For many hikers, Newfoundland first appears on their radar because of the famous long distance trek, the East Coast Trail. It’s certainly what brought us to the eastern shores and why we spent a week in St. John’s, but as we discovered there are other trail systems in eastern Newfoundland that rival the big ECT. We’ll cover all of them, beginning from the Kittiwake Coast and working our way to the Avalon Peninsula, home of the capital city of St. John’s and the East Coast Trail.
Table of Contents
Best trails on the Kittiwake Coast
These trails are lovely but we only recommend them for those who are already planning to explore the Kittiwake Coast. For those seeking beautiful beaches, solitude, and scenic drives, this region is worth the extra time.
Wonder Shore Trails
3.7 mi (6 km) to 6 mi (9.5 km)
There are 4 trails in the Wonder Shore system, covering the Kittiwake Coast from Lumsden to Greenspond. These are all coastal trails with relatively flat pathways, making them an excellent choice for children or anyone seeking easy to moderate trails.
Best trails near Terra Nova National Park
Newfoundland has two national parks and while Terra Nova may never win a competition against Gros Morne for sheer grandeur, it offers a very different landscape and places to camp. But the trails we really love in this region are found on the Eastport Peninsula and they’re free!
Damnable Trails
1.2 mi (2 km) to 9.3 mi (15 km) – one-way
If the name alone doesn’t pique your interest, maybe we can entice you with the fact that one of Newfoundland’s prettiest beaches, Sandy Cove, can be found near these trails on the Eastport Peninsula. The Damnable Trail system includes 4 trails ranging from short and easy to the challenging Coastal Ridge Trail which requires transport back to your car.
Terra Nova National Park
.3 mi (.5 km) to 22 mi (35 km)
There are 12 official trails in Terra Nova National Park, ranging from easy half mile walks to the 22 mile Outport Trail which offers a chance for backcountry camping. There aren’t any specific trails here that excite us but if you’re looking for a place to camp with plenty of trails nearby, Terra Nova is a great choice.
Best trails on the Bonavista Peninsula
Besides puffins and icebergs, the Bonavista Peninsula has much to offer for hikers. One of Newfoundland’s most popular day hikes is here and there are plenty of excellent accommodations and restaurants to keep you happy for several days. Most hikers come here for the Skerwink Trail but there are other trails on the Bonavista Peninsula that equal its beauty.
Skerwink Trail
3.3 mi (5.3 km)
We hiked Skerwink and loved it, it’s truly a magnificent trail, just make sure to hike it early or later in the day because it’s one of the most popular trails in Newfoundland.
Fox Island Trail
3.4 mi (5.5 km)
Just one cove over from Skerwink and with fewer crowds, the Fox Island loop is an equally fantastic trail. You can easily hike both trails on the same day.
Spillars Cove
2.1 mi (3.4 km)
Spillars Cove is more of a viewpoint at the end of Klondike Trail, which connects the town of Elliston to Spillars Cove. Since much of that longer hike is inland, we suggest hiking the shorter section to Spillars and then driving to the parking lot for Elliston’s puffin colony where a short walk offers gorgeous coastline and some interesting root cellars.
Gun Hill Trail
1.9 mi (3.1 km)
For an easier short hike that offers views of Trinity and surrounding coastline, Gun Hill Trail is a good solid choice.
Murphy’s Cove Trail
4.5 mi (7.2 km) loop
A pretty coastal loop, we wouldn’t consider Murphy’s Cove a “must hike” but it’s a good choice if you’re looking for extra walking paths near Trinity or Elliston.
King’s Cove Lighthouse Trail
2.3 mi (3.7 km) loop
King’s Cove is a sleepy little village on the northern side of Bonavista Peninsula and the Lighthouse Trail offers the perfect chance to capture this beautiful place on camera.
Cape Shore Trail
5.7 mi (9 km)
A popular hike from the town of Bonavista, Cape Shore takes you along the most northern tip of the peninsula to the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse.
Best trails on the Avalon Peninsula
The East Coast Trail dominates the hiking scene near St. John’s, but there are other trails on the Avalon Peninsula that are worthy of your attention. These are especially good for day hikers.
Chance Cove Coastal Trail
2.3 mi (3.7 km ) loop
This “under the radar” trail near Goobies is absolutely stunning and a great way to take a break if you’re driving to or from the Avalon Peninsula. The trail takes you to several beaches which by themselves are worth this short hike.
Center Hill Trail
6.3 mi (10 km)
On a clear day, this trail offers views for miles of Sunnyside, Placentia Bay and Trinity Bay. It’s a real scramble to reach the top but the entire trail is interesting and hikers say the work at the end is well worth it.
Seaview Loop
2 mi (3.2 km) loop
Seaview Loop near Chapel Arm is a great coastal trail offering views of several small bays. It’s a good choice if you’re exploring the Carbonear Trails and towns like Dildo and Come By Chance.
Salmonier Nature Park Loop
1.9 mi (3 km)
Salmonier Nature Park is the perfect stop for a quick easy walk with wildlife, especially if you’re looking to kill time before or after the Argentia Ferry. Backcountry hikers seeking wilderness hikes through unmarked trails can access the Avalon Wilderness Reserve from this park.
Long-distance Trails of Newfoundland
East Coast Trail
209 mi (336 km)
The East Coast Trail is one of those epic long-distance hikes that should be on any thru-hiker’s bucket list, especially if you love coastal trails. This well-developed trail is easy to plan on your own, divided into 25 sections ranging from 2.4 mi (3.8 km) to 12.7 mi (20.4 km) in distance. Some sections are easier than others but none of these paths are flat. What we love most about the East Coast Trail is that every path is beautiful, you can’t choose a bad one, and they can easily be done by day hikers. We opted to hike them out and back, turning around whenever we felt like it, but you can hire transport services to return you to your car if you wish to hike an entire section. Better yet, take advantage of the guided hikes offered by the East Coast Trail Association. To see the paths we chose to day hike, read They Told us Not to go to St. John’s.
Cost Saving Tip: Hiring transport services for each section of the East Coast Trail gets expensive but one way to save money is by staying at lodging that provides transport as part of their service. You’ll find some of these in our Tour Operators section below.
Newfoundland T’Railway
550 mi (883 km)
Newfoundland T’Railway is a multi-use, all-season trail that connects Port aux Basques to St. John’s, following the abandoned railway that once connected these towns. It’s part of the Trans-Canada Trail and is a massive undertaking to continually maintain, especially since severe storms damaged the southwestern sections in recent years. Always check for closure alerts on the trail site before planning a long-distance trek like this. If interested in bikepacking this route, here’s a great resource.
Tour operators covering eastern Newfoundland
Bonavista Adventure Tours
Bonavista Adventure Tours offers several walking tours ranging from 2-hr town walks to 4-hr hikes, covering many of the trails on Bonavista Peninsula. They create custom trips for groups as well.
Hansford’s Hiking Adventures
Karen of Hansford’s Hiking offers guided day tours on the Eastport Peninsula, including the Damnable Trails and Sandy Cove Beach. She also offers weekly pre-scheduled group hikes.
Trinity Historical Walking Tours
Kevin Toop grew up in Trinity and shares his abundant knowledge of this beautiful little community during a 2.5-hr walking tour.
Truce Sound Adventures
Truce Sound Adventures offers guided day hikes near Sunnyside, including Center Hill Trail, plus they can add a Screechin and Boil-up for a unique Newfoundland experience.
Hiking inns and operators covering East Coast Trail
Trail Connections
Trail Connections is a partnership between two local inns and a hostel that offers a package for 12 days of hiking with lodging, some meals and transport.
Belle Maison Dine and Dream
Belle Maison in Port Kirwan offers self-catering accommodations, airport transfers and trail transfers for the entire East Coast Trail or whatever sections you wish to do. Restaurant on site for evening meals.
Brown Rabbit Cabins
Brown Rabbit Cabins in Tors Cove offers a daily rate for hiking packages, which includes lodging, meals, airport and trail shuttles.
We always recommend booking directly with local inns or tour operators, but if you prefer using a larger familiar company, Great Canadian Trails and Freewheelling Adventures offer trips on the East Coast Trail and St. John’s.
And that wraps up our coverage of hiking trails in Newfoundland. There’s no way we covered everything, especially since communities are actively adding new trails as you read this. We’re confident we’ve more than covered the basis, however, so between this guide, Iceberg Trails of Northern Newfoundland and Guide to Hiking Western Newfoundland, you have everything you need to make this your next walking holiday destination.
