 16km on well marked trails over diverse and often rugged terrain – from relatively flat to short, steep sections. Most of the walk is on trail with some boarded surfaces, exposed tree roots, and likely mud and/or rocks to scramble over. You should pay particular attention to your footwear to ensure that it is suitable to avoid blisters and rolling ankles. This is not a trip for breaking in new hiking boots! Be sure you have tried and tested your boots in wet conditions and over uneven terrain. Route finding will be reasonably straightforward (refer to information regarding self guided adventures) but days are long and weather conditions will be variable. The main areas to concentrate on route finding are arriving and leaving towns and cities, and along rocky shores. The accent is on keeping a steady pace to take in all of the views, with time to stop and take photos. You will need a good level of fitness to participate fully in this adventure. Self guided walking requires individuals to use problem solving skills, be adaptable and have a keen eye. It is recommended that you are comfortable map reading, referring to route notes and that you have a good sense of direction (or are willing to work on improving this!) Sometimes route finding, losing your way, finding it again and asking the locals for help is all part of the adventure. If you’ve never been on a self guided trip, after the first couple of days you will get the hang of if as the vast majority of our first time travellers attest. Please be assured that our written material issued to you for route finding is updated regularly and we provide local contact information in the event of any problems. There is a certain level of the unknown that comes with self guided trips, however with a methodical approach potential problems will be averted. The freedom of a self guided trip is something that, once experienced, is sought time and time again.

Departure dates

Daily from June through October 9

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Hiking Newfoundland's East Coast Trail with Great Canadian Trails