The East Coast Trail is a trail so grand that you'll have the chance to look down on the backs of whales from high upon a cliff and see giant icebergs float by on the ocean current. It's a trail unknown to many, but perhaps one of the finest on the North American continent. It's a trail with a "European" feel that's actually closer to Great Britain than it is to Vancouver. The East Coast Trail stretches over 200 miles along the Eastern edge of the island province of Newfoundland in Canada. Relatively short road walks in quaint coastal villages connect the various segments of trail, and we hand pick the very best segments for this trip, connecting long point-to-point stretches. The East Coast Trail, the most easterly long distance trail on the continent, links charming fishing villages with the historic yet cosmopolitan capital city of St. John's.
The landscape of the East Coast Trail is stunning, with wide-open coastal barrens that provide endless views, high fjord-like cliffs dropping precipitously into the ocean below, sea stacks and arches, wild beaches and coves, waterfalls and powerful waves and even a geyser-like blowhole along the rocky shoreline called "The Spout". While the trail is generally well-marked, it is a challenging and sometimes technical route along the coastline. You'll find steep climbs and descents, slippery rocks and roots and sometimes boulders and rocks to clamber through.
Along with the scenic natural wonders along the trail, you'll enjoy charming coastal fishing villages each with their own unique character, from the colorful cottages of Quidi Vidi to one of the many active fishing villages like Petty Harbor. We'll spend our evenings in local Bed and Breakfasts along the coast, enjoying homemade dinners with a hearty breakfast each morning. Each B&B along the way brings it's own local charm and simplicity. We'll also spend a couple of nights in St. John's, The City of Legends, enjoying evenings out on the town and sampling native Newfoundland cuisine - Cod tongue anyone? Join us along the East Coast Trail for what is sure to be one of the most memorable trips you've ever taken!
Duration/Mileage: 6 days / 6 nights / 87 miles
Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced - We consider this tour more advanced due to the extremely technical nature of much of the trail tread. There are many challenging and technical aspects of this trail. Runners must be prepared for very steep, rocky and rooty terrain. Running isn't possible on some segments of the trail and you should be prepared to do a bit of power walking. There are also numerous steps to climb and traverse. Practice climbing steps prior to the tour. The trail is remote and inaccessible in locations. Slippery conditions can also factor in. The East Coast Trail includes significant elevation change daily with some navigation challenges, sporadic access to support vehicle, and potential stormy weather. Altitude is not an issue on this tour as we are generally at or near sea level. There are locations along cliff tops that can be challenging for those with acrophobia. The trail runs along steep cliffs for many miles. We will be running 6 days with distances between 6.2 (optional day off in St. John's) and 19.1 miles.
We Stay in Bed and Breakfasts and Inns along the trail. The first two nights will be in Pouch Cove, NL on the northerly end of the route. We'll spend the next two nights in the historic yet cosmopolitan capital city of Newfoundland - St. John's. Our last two nights will be at the lovely Bread and Cheese Inn bed and breakfast in the Bay Bulls, NL. Due to capacity issues at the smaller bed and breakfast inns we utilize, we may also reserve vacation homes near the bed and breakfasts to increase our room capacity.
The best option for travel to St. John’s is to fly directly into St. John’s International Airport (YTT). St. John’s International is serviced by most major Canadian and regional airlines including Air Canada with global connections.
Just minutes from downtown St. John’s, once at the airport, connections to lodging and other amenities are easily accessible by taxi and public transportation. Route 14 services the airport. There is a free shuttle from the airport to our meeting location hotel. In fact, the airport is so close, you can walk to the meeting hotel. Once we pick you up on the first day of the tour, we will provide all luggage transport and shuttles to and from running locations ourselves. You can find route and schedule information for Metrobus here - https://www.metrobus.com/html-default/schedules.asp
Adventure Running Co. will provide a selection of packable food items for each day’s run. On this tour, we will have limited options to provide snacks for the daily runs. On our first two days, sack lunches will be provided by our bed and breakfast hosts. In St. John’s, we will be done with our Grand Concourse loop before lunch. The next day, you will need to pack snacks for the trail. We will provide a limited selection of trail food items. If you have any specific running foods you prefer, please bring them. Specialty supplements or nutrition systems aren’t provided by Adventure Running Co. and you should bring your own supplies if you have any specialty items like these. Because this is a foreign based tour and we cannot carry all of the food preparation and food items on the airline, Adventure Running Co. may provide fewer lunch and snack items for the duration of this tour.
Breakfasts and dinners will be provided by our hosts each morning and evening. In St. John’s, dinners will be the responsibility of each runner and we will take advantage of local cuisine each morning and evening. One dinner will be provided at the Bread and Cheese Inn and we will go out for dinner on the other evening. Excellent and hearty breakfasts will however be provided on both our last two mornings.
What's Included:
Guides, all meals (breakfast and dinner) except dinners in St. John’s and one dinner in Bay Bulls, all lodging during the tour, support vehicle, group gear, first aid, permits, fees, reservations and licenses. Group gear includes cookstoves, dishes, cutlery, camp chairs, water, firewood, portable hot shower, massages (massage gun), maps, group first aid and satellite communication devices for emergencies and staff communication. Not all group gear is provided or needed on our lodge based or foreign tours.
Trip does not include airfare or other transportation to and from the departure site, lodging before or after the tour, or personal or custom trail snacks. Specialty supplements or nutrition systems are not provided by Adventure Running Co. nor are alcoholic beverages.