Newfoundland - Hikes in the Avalon Peninsula

The Avalon Peninsula, located in the southeast of Newfoundland Island, isn't just a picturesque place—it's also teeming with natural wonders: icebergs, whales, migratory seabirds, and wild caribou.

It was the first region of the province to be settled. Moreover, it's rich in legends, traditions, and the history of the early adventurers who conquered the New World.

St. John's, the capital, is one of the oldest and easternmost cities in North America. With its colorful houses nestled in the heart of steep rocky hills, it has the traditional charm of a small port town.

Below are the hikes we did in this region. A link is attached to each hike to give you quicker access to the relevant information.

Videos are embedded throughout the summary. Please click on the image to start the video.

Chance Cove Coastal Hiking Trail Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve Holyrood - Salmonier Nature Park La Manche Provincial Park - Suspension Bridge Trail Cape Spear - Lighthouse Trail St. John's - Deadman's Bay Trail Quidi Vidi - Sugarloaf Trail St. John's - Signal Hill National Historic Site St. John's - North Head Trail Loop - Signal Hill Salmon Cove - Salmon Cove Sands Provincial Park

CHANCE COVE COASTAL HIKING TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 47.66674, -53.81289 Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 47.67658, -53.80584 First beach where we swam GPS Coordinates: 47.67504, -53.80546 Second beach (Big Cove)

The Chance Cove Coastal Hiking Trail - Newfoundland Chance Cove is a 3.7 km loop trail rated as moderate to difficult. Several parking areas are available near the trail.

It winds first through the forest, with many roots covering the ground. Wooden boardwalks have been built in some spots to protect the vegetation.

The trail emerges from the forest near Chance Cove Beach, offering a stunning view of this turquoise-water beach, Chance Cove Pond, and the coastline where a mist is just beginning to lift. The scenery is breathtaking.

The trail re-enters the forest while skirting the coastline. We enjoyed amazing viewpoints of the coast, discovering numerous beaches and several islands along the way.

Some of these beaches are accessible. However, since the descent is very steep, a rope has been installed to help us reach them.

We stopped at one of these beaches—a beautiful, long pebble beach where we took a dip to cool off. The water was freezing, though!

After a well-deserved break, we climbed back up to the top of the cliff and continued our hike to the next beach (Big Cove), which is without a doubt the most beautiful beach we’ve seen in Newfoundland.

We didn’t go down to this beach. Instead, we admired it from the top of the cliff. It’s nestled in a sheltered little bay, with calm, crystal-clear emerald-green waters.

A rocky islet with many caves is easily accessible near this beach.

The setting is enchanting and rivals beaches you’d find anywhere else in the world.

We continued our hike to complete the loop and returned to the parking lot via the gravel path along Chance Cove Pond.

A truly beautiful hike not to be missed when you visit this stunning region.

https://youtu.be/9xkLvgNMrNk

CAPE ST. MARY'S ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

GPS Coordinates: 46.82360, -54.19330 Parking GPS Coordinates: 46.81830, -54.18240 Viewpoint

Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve is a nature reserve located in the southwest of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland.

A 1.2 km (one-way) trail starts at the interpretation center and leads to Bird Rock, where one of the province's largest bird colonies can be found.

The number of birds in these colonies is estimated at over 60,000 and includes northern gannets, black-legged kittiwakes, murres, Atlantic puffins, and several other species of seabirds.

When we arrived, the fog was so thick that we hesitated to do the hike. We waited in the parking lot hoping it would lift, but it was still there.

We then went to the interpretation center where a staff member at the reception suggested we head to the observation point where, despite the fog, it would still be possible to see the birds since they’re so close.

We took their advice and started our hike in the fog... which cleared very quickly once we reached Bird Rock.

We were so happy to be able to fully enjoy the impressive spectacle unfolding before our eyes... vibrant with colors... and especially sounds....

We spent a lot of time watching all these birds covering the steep cliffs, swooping above us, and diving toward the ocean.

Northern gannets are strikingly beautiful birds. Their plumage is a brilliant white, while their head and neck are pale yellow. Their eyes are light blue.

The juveniles, younger ones, have thicker, darker plumage.

At the base of the cliffs, we saw a colony of murres, black-and-white seabirds that resemble penguins.

This is the most easily accessible site we’ve visited for birdwatching. Plus, there’s no entrance fee. However, there’s a small donation box at the interpretation center if you’d like to contribute.

For more info, feel free to check out the following website: https://www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/natural-areas/wer/r-csme/

https://youtu.be/8n8PSPFz3ro

HOLYROOD - SALMONIER NATURE PARK

GPS Coordinates: 47.2652, -53.2834

Salmonier Nature Park is located in Holyrood on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland. Opened to the public in 1978, it was initially founded as an environmental education center.

Over time, however, it has become a major tourist destination, and its role now includes wildlife rehabilitation, research, and environmental monitoring.

Injured animals are brought to the park to be cared for. They are released back into the wild whenever possible. If not, they are integrated into the on-site educational programming.

A 3-kilometer wooden boardwalk, wheelchair-accessible, winds through the boreal forest and wetlands.

It passes by various enclosures where you can observe some of the province’s wild animal species, such as caribou, moose, lynx, foxes, marmots, birds of prey, owls, Canada geese, otters, and more.

Informational panels are placed in front of the enclosures to tell us about each of these animals.

Some animals may not be visible because the enclosures are large and set in natural spaces. They might be resting behind trees or in a burrow, out of sight.

The visitor center at the park entrance includes an information desk, restrooms, and an exhibit of several taxidermied animals and birds.

Admission is free. Donations are welcome.

If you’d like more info, I invite you to check out the following website: https://www.gov.nl.ca/ffa/wildlife/snp/

https://youtu.be/xsJBE9z2pAE

LA MANCHE PROVINCIAL PARK - SUSPENSION BRIDGE TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 47.16260, -52.88033 Parking lot and trailhead GPS Coordinates: 47.16907, -52.85958 Doctors Cove

The Suspension Bridge Trail is located in La Manche Provincial Park on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland.

At 2.2 km one-way to reach Doctor's Cove, our final destination, the trail can be extended indefinitely as it’s part of a larger coastal trail: the East Coast Trail.

The trail starts near the parking lot at the end of La Manche Road. It’s an easy-level hike, first passing by a large natural pool that’s perfect for a swim.

It leads to a lovely suspension bridge built in 1999 to replace the old one destroyed by a storm.

Located at the mouth of the La Manche River, where it flows into the ocean, the bridge crosses a deep gorge. A series of beautiful small waterfalls cascade into a narrow canyon.

On the other side, a long staircase takes you to the top of a cliff. From there, we head toward Doctor's Cove.

A wooden boardwalk has been built along the river’s mouth, offering a stunning view of the coastline.

The trail passes near the abandoned village of La Manche, where you can still see the ruins of some houses and outbuildings today.

Doctor's Cove is a small cove accessible via a short trail that branches off along the coastline. It’s well-marked. The many rock formations there are really interesting to explore.

We took a little break at this spot and then hiked back to the parking lot.

https://youtu.be/fIb0AIcSQug

CAPE SPEAR - LIGHTHOUSE TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 47.52271, -52.62410 Parking

Cape Spear Lighthouse is a protected national historic site located on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland, and it’s the easternmost point in Canada.

Built atop a steep promontory in 1836 and renovated in 1955, it’s the oldest lighthouse in Newfoundland.

It overlooks the ocean, where you can spot icebergs, humpback whales, and seabirds, among other things.

A network of hiking trails, the East Coast Trail, runs along the coastline for hundreds of kilometers and passes through this site. In this area, this section of the trail is called the Cape Spear Path.

At 10.3 km one-way, it starts at the Cape Spear Lighthouse parking lot and ends in Maddox Cove. We only hiked a small section (round trip).

This scenic trail begins with a long staircase leading to the Cape Spear Lighthouse and then follows the coastline. It offers stunning views of Cape Spear, the coastal landscape, and the surrounding hills and bogs.

On our way back to the lighthouse, we took another staircase down to the parking lot. It runs along the coast and leads to an old coastal defense battery, where you can still see the emplacement of a cannon, as well as underground passages leading to a powder magazine and equipment rooms.

https://youtu.be/-tYwY4Etbjo

ST. JOHN'S - DEADMAN'S BAY TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 47.56459, -52.68838 Parking GPS Coordinates: 47.56363, -52.68257 Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 47.55409, -52.68866 Soldiers Pond

The Deadman's Bay Trail is a section of the East Coast Trail network that runs along the coastline for several hundred kilometers.

At 10.6 km long and rated moderate to difficult, it starts on Southside Road—a road leading to the Fort Amherst Lighthouse—and ends in Blackhead.

We only hiked a small portion of it. We did a round trip to Soldiers Pond, covering a total distance of 3 km.

Parking spaces are limited in this area. We managed to find a spot on Southside Road about 500 meters from the trailhead.

Just before starting our hike, we took a moment to admire the narrow, exceptionally beautiful channel between the Atlantic Ocean and St. John’s Harbor.

The trail begins with several staircases. After that, the path is very steep, climbing sharply and littered with rocks and roots. It leads to the top of the cliff.

From there, the trail follows the coastline, offering stunning viewpoints—including Cabot Tower atop Signal Hill, the coastal landscape, and a few ponds like Beaver Pond and Soldiers Pond.

We ended our hike at Soldiers Pond, where we took a short break to eat our lunch. Then we retraced our steps back to the starting point.

Since the Fort Amherst Lighthouse is near the trailhead, we took the opportunity to visit it. Built in 1951, this lighthouse overlooks "The Narrows," the entrance to St. John’s Harbor, and offers beautiful views of the surrounding coastal scenery.

https://youtu.be/lTnyyzH8JME

QUIDI VIDI - SUGARLOAF TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 47.58331, -52.67799 Trailhead

The Sugarloaf Trail is a section of the East Coast Trail network that runs along the coastline for several hundred kilometers.

At 8.8 km long and rated moderate to difficult, it connects the village of Quidi Vidi to Logy Bay.

We only hiked a small portion of it, covering a total distance of about 2.6 km round trip.

We parked our vehicle along Cadet Road in Quidi Vidi and walked toward the trailhead, which starts near the small harbor.

The route begins on a gravel path that steadily climbs until you see a sign pointing the way to the Sugarloaf Trail.

The trail quickly leads to the top of the mountain, offering stunning views of the picturesque village of Quidi Vidi and the surrounding area. The scenery is truly breathtaking.

The trail then includes a few ascents and descents that bring you to the ocean’s edge, where several people were climbing a tall rock face.

We sat on a rock and took a break to admire the ocean stretching as far as the eye can see. The water’s emerald-green color and clarity are remarkable.

We then retraced our steps back to the starting point.

We took the opportunity to admire the charming Quidi Vidi harbor and the numerous waterfalls flowing into the river near our parking spot.

I’m not sure if the river water is safe for swimming, but the sight of the small natural pools was very tempting.

https://youtu.be/z2vY0kSckmY

ST. JOHN'S - SIGNAL HILL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

GPS Coordinates: 47.57068, -52.68104 Parking

Signal Hill National Historic Site is one of the most popular attractions in St. John's, Newfoundland.

Signal Hill is a hill overlooking the city of St. John's, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city and its harbor, Georges Pond, the coastal landscapes, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Due to its strategic position, several fortifications have been built here since the 17th century.

Cabot Tower, built between 1897 and 1901, houses exhibits on the history of maritime signaling and the work of Marconi, who received the very first transatlantic wireless signal here in 1901.

Several hiking trails run through Signal Hill, allowing you to admire this stunning region from different angles.

https://youtu.be/id8I9gsNOJQ

ST. JOHN'S - NORTH HEAD TRAIL LOOP - SIGNAL HILL

GPS Coordinates: 47.57068, -52.68104 Parking GPS Coordinates: 47.57212, -52.68010 Ladies Lookout GPS Coordinates: 47.57150, -52.68057 Start of North Head Trail GPS Coordinates: 47.56864, -52.69044 Stairs to Fort Waldegrave GPS Coordinates: 47.57015, -52.69133 Stairs to Harbour Vista Deck GPS Coordinates: 47.57073, -52.69094 Harbour Vista Deck GPS Coordinates: 47.56855, -52.68589 Queen's Battery

The North Head Trail is definitely the most popular hiking trail on Signal Hill. This 1.7 km (one-way) trail starts near the upper parking lot of Signal Hill and ends at Outer Battery Road.

However, it’s possible to make a loop by connecting with other trails that let you climb Signal Hill and return to your starting point. That’s what we did.

Actually, we first walked a short section of the Ladies Lookout Trail to reach a viewpoint that’s the highest point on Signal Hill.

This viewpoint offers a 360° view of the entire area, including the Atlantic Ocean, Signal Hill and Cabot Tower, the city of St. John’s, Georges Pond, and Quidi Vidi Lake.

You can also see the foundations of an old canteen in this area.

After that, we started our hike on the North Head Trail. The trail begins with a series of stairs with many steps that we descend, leading to Ross Valley—a hanging valley carved by a glacier during the last ice age.

In this valley, the path includes ups and downs, often using stairs, and leads to the first red chairs of Parks Canada, where we sat to admire the Atlantic Ocean.

On the opposite side of the ocean, we could see Signal Hill, the hilltop where Cabot Tower stands. We also spotted the route we’d taken to get here. The elevation change is significant.

The next section takes us to the top of a rocky cliff overlooking the mouth of St. John’s Harbour, nicknamed "The Narrows."

The views of Cahill Point, the historic Fort Amherst Lighthouse, and the channel are breathtaking.

We also saw the long trail we’d have to walk along the cliffside to reach Outer Battery Road.

Several sets of stairs, interspersed with viewpoints, lead us a second time to the famous red chairs of Parks Canada, which overlook the channel. The spot is perfect for capturing the absolutely stunning landscape in photos.

We continued our hike along the channel, and some sections of the trail are very narrow, passing close to steep drop-offs. The cliffs are very sheer.

A short section of this trail even has a chain anchored into the cliff that we could use for safety during the crossing.

The trail is quite rough in this area. Caution is advised.

We finally reached Outer Battery Road. A staircase (not very visible), located between civic numbers 4 and 6, leads to Fort Waldegrave.

This fort, built in 1798, faces the entrance to St. John’s Harbour. It was used as a support battery. Its location offers splendid views of the city of St. John’s and some of its very colorful buildings.

We then walked along Battery Road and turned right onto Hipditch Hill. At the end of this road (civic number 10), a staircase climbs toward the trail leading to the Harbour Vista Deck.

This viewpoint offers one of the best views of St. John’s. Several informational panels describe the history of the port and the geological history of half a billion years of Signal Hill.

We then walked on the trail called "Battery to Signal Hill Walk," which runs alongside Deadman’s Pond, a small pond halfway up Signal Hill.

Several ghost stories and old legends are associated with Deadman’s Pond. To learn more about the topic, I invite you to check out this article: https://discover.hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/The-Ghosts-of-Deadmans-Pond.

We were supposed to take the trail behind the Visitor Centre that leads to Queen’s Battery, but we missed it.

So, we continued our hike to Signal Hill Road, where we turned right to head toward the Visitor Centre.

From there, we found a trail that led us to Queen’s Battery. The route is very pretty, as the trail is surrounded by a beautiful field of flowers.

This battery was built in the late 18th century. The original barracks were destroyed in a fire and replaced by another in the late 1970s.

Located at a strategic point overlooking the narrow entrance to the harbour, it naturally offers an exceptional view of the entire area.

Several cannons overlook the channel and bear witness to the site’s historic past.

We finally began the last leg of this hike by walking the "Lake to Lookout Walk" trail, which leads to Cabot Tower at the top of Signal Hill, where our hike began.

The route we took forms a loop of about 5 km, allowing us to discover the history of this region while enjoying the fabulous landscapes that make it up.

https://youtu.be/u8yS-3NNrP8

SALMON COVE - SALMON COVE SANDS PROVINCIAL PARK

GPS coordinates: 47.78242, -53.15798

We had to wait nearly an hour in our vehicle, in a single-file line, before we could reach this beach.

Access was being controlled to limit the number of visitors. Since it was our last day on the Avalon Peninsula, we decided to wait it out.

We didn’t regret it. We discovered a stunning beach with fine, gray sand surrounded by towering cliffs.

Offshore, several islands add charm to the landscape, while the cliffs along the ocean feature a few sea caves perfect for exploring.

Behind the beach flows the Salmon Cove River. Its warm, shallow waters are ideal for swimming and safe for families with young children.

There’s a small canteen where you can grab refreshments, fries, and ice cream, among other things. A picnic area is also available for visitors.

There are no camping spots here.

An entry fee applies. For more info: https://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/plan-and-book/attractions/212827

https://youtu.be/QsstcJhaGEM

I invite you to read the fifth (and final) travel journal about Newfoundland. This one covers several hikes we did in the eastern part of the island. Here’s the link:

Hikes in the Eastern Part of the Island