Hiking Newfoundland's East Coast Trail (ECT)

Welcome to our East Coast Trail blog!  During June and July 2018 we hiked over 253 km of the East Coast Trail on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada.  We thru-hiked the section from St. John's to Cappahayden, camping along most of the way (see entries for days 5 to 18 for details), and then we walked the trails from Flatrock to Quidi Vidi Village as day hikes (see days 24 and 25 for details).  We also walked the Piccos Ridge trail (see day 3 for details).  During our trip we visited two Important Bird Areas, spent a day exploring the Colony of Avalon at Ferryland, took a trip to Bonavista, and hung out in St. John's.  For those interested in hiking the trail, we have included a description and review of the gear we took with us.  Thank you for reading, and we hope you enjoy!

 Map of East Coast Trail ECT Newfoundland Canada

Sean and I are passionate about hiking, nature, photography, and birds.  To some degree our posts reflect these interests.  We tried to describe as many of the species and natural wonders we encountered as we could.  

East Coast Trail: Hiking Gear List 

Hike Preparation for the East Coast Trail 

Arrival: Exploring Historic St. John's Newfoundland 

Preparations, Logistics and Supply before ECT Hike 

Setting Out into the Unknown, Portugal Cove to Bauline 

Winter Storms and ReGrouping, Return to St. John's 

Deadmans Bay Path, St. John's to Blackhead 

Hiking Cape Spear, Blackhead to Maddox Cove - Petty Harbour 

Tracing Coastline, Petty Harbour to Little Bald Head 

"Just a few more kilometres", Little Bald Head to Freshwater 

Boardwalks and Coastlines, Freshwater to Witless Bay

Birding the East Coast Trail, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve

Tinkers Point and La Manche, Witless Bay to La Manche Provincial Park 

Along Flamber Head, La Manche PP to Roaring Cove 

Natural Beauty, Roaring Cove to Long Will 

Coastal Trekking, Long Will Campsite to Ferryland 

Lighthouses and History, Ferryland and the Colony of Avalon 

Mudder Wet Path, Ferryland to Chance Bay 

Whales and Warm Welcomes, Chance Bay to Bear Cove 

Blackflies and Trailheads, Bear Cove to Cappahayden 

Birds and Botanical Gardens, St. John's 

Heading North, St. John's to Bonavista and Elliston 

Puffins and Root Cellars, Bonavista and Elliston 

Return to the City, Bonavista to St. John's 

Railways and TCT Mile Zero, St. John's 

Return to the ECT, Flatrock to Logy Bay 

Important Bird Areas, Ocean Centre to Quidi Vidi

 

If you enjoyed our East Coast Trail blog, you might also like reading about our walks on the Camino Primitivo (2022), the Camino San Salvador (2022), the Camino Madrid (2022), the Camino Portuguese (Central) (2019), Camino Finisterre (2019), the Via Podiensis (2017), and the Camino Frances (2016).

We have also completed several other long-distance hikes, including the Bruce Trail and the Trans Canada Trail.

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