Welcome to the

Explore 336 km of wilderness paths along
North America’s easternmost coastline.

 White Horse Path  Curtis Meeker
Stiles Cove Path  Gord Follett
 Spout Path Calvin Tong
 Sugarloaf Path  Michael Winsor

About Us

The East Coast Trail unites genuine wilderness hiking with richly historic communities from Topsail Beach, to Cape St. Francis, to Cappahayden on Newfoundland & Labrador’s Avalon Peninsula.
There are 25 paths to explore…
The paths of the East Coast Trail take you past towering cliffs and headlands, sea stacks, deep fjords, and a natural wave-driven geyser called the Spout. Experience abandoned settlements, lighthouses, ecological reserves, seabird colonies, whales, icebergs, the world’s southernmost caribou herd, historic sites, a 50-metre suspension bridge, two active archaeological dig sites, and many more attractions.

About Us

The East Coast Trail unites genuine wilderness hiking with richly historic communities from Topsail Beach, to Cape St. Francis, to Cappahayden on Newfoundland & Labrador’s Avalon Peninsula.
There are 25 paths to explore…
The paths of the East Coast Trail take you past towering cliffs and headlands, sea stacks, deep fjords, and a natural wave-driven geyser called the Spout. Experience abandoned settlements, lighthouses, ecological reserves, seabird colonies, whales, icebergs, the world’s southernmost caribou herd, historic sites, a 50-metre suspension bridge, two active archaeological dig sites, and many more attractions.

Featured Paths

Easy Hike

Moderate Hike

Difficult Hike

Strenuous Hike

Featured Paths

Easy Hike

Moderate Hike

Difficult Hike

Strenuous Hike

Flamber Head Path

11.5 km

 

Stiles Cove Path

15.1 km

 

Beaches Path

7.1 km

 

SPOUT PATH

16.2 km

 

Now Hiring: Trail Crew

We are recruiting for our seasonal Trail Crew, made up of Trail Crew Workers and Skilled Labourers. These positions have critical roles assisting with construction, enhancement, and maintenance work along the East Coast Trail. In this position, you are responsible for activities such as removal of down trees, brushing and pruning, slash removal, building of trail structures, procurement of stepping stones, and transportation of materials & tools along the Trail. 

Press Release: ECTA President Inducted to RCGS College of Fellows

The East Coast Trail Association is pleased and proud to announce that Randy Murphy, ECTA President, has been inducted into the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s College of Fellows. Randy was recognized and inducted into the RCGS College of Fellows for his outstanding achievements as the President of the East Coast Trail Association.

Madeleine Florent: SAM Steward Award Recipient

On behalf of the East Coast Trail Association, we wish to share a big congratulations to Madeleine Florent on her recent SAM Steward Award. Madeleine has been fighting environmental issues and for...

News

Support the Trail

There are over 14,000 visitors completing over 65,000 hikes a year on the trail. Support the maintenance, development, and protection of the East Coast Trail today. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the entire East Coast Trail? Is it fully developed?

The East Coast Trail is comprised of 270 kilometres of coastal hiking paths and 66 kilometres of community walks from Topsail Beach to Cappahayden. Our vision is to one day develop the remainder of the trail from Cappahayden to Trepassey, which will total approximately 600 km along the Avalon Peninsula. 

What are the current path conditions and status?

To read the most up-to-date path advisories, click here. Note: no path clearing or condition updates take place during winter months (November – April). 

How do the paths link together? Are they continuous?

The East Coast Trail is a continuous linear hiking trail; the paths do not loop. All the paths are connected, mostly via a “community walk.”

Am I allowed to have bonfires/open fires on the trail?

No open fires are permitted on the trail. Instead, use a liquid or gas-fueled camping stove with care. Do not cut wood to burn or build fire pits. For more information, please visit our Hiking Etiquette page. We appreciate everyone’s efforts in keeping the trail safe for all hikers and wildlife.

Where can I buy East Coast Trail maps and other merchandise?

All of our merchandise can be purchased online at our Trail Shop and we ship worldwide. If you are in the St. John’s area, you can buy our merchandise at our office, 50 Pippy Place, Unit 9 (located around the right hand side of the building), between 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday, or at various retailers such as The Outfitters, Arthur James Clothing Co., The Travel Bug, and Alpine Country Lodge. Before visiting retailers, we suggest calling ahead to make sure the item you are looking for is in stock.

How do I get to the trailheads (the start or end of a trail)?

Trailheads are accessible by vehicles, and two trailheads are also accessible by Metrobus routes. Hikers can drive to the trailheads and park in designated parking areas as outlined on the East Coast Trail maps and the specific path pages. Hikers may also use local taxi services. If hiking the trail in one direction only, you can either park a car at each end of the path, or arrange for a taxi to pick you up at the end and bring you back to the start. It is good practice to call the taxi company ahead to ensure service is available to that area. For more information, please visit our Transportation to Trails page.