east coast trail

Extensive trail network. The best I have ever experienced anywhere in the world. Buy the maps so you can plan ahead and benefit from the predetermined intensity.

The views are awesome. Some parts of the trail need maintenance but with care, a person can walk all trails. Watch out for pegs and streams as you can trip, if not watching, or fall on rocks. Don't go too close to the cliffs as the soil could give way. Just be cautious, as you would if you walked anywhere near cliffs and ocean. I would not recommend taking small children along, unless you hold their hands most of the time. Check out the website for maps and cautions. Often walks are arranged by experienced hikers and you can sign up. I've only done three short walks on the ECT so read up on the site and ask questions.

So many options for short hikes or day hikes and absolutely breathtaking views no matter where you go. Highly recommended for anyone, just do a bit of research before you set off to see how difficult that particular piece of the trail is and make sure you're properly prepared (water, snacks, cell phone, good shoes, jacket - it gets a bit windy near the water).

I loved the cardio and great exercise and the views were amazing that day! We stopped and had a picnic in one of the bays and enjoyed views of icebergs. The whole hike was amazing

Loved St.John's so much I bought a house right next to a trail, this is a must visit place for photographers. During the simmer you can take a picture with a whale, eagle and iceberg in the one shot. If you like getting out doors for some fresh air and exercise this is the place for you.

If you can grab the set of maps from a local store. If you can't get them, don't worry. While they aren't necessary, they are good to have because they have info specifically related to each trail. Amazing views, sometimes you can see some great sights, especially around ice berg and whale season. I have hiked and camped several of these trails and have found them all incredible. If you like hiking, no visit to NL should be complete without hiking a section of the trail.

October weather is generally quite good but there was some sort of tropical storm blow off so we I didn't get in as much hiking as we'd expected. What we did get? breathtaking.

a decent hike with some rocks to climb but worth the hike. I am not much of a hiker but found this ok. 2 small children under 5 did this hike with us.

I likes the well groomed trail and especially the view of Logy Bay, Outer Cove, Middle Cove and Torbay. No dislikes

We had so much fun hiking the East Coast Trail. Got to explore so many different parts of Newfoundland from beaches, to cliffs, to the unique towns. I would recommend a map because some of the trails can be hard to follow, but as long as you know where the coast is you won't have a hard time finding your way. If you like being outdoors and exploring, this is something you definitely want to do!

My boyfriend and I have just completed the 7km hike from Bay Bulls to Witless Bay..Gorgeous cliff side trek that goes through lush forests. The trail is very well maintained with boardwalks set up over rivers..etc..Lucky to have sunshine peaking through today, very little wind today as well! Ddid not see one single person, only evidence of life was the moose foot prints in the mud! Rated as a moderate hike by the East Coast Trail, my boyfriend and I are quite fitness oriented and completed in 2.5 hours (marked as 3-4 hours).Definitely recommend for fantastic views, not super challenging and peaceful!

We travelled to Newfoundland specifically to hike sections of this trail. We were extremely pleased with what we found.The trail is well designed and hiker friendly with lots of planking through bogs so your feet stay dry and steps to assist with ascents and descents. There are definitely some places where you have to pick your way on the rocks through streams and small rivers, but we found that we got more adept at this task as we learned better strategies for dealing with these water obstacles. Each hike we did had a lot of variety ranging from breathtaking views as we travelled along the top of spectacular cliffs to quiet sections through wooded areas. The hikes in the northern section were easy to get to; the trail heads were just off the road. Several of the hikes south of St. John’s required traversing access roads which were arduous and added many kilometers and a good deal of time to the hike.We were there in mid-September 2014 and we were amazed at how underutilized the trail seems to be. It was good hiking weather yet there were multiple days that we did not see another person for the entire time we were hiking. It was great for us, but a pity that more folks are not out there taking advantage of this resource.Great hiking, great views!

Before you embark, it is best to check out their website, go to a tourist office and an outdoor outfitter. 265 long and various parts are suited to various levels and lengths.My favourite was The beaches Walk which starts of in Whitless Bay. I also liked the Cape Spear Hike. Bring food, plenty of water as for the most part, there is nowhere to pick up anything and no restrooms.

Over the course of seven days, we hiked the entire northern part of the ECT (north of St. John's), the Maddox Cove to Cape Spear leg, and the Spout Path. All hikes north of St. John's are good trails with great scenery, lots of stairs to assist with ups and downs, and boards over boggy areas. South of St. John's the "help" is a little scarcer, especially on the middle part of the Spout Path, but allover, moderate hiking. Take plenty of water and allow yourself lots of time if you choose to hike "The Spout." It took us 10.5 hours and we were keeping a good pace. A significant amount of overgrowth on the path slowed us down a bit. The access road into "The Spout" was flooded in many spots and we had to pick our steps carefully. Don't use it the day after it rains -- give it a day or two to drain so you can get through the water.

we had a nice hike with great views until the fog rolled in. The trail is well maintained and marked. We had a small dog accompany us that seemed to live locally and was known to other hikers on the trail.