Welcome to the East Coast Trail

Winter waves in Shoe Cove, Stiles Cove Path
Credit: Darlene Scott

The East Coast Trail is a 540 km coastal hiking experience that takes you to the outermost reaches of North America. The Trail provides walkers and hikers with a special blend of wilderness adventure, outstanding natural beauty, wildlife, history, and cultural contact.

Truly spectacular features on the trail

The Trail takes you past towering cliffs and headlands, sea stacks, deep fjords, and a natural wave-driven geyser called the Spout. It provides access to abandoned settlements, lighthouses, ecological reserves, seabird colonies, whales, icebergs, world's southern most caribou herd, historic sites, a 50-metre suspension bridge, two active archaeological dig sites, and many more attractions. It offers a wilderness paradise of boreal forest, fresh clean air and quiet solitude, all combined with the raw natural beauty of the rugged Atlantic Ocean.

Linked communities

The Trail links together 32 historic communities. These communities provide services, such as accommodations, dining, and entertainment. Our advertisers live and work in these communities and are available to help you plan your trip, provide the services you require, or supply the information you need. Please select from the following categories to find the services you need along the Trail:

The East Coast Trail Association

The East Coast Trail is being developed and maintained by the 'award winning' East Coast Trail Association. The Association is a member driven, volunteer based, registered charity formed in 1994 with the mission to develop, maintain and operate the East Coast Trail. We do not charge entry fees for the use of the Trail, nor do we charge fees for participation in our public hiking program. If you like what we are doing, and you wish to help protect and preserve this treasured resource, you can show your support by taking out a fully tax receipted annual or life membership, making a financial donation, volunteering your time and expertise, or any combination of the above.

Leave no trace

Enjoy the Trail, leave no trace, build no fires, and respect the raw natural beauty of the East Coast Trail landscape, and help to keep it free, open and available to all.

Upcoming Events & Scheduled Hikes