Welcome to the

Explore 336 km of wilderness paths along
North America’s easternmost coastline.

 White Horse Path  Curtis Meeker
Stiles Cove Path  Gord Follett
 Spout Path Calvin Tong
 Sugarloaf Path  Michael Winsor

About Us

The East Coast Trail unites genuine wilderness hiking with richly historic communities from Topsail Beach, to Cape St. Francis, to Cappahayden on Newfoundland & Labrador’s Avalon Peninsula.
There are 25 paths to explore…
The paths of the East Coast Trail take you past towering cliffs and headlands, sea stacks, deep fjords, and a natural wave-driven geyser called the Spout. Experience abandoned settlements, lighthouses, ecological reserves, seabird colonies, whales, icebergs, the world’s southernmost caribou herd, historic sites, a 50-metre suspension bridge, two active archaeological dig sites, and many more attractions.

About Us

The East Coast Trail unites genuine wilderness hiking with richly historic communities from Topsail Beach, to Cape St. Francis, to Cappahayden on Newfoundland & Labrador’s Avalon Peninsula.
There are 25 paths to explore…
The paths of the East Coast Trail take you past towering cliffs and headlands, sea stacks, deep fjords, and a natural wave-driven geyser called the Spout. Experience abandoned settlements, lighthouses, ecological reserves, seabird colonies, whales, icebergs, the world’s southernmost caribou herd, historic sites, a 50-metre suspension bridge, two active archaeological dig sites, and many more attractions.

Featured Paths

Easy Hike

Moderate Hike

Difficult Hike

Strenuous Hike

Featured Paths

Easy Hike

Moderate Hike

Difficult Hike

Strenuous Hike

Flamber Head Path

11.5 km

 

Stiles Cove Path

15.1 km

 

Beaches Path

7.1 km

 

SPOUT PATH

16.2 km

 

Now Hiring: Business Manager

We are recruiting for our Business Manager, a critical support role to the President & CEO, and the Executive Committee. In this position, you are accountable for the day-to-day office operations and will work closely with the Engagement Coordinator and the Trail Manager to ensure the success of trail maintenance and management of plans and programs.

Hiker Advisory: Upcoming Detour on Spout Path

Hiker Advisory: Upcoming Detour Bridge on Spout Path Detour Beginning Monday, September 16 Upcoming Detour: Beginning Monday, September 16, our Trail Crew will commence work on replacing the bridge...

Hiker Advisory: Temporary Detour for Stiles Cove Path

Hiker Advisory – Effective for July 9 – 10, 2024: There will be filming taking place on Stiles Cove Path near Pouch Cove. As a result, a portion of the path will be temporarily closed to hikers, and a detour has been put in place. Click to read more and see images of the detour route.

News

Support the Trail

There are over 14,000 visitors completing over 65,000 hikes a year on the trail. Support the maintenance, development, and protection of the East Coast Trail today. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the entire East Coast Trail? Is it fully developed?

The East Coast Trail is comprised of 270 kilometres of coastal hiking paths and 66 kilometres of community walks from Topsail Beach to Cappahayden. Our vision is to one day develop the remainder of the trail from Cappahayden to Trepassey, which will total approximately 600 km along the Avalon Peninsula. 

What are the current path conditions and status?

To read the most up-to-date path advisories, click here. Note: no path clearing or condition updates take place during winter months (November – April). 

How do the paths link together? Are they continuous?

The East Coast Trail is a continuous linear hiking trail; the paths do not loop. All the paths are connected, mostly via a “community walk.”

Am I allowed to have bonfires/open fires on the trail?

No open fires are permitted on the trail. Instead, use a liquid or gas-fueled camping stove with care. Do not cut wood to burn or build fire pits. For more information, please visit our Hiking Etiquette page. We appreciate everyone’s efforts in keeping the trail safe for all hikers and wildlife.

Where can I buy East Coast Trail maps and other merchandise?

All of our merchandise can be purchased online at our Trail Shop and we ship worldwide. If you are in the St. John’s area, you can buy our merchandise at our office, 50 Pippy Place, Unit 9 (located around the right hand side of the building), between 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday, or at various retailers such as The Outfitters, Arthur James Clothing Co., The Travel Bug, and Alpine Country Lodge. Before visiting retailers, we suggest calling ahead to make sure the item you are looking for is in stock.

How do I get to the trailheads (the start or end of a trail)?

Trailheads are accessible by vehicles, and two trailheads are also accessible by Metrobus routes. Hikers can drive to the trailheads and park in designated parking areas as outlined on the East Coast Trail maps and the specific path pages. Hikers may also use local taxi services. If hiking the trail in one direction only, you can either park a car at each end of the path, or arrange for a taxi to pick you up at the end and bring you back to the start. It is good practice to call the taxi company ahead to ensure service is available to that area. For more information, please visit our Transportation to Trails page.