Canada, Newfoundland: St. John’s & Trinity Hiking Tour
Six nights; six days of hikes on the East Coast Trail and remote footpaths near Trinity. Visit two of North America’s largest sea bird colonies, spot whales and icebergs, and enjoy Newfoundland culture on this multi day hiking adventure.
“…absolutely enchanted with the people, the scenery, and all the delicious food! We experienced the wonders of Newfoundland, including whale sightings, bald eagles, puffins, bakeapples, blueberries, magnificent sea stacks, and moose stew!” – Lynn B.
WHY THIS TRIP?
- Two of North America’s largest seabird colonies.
- Spectacular East Coast Trail hike and amazing look-offs.
- Whale, wildlife, iceberg sightings.
- Depth of maritime history at Trinity.
- Walking theatre.
- Sunrise at Cape Spear.
- Newfoundland culture.
ROUTE EXPECTATIONS:
Daily Distance:
- DAY 1: Up to 5 km
- DAY 2: 11 km
- DAY 3: 14 or 16 km
- DAY 4: 1 km and/or 3.5 km
- DAY 5: 5 km and 2 km
- DAY 6: Up to 17 km
- DAY 7: Farewells
Newfoundland: St. John’s & Trinity Hiking Tour – Elevation Profile:
Click to enlarge
Newfoundland: St. John’s & Trinity Hiking Tour
Activity Levels
The easiest routes we offer, these are generally flat and cover relatively relaxed distances. You will be comfortable riding a hybrid bike, walking in sneakers, or paddling a light kayak, and will normally have time to take many photos and enjoy extended lunches.
This is primarily an easy route, but some days may fall into the moderate category. You can expect time to stop and smell the roses, but some of the rides may be on more hilly terrain.
Requiring moderate fitness levels, these cover terrain with hills and valleys, and tend to include distances of 50-80km (30-50mi.)/day cycling, or 3-6 hours of walking per day. Most Freewheeling Adventures fall into this category, and are suitable for most ability levels.
This is primarily a moderate route, suitable for most ability levels, but some days may be a little more challenging. You can expect some long distances, and/or some big climbs/descents.
The most challenging trips, these include longer distances, bigger hills, long hikes, exposed paddling, and full days of activity. We recommend a higher degree of fitness and training to make the most of the experience.
There is also a rare double black diamond, reserved for only the most difficult adventures.
Start: St, John’s, Georgestown Inn, 14:00, day one.
Finish: St, John’s, Georgestown Inn, 12:00, day seven.
Please contact us to arrange alternate plans, if necessary.
Introductions; hike Signal Hill & The Battery; up to 5km.
Meet in St. John’s for a welcome briefing then walk through the Battery to Signal Hill, site of the first transatlantic communication, and a fabulous viewpoint over the mouth of St. John’s Harbour. Return to the city by foot for dinner, you then have time to enjoy some traditional music in one of many venues on the infamous George Street. D (meal inclusions shown for guided trips; self-guided include only breakfasts).
Georgestown Inn, or Elizabeth Manor Guest House, or JAG Hotel, St. John’s
Hike the East Coast Trail; ~11km
Hike the East Coast Trail as it passes through quiet woods to an imposing headland featuring a rolling meadow, abrupt cliffs, sea stacks, and nesting Kittiwakes. Watch thousands of seabirds along the shore including the Atlantic Puffin. Enjoy a picnic lunch then hike the trail to Cape Spear, the easternmost tip of Newfoundland. Set high on a cape and restored to its original appearance, the Cape Spear lighthouse, built in 1836, is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland. This trail follows the sea edge, weaving through woods, heath, and meadowland. Keep an eye out for whales and seabirds along the way! BL
Same Lodging
Stiles Cove Path, 16kms; or Father Troy Path, 13.5kms
After a short transfer out of St John’s, choose between two spectacular hikes overlooking Flat Rock Cove (or do both if you’d like a longer adventure!). Discover the waterfalls near Stiles Cove, and savour the amazing views of this dramatic coast. At days end, return to your vehicle for a short drive back to your cozy lodging for a well-deserved rest. BL
Same Lodging
Transfer to Trinity; hike Gun Hill (1km) and/or Mad Rocks (3.5km); afternoon Pageant or optional boat tours
Start with an approximate 3 ½ hour transfer to Trinity, which can be broken up by stopping at “Mad Rocks”, or the Shoreline Heritage Walking Trail to stretch your legs before your visit in the beautiful town of Trinity. A Newfoundland jewel, most of Trinity is a national heritage site – an essential stop on any Canadian explorer’s agenda. Here you will be introduced to the small town as you walk up Gun Hill to view the harbour and learn about the history of this small town and its inhabitants. The afternoon is reserved for the New Founde Lande Trinity Pageant, a walking theatrical production led by the Rising Tide Theatre portraying Trinity’s culture and more outrageous characters from the not-too-distant past. If the pageant does not appeal to you, additional hiking is available. Optional afternoon activities include themed boat tours or sea kayaking experiences. BLD
Artisan Inn, Trinity; or Fisher’s Loft, Port Rexton
Skerwink Trail (5km) and Kerleys Harbour (~2km); drive up to 1 hour
Start the morning with the award winning Skerwink Trail: a 5km hike with views of Trinity, rocky cliffs, caves and marine wildlife that will leave you in awe. After lunch you will explore Kerleys Harbour and the Random Passage site: the former set of a popular television show which aired in 2002 and was derived from the book written by Bernice Morgan in 1992. Your hike will take you through the abandoned outports and fishing villages of the 1954-1975 resettlement program; more than 300 communities across Newfoundland and Labrador were abandoned as a result of this controversial program involving the relocation of more than 30,000 people. BL
Same lodging
Bonavista, Spillars Cove, Klondike Trail, and The Puffin Colony at Elliston ~17km; drive up to 2 hours
Today’s adventure takes you to the tip of the Bonavista Peninsula to discover a vibrant village of artists, fisherman, and outdoor enthusiasts. Hike through Spillars Cove, starting with an optional quick warm up loop for a view before continuing along the Klondike Trail, a short but truly spectacular 3 km hike that follows the old railway line that once connected the surrounding towns. On the other side, visit the puffin colony at Maberly where between May and September you’ll have the best chance of getting a super close-up view of the colourful colony. After lunch, retrace your steps back to Bonavista for a transfer back to your lodging. If you’re looking for a little extra before dinner, consider an early evening hike on the Fox Island Trail nearby. BLD
Same lodging
Farewell
Following an early breakfast you will transfer about 3½ hours to St. John’s following breakfast, arriving by noon. B
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
SCHEDULED DATES
2023 Guided:
- Jul 2-8
- Jul 16-22
- Jul 30-Aug 5
- Aug 13-19
2024 Guided:
- Jun 30-Jul 6
- Jul 14-20
- Jul 28-Aug 3
- Aug 11-17
New dates are also welcomed for guided or private departures. Self-Drive available any dates.
PRICING
Guided: C 4495 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 7 days, 6 nights, 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners, luggage handling, ground transportation, guide support, trail notes, maps, 15% sales tax
Small groups or private tours, fully supported with drivers/guides and vehicles, all lodging and most meals included. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Self-Drive: TBA
Includes 7 days, 6 nights, 6 breakfasts, trail notes, maps, 15% sales tax
Fully independent travel including lodging, detailed itineraries, route instructions and resources. Choose your own dates, provide your own transportation. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Single Occupancy: 765
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
Please see above for accurate pricing and inclusions, unless we have proposed a customized trip for you and those details are provided in your custom proposal.
1. Choose an advertised date to join a small group, or see our Join a Group page to see where groups are already forming.
2. Pick your own dates. We will confirm quickly, and are happy to talk with you as you make your choice. If you would like a private guided date, this usually comes at a surcharge depending on the details, please get in touch for more information. If you prefer self-guided, we usually only require two participants to initiate a new date at the advertised price, and can sometimes reduce prices for you if you have four or more.
| Difficulty | This route is rated moderate (blue square). |
| Daily Distances | 2-11km/day |
| Optional Extras | Fishing, Swimming, Golfing |
| Best Months | June-September |
Before & After The Tour:
Visit “The Rooms” in St. John’s – an amazing museum! There are very many restaurants and bars in dowwntown St. John’s, all within walking distance of each other. The “Reluctant Chef” is often recommended.
Rent a car to visit the most accessible seabird rookery in North America at Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, an amazing experience even for non-birders.
From St. John’s, you can hike sections of the East Coast Trail, using taxis to get you to and from – super easy, and gorgeous! You can also do a half-day of sea-kayaking at Bay Bulls. The Gatherall’s Puffin cruise usually reveals a lot of birds, and sometimes whales.
Fly to Western Newfoundland to hike Gros Morne National Park.
Make a quick visit to France via St. Pierre et Miquelon. You can reach this lovely piece of France in North America via ferry from Fortune, NL to St. Pierre, or via a flight from St. John’s. Both take approximately 55 minutes. Be sure to pack your passport!
More bicycle touring is available on the island’s west coast along the The Viking Trail.
Iceberg Alley!
When it comes to viewing icebergs, this is one of the best places in the world. From May to August, these 10,000-year-old glacial giants are visible from many points along the northern and eastern coasts, especially on clear, sunny days. They come in every shape and size, with colours from snow-white to deepest aquamarine. Despite their arrival from the Arctic every spring, and their disappearance only months later, our awe of them remains new, year after year.
Check out: icebergfinder.com
More Reading:
The isolated culture of rural Newfoundland and the stark, unspoiled beauty of the landscapes make this an exceptional experience with unparalleled scenery and visits to truly special places. The adventure starts and finishes in “the Battery”, and a downtown area packed with so many lively spots that nightlife is vividly entertaining. You will travel down the beautiful East coast, past Witless Bay Ecological Preserve to La Manche where the hiking is challenging yet superb. You will probably see whales and icebergs and will appreciate the unspoiled feel of the vast landscape here. The past two centuries of isolation have preserved a distinctive accent, believed by linguists to be a relatively unchanged Elizabethan dialect. It is very easy to strike up conversation with the friendly folk who live here, but whether you understand or are simply bemused by their colourful colloquialisms remains to be seen. You will rest in 17th century villages; explore coastal barrens peppered with “erratics” and hike along shores where privateers once lured ships onto the rocks to loot their booty. In Trinity, you will learn about the rich maritime history of the outport with its sheltered harbour, and will have an opportunity to see whales up close on an optional whale watching cruise.
