Trail Milestones

Our goal is to link traditional walking paths from Topsail to Trepassey.

The East Coast Trail Association

1994

Enthusiasts discuss re-opening and preserving the traditional trails that link communities along the coast of the Avalon Peninsula.
Eighty volunteers opened 25 kilometers of trail.

The ECTA was incorporated and the first Annual General Meeting was held in Torbay.
Volunteers organized and took part in bi-weekly trail clearing parties.
A 3-ton rock blocking the Spout is removed with generous support from the community. Almost immediately, the Spout (a sea-driven geyser) becomes a popular hiking and boat tour destination, north of Bay Bulls and south of Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove.
The first website was launched and the first newsletter was published.

A program of 17 recreational hikes was launched.
Our volunteer hours doubled: 230 volunteers open and upgrade 85 km of trail.
The D'lberville Trail was launched in cooperation with College of the North Atlantic students.
Channel 9 launches 'Take-a-Hike', a 6 episode TV series about hiking hosted by ECTA members.

Thanks to HRDC and ACOA, the ECTA is granted funds to develop the Trail from St. John's to Cappahayden (220 km) and increase tourism potential along the coastal pathway.
Queen's River Bridge on the Spout Path is competed. This 20 ft wooden bridge is the first of five major bridges.
Office space for the ECTA is donated.

The volunteer Custodian Program was established ensuring trail condition monitoring and maintenance of the trail.

Trails are cut between Bear Cove Point lighthouse and Renews and also from Aquaforte to Lawlors Bay.
Our coastal walking and hiking path attracts the national and international media.

50 m suspension bridge at LaManche officially opened on June 17. Former residents of LaManche Village join in the celebration and cut the ribbon.

Official Opening of the 220 km of The East Coast Trail. More than 5,000 celebrate!
Our first guidebook, Hiking the East Coast Trail: Fort Amherst to Petty Harbour Maddox Cove, Vol. 1 is published and sales are brisk. Four more volumes are planned.

More than 400 hikers rally for the 4th Annual ECT-Tely Challenge fundraising event.
Color, waterproof maps are produced and available for sale at various business outlets.
Almost 1000 hikers take part in the ECTA's volunteer led recreational hiking program.
The ECTA launches Protect & Maintain. It is now the responsibility of the ECTA to take care of the developed East Coast Trail.
Attractions Canada named the East Coast Trail the Best New Outdoor Site and Best New Attraction for 2002 in Newfoundland and Labrador.

LaManche Bridge officially dedicated to the former residents of LaManche Village
The Trail from Cape Spear to Placentia officially designated part of the National Hiking Trail

Newfoundland and Labrador recognizes the East Coast Trail as a Destination Hiking Trail
Major article on the trail published in the LA Times August 2004

ECTA presented with the Doug Wheeler Sustainable Environment Award
The Knight Report documents the economic contribution the East Coast Trail is making to a sustainable tourist industry in Newfoundland
Major articles on the trail published in Grandes Espacios February 2005, Globe & Mail May 2005, and Explore Magazine June 2005

Construction begins on the Sugarloaf Path. A 16 meter wooden bridge is built over the John Howards River
A Memorandum of Understanding is reached between hiking and mountain biking groups with a way to sign and safely share the trails up the Bawdens Highland

Official opening of the Sugarloaf Path from Quidi Vidi to Logy Bay, 8.9 km of beautiful coastal trail north of St. John's

The Flat Rock to Pouch Cove trail development project commences with 3 bridges being built by Canadian Armed Forces Reserves
The 9th annual East Coast Trail Tely-Hike and Silent Auction is held in October with record-breaking fundraising that brought in over $45,000 to help sustain the Trail
A record breaking year for trail maintenance volunteers, with 36 outings during the season amounting to over 3,000 hours of donated labour

Official Opening of the beautiful 15km Stiles Cove Path between Pouch Cove and Flatrock. See the news item for details and photos
Completion of Shoe Cove bridge. See the news item for details and photos.
Work crew clears most of the 600 trees blown down onto the Trail in October windstorms
Phase 2 development started on the 17.5km section between Logy Bay and Flatrock
Phase 1 development of the 7km section between Pouch Cove and Cape St. Francis
Over 2300 hours volunteer time contributed to trail maintenance and custodian reporting
Over 40km of vegetation cleared from 10 paths. This essential maintenance work is done by volunteers and crew
Completion of work-site surveys of all the developed paths south of St. John's
Infrastructure renewal projects completed on 5 southern shore paths. See the news item for details and photos.