Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Accommodations and Services
Clothing
Wildlife and Nature
Hiking trails and information
Answers
Accommodations and Services
There are many types of accommodations available along the trail. Bed & Breakfasts (B&Bs) are most prevalent. Among the B&Bs located along the trail are Best View Efficiency Units and the Sapphire Pub in Bay Bulls; Lighthouse Picnics in Ferryland; Points East, The Cottage by the Sea, and Trail Connections in Pouch Cove; Kay’s Chalet Bed and Breakfast located on the Southern Shore; the Bonne Esperance House Heritage Inn in St. John’s; and Bear’s Cove Inn in Witless Bay.
It is recommended for Bed & Breakfasts to be booked as early as possible, as some operations are small and may not be available at short notice. Most B&B operators will transport you to your next destination on the trail. Trail Connections will book B&Bs in advance for hikers as well as transport luggage from place to place.
We have just listed a few that advertise on the East Coast Trail Association website.
Please refer to our Accomodations and Services page.
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La Manche Provincial Park campsite is located 53 km south of St. John’s. In addition, there are five designated campsites along the trail: the Miner Point campsite along Motion Path; the Little Bald Head campsite along the Spout Path; the Roaring Cove campsite on the Flamber Head Path; the Long Will campsite on the Cape Broyle Head Path; and the Gallows Cove campsite along the Mudder Wet Path. These campsites are very basic with no services. If you are unable to camp at a designated campsite, it is permissible to camp on the trail as long as it is away from the treadway and you leave no trace.
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RV parking is available in La Manche Provincial Park and the Celtic Rendezvous Cottages in Bauline East, as well as privately operated locations with dumping stations.
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There will be plenty of places to find food and beverage in the communities along the trail, from restaurants and supermarkets to smaller convenience stores. All tap water is drinkable unless otherwise noted. Many accommodations will pack picnic lunches for the hikers staying at their establishment.
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There are gas stations all along the highway that is adjacent to the East Coast Trail. Some provide diesel, while others provide propane refilling and camp fuel. Four rural hardware stores also offer a selection of camp fuels. Bigger hardware chains can be found only thirty minutes away from the trail by highway if your camp fuel needs are more specific. Large and small bags of barbeque charcoal are available at most stores.
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The area is served by four medical clinics and two pharmacies. Most local stores will carry over the counter medicines. Ambulance transportation to major hospital facilities in St. John’s is available 24/7. There are RCMP depots in Trepassey ([709] 438-2700) and Ferryland ([709] 432-2440), and there is a sub-station in Bay Bulls that patrols the entire region.
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Rental cars are available from the airport and in St. John’s area. Buses and taxis are frequent and regular in St. John’s, but do not extend far into rural areas. It is best to enquire at the time of booking if airport and city hotel pick-up/drop-off service is available or can be arranged from your desired rural accommodation. There are taxi services that provide transportation from St. John’s to Cappahayden, such as Southern Shore Taxi ([709] 334-3362) – make sure to book before arrival.
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Due to the trail’s location along the coastline, there will be blank spots in cell and mobile phone coverage, but cell phone coverage will still be available. There will be land line telephones at accommodations, and most have high speed or wireless internet service. GPS coverage is consistent all along the East Coast Trail. The main service providers are Rogers, Aliant, and Telus.
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More information on accommodations and places to go can be found at the Irish Loop Tourism Association and Destination St. John’s, as well as Newfoundland and Labrador’s official tourism website.
Newfoundland and Labrador – Official Tourism Website www.newfoundlandlabrador.com
The Irish Loop Tourism Association www.theirishloop.com
Destination St. John’s www.canadasfareast.com
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CLOTHING
What you wear will naturally depend on the weather. Be sure to bring along layers.
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You should wear sneakers or boots that are expressly designated for hiking. Regular sneakers without ankle support will not be adequate.
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WILDLIFE & NATURE
There are no bears on the Avalon Peninsula where the East Coast Trail is located. It is advised, however, not to feed any stray dogs you may run across while hiking through a community, unless you want to gain an inconvenient friend for life.
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You may see bees and wasps along the trail, but they are harmless as long as they are not provoked. Wasps’ grey ball-shaped nests can be found both overhead and at ground level. If you see six or more flying around you, you are likely in the vicinity of their nest and should move forward vigorously. Be sure to carry a first aid kit.
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The mosquitoes come out around June or when the weather warms up. Over the counter spray or cream can be used as a preventative method against most. Mosquitoes are not as prevalent near the seacoast. Blackflies also come out around June or when the weather warms up.
Blackflies also bite instead of sting, so clothing that covers skin is the best preventative method. The itching of potential bites can be stopped by After Bite. There have been no reports of insects carrying lyme or similar diseases in Newfoundland.
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Dogs are allowed on the trail as long as they are on a leash and are properly cleaned up after. For more information please read Responsible Dog Owners, Wildlife and Traps issued by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
The best time to see whales is June-July, although there can never be guarantees of sightings. Boat tour operators have additional information.
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The best time to see icebergs is May-June, though there can never be guarantees on sightings.
Please check out Kayaking and Boat Tour Operators who advertise on this website.
and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's handy Iceberg Finder www.icebergfinder.com
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Given that the weather in Newfoundland is always subject to change, it’s a good idea to regularly check the forecast. You can do so at the Newfoundland section of Environment Canada.
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HIKING TRAILS AND INFORMATION
The trails can be hiked free of charge. We do, however, encourage hikers to take out a membership ($25 for an individual/family membership; $100 for a community/organization) membership or donate to the East Coast Trail Association. The East Coast Trail Association is a registered charity. Tax receipts are issued for all donations over $10.00 and in full for all memberships.
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You can obtain a membership by sending a cheque to our office or by phoning us 709-738-4453 with VISA information or fill out our Membership Form. Individual/family memberships cost $25 and community/organization memberships cost $100 and life memberships are $500. Our office address is:
East Coast Trail Association
50 Pippy Place
P O Box 8034
St. John’s, NL A1B 3M7
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There is geocaching on the East Coast Trail – further information can be found at the Brown Rabbit Cabins website www.brownrabbit.nl.ca.
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There are two guidebooks that are currently available. Guidebook #1 covers Fort Amherst to Petty Harbour – Maddox Cove. Guidebook #2 covers Petty Harbour – Maddox Cove to Bay Bulls. Both books contain historical background information on the community and trail. For more information check out our Trail Shop
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The maps contain hands-on information on the trail details needed for hiking; the guidebooks contain historical and background information on the trail, the community, flora and fauna. The maps cover the entire developed trail, whereas the guidebooks only cover sections. Maps should be used for planning hiking and accommodation locations; guidebooks should be used for additional information. We sell maps sets for all 20 paths for $27.00 plus shipping and handling. We also sell map pairs for any two paths for $5.00 per pair set. Both can be obtained from most bed & breakfasts, the Irish Loop office and some local stores in the St. John’s area.
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A list of guided hiking tours is available under Scheduled Hikes on the website. The East Coast Trail offers guided hikes each weekend and some Wednesdays.
Scheduled Hikes
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Using a map ensures that there is less likelihood of getting lost on the trail. The map set contains outlines of each of the trails. Despite the trail signage, without a map there is always going to be a greater chance of getting lost on the trail. Our maps identify the trail rating, mileage along the trail, landmarks, roads, cultural features such as parking and campsites, and natural features such as ponds and wetlands.
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Maps can be ordered online from the East Coast Trail website and paid for with VISA by phone or by cheque, or from the East Coast Trail office at 50 Pippy Place. Office hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, or 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Maps can also be purchased at The Outfitters or downtown at the heritage shops on Duckworth and Water Street, as well as at Travel Bug, the Irish Loop Tourism Association Information Centre, and various Bed and Breakfasts along the trail.
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The best trail is depends on what you are looking for in terms of length, difficulty, and the time you are allotting for hiking and any other attractions that may be offered along the way.
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Details about the trail can be found on our website or by calling our office (709-738-4453) or through obtaining the literature offered by the association. The most detail is on the trail maps, including access points, ground conditions, and the length and difficulty. Some sections of the trail can be done as half-day hikes, others full day and some may be best done as overnights. Two or more shorter sections can be done consecutively in the same day. Difficulty takes into account both ground conditions (ground covered and ascent) and length. The trail ratings used by the ECTA are Easy, Moderate, Difficult, and Strenuous. Easy trails have good trail conditions, minor elevation changes (less than 25 m), and are usually less than 7 km in length. Moderate trails have average trail conditions, moderate elevation changes (less than 75 m), and are usually less than 12 km in length. Difficult trails have rugged trail conditions, significant elevation changes (up to 150 m), and are usually less than 12 km in length. Strenuous trails have poor trail conditions, major elevation changes (over 150 m) and usually cover a very long distance.
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Trail heads can be found on the end of the road at the north and south sides of each community depending on the path you are going to hike. The trail heads are located usually as far as you can drive. There will be a sign saying East Coast Trail Hiker Parking. The trail heads are located metres before the start of the trail path.
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None of the trails loop. Twenty different paths make up the East Coast Trail system. In some communities, however, there are rough trails made by the community over the years that do provide a short cut back. They are noted by a green broken line on our maps. These trails are not maintained by the East Coast Trail Association.
No. The trails are meant to be hiked on foot only.
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