Parks Day 2013

Monday, July 15, 2013

Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site
2013 Parks Day Hiking and Camping Festival

Saturday, July 20th is Parks Day, a nationwide celebration by Parks Canada of our country’s national parks and national historic sites. Across Canada activities at Parks Canada sites will allow visitors to revel in the beauty of our Canadian landscape, experience our history, and enjoy themselves. Parks Day offers all of us a unique opportunity to both join in the celebration, and to convey our love for the heritage places we manage to Canadians.

Here at the most easterly point in Canada, Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site will celebrate Parks Day with a Hiking and Camping Festival co-hosted by its partner The East Coast Trail Association.

The ECTA will lead two guided hikes from Cape Spear utilizing East Coast Trail sections which leave from the site. At 10:30 a.m., a three-hour, 11-km hike will leave for North Head. At 3:00 p.m., a second two-hour, 6-km hike will head to the top of Blackhead, north of Cape Spear. Both hikes will follow developed sections of the East Coast Trail with participation limited to 25 persons per hike. Times and distances listed are for a round trip. Pre-registration is required and can be done by email at signal.hill@pc.gc.ca or by calling 709.772.5367. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

In addition to the organized hikes, at Cape Spear there will be a variety of Parks Day children’s activities and a hiking and camping information zone from noon to 3:00 p.m. with a variety of booths and mini-presentations on aspects of hiking and camping. Come ask our experts the hiking and camping questions that have always stumped you!

The East Coast Trail Association is a member-driven, volunteer-based, registered charity formed in 1994 with a mission to develop, maintain and preserve the East Coast Trail.

Parks Canada, on behalf of the people of Canada, protects and presents nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage and fosters public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations. We continue to expand and improve the activities and the opportunities we offer at national historic sites such as Cape Spear Lighthouse so that visitors can have fun new ways to learn about Canada’s national treasures.

For a full listing of Parks Canada’s Parks Day events in Newfoundland and Labrador, visit www.pc.gc.ca/nl.

Brief event details.

Photo: Cape Spear Lighthouse (T. Smith)