East Coast Trail

Along the cliffs of the Avalon, the East Coast Trail threads some 336 kilometres of Newfoundland's rugged shoreline south of St. John's, linking fishing villages by a path perched above the North Atlantic.

The network breaks into more than two dozen day-hikeable paths as well as longer multi-day links, passing sea stacks, fjord-like inlets, a wave-driven geyser called the Spout, and North America's easternmost point at Cape Spear. Rolling headland climbs make the walking more demanding than the coastal setting suggests.

Practical detail: the paths are free to hike, maintained by a dedicated volunteer association, with small communities providing lodging and resupply along the way. Fog rolls in quickly, and exposed cliff edges call for caution.

June through September is the prime season, when icebergs drift past in early summer and whales feed close to shore, while wildflowers colour the barrens; autumn brings crisp, quieter walking. The trail has become a signature of Newfoundland's wild coast and its seafaring culture.