What to do and see in Newfoundland, Newfoundland: The Best Free Things to do

April 28, 2022 Janette Largent

Discover the best top things to do in Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador including Blow-Me-Down Mountains, Skerwink Trail, East Coast Trail, North Head Trail, Sleepy Cove Trail, Gros Morne Mountain (James Callaghan) Trail, Brimstone Head Trail, Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Signal Hill, Cabot Tower.
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1. Blow-Me-Down Mountains

York Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador A0L 1E0 Canada
Excellent
78%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 36 reviews

Blow-Me-Down Mountains

Reviewed By 319janise - York Harbour, Canada

I see Blow me Down mountain from my window every day. It is also a great place to hike and get an unbelievable view of Corner Brook, Woods Island, Governors Island, Lark Harbour, York Harbour, the North Arm. It is a challenging hike but not too strenuous. And worth the effort!

2. Skerwink Trail

Port Rexton, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada +1 709-464-2006 http://www.theskerwinktrail.com/about/index.html
Excellent
93%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 567 reviews

Skerwink Trail

Skerwink Trail is the hiking Jewel of the region. It is internationally recognized and was ranked the top 35 trails in North America and Europe by Travel & Leisure Magazine (2003). This 5.3 km hike will provide the opportunity to view and photograph the amazing coastal scenery, sea birds, whales, eagles, sea stacks as well as icebergs (in season).

Reviewed By Notlegallyblonde - North Vancouver, Canada

Fantastic trail to see the amazing beauty of the Newfoundland coast and diversity of landscape. Did it with a 12 year old and it was totally fine. Great vistas - with whales traveling the coast. You can pop onto the trail at different spots so make sure you know where you are when you enter - if you don't go from the parking lot!

3. East Coast Trail

50 Pippy Pl 2nd Floor, Unit 9, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 4H7 Canada +1 709-738-4453 [email protected] http://www.eastcoasttrail.com
Excellent
82%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 466 reviews

East Coast Trail

Explore 25 wilderness paths along North America's easternmost coastline. The East Coast Trail unites genuine wilderness hiking with richly historic communities from Topsail Beach, to Cape St. Francis, to Cappahayden. There are over 300 kilometers of developed trail to explore. The paths of the East Coast Trail take you past towering cliffs and headlands, sea stacks, deep fjords, and a natural wave-driven geyser called the Spout. Experience abandoned settlements, lighthouses, ecological reserves, seabird colonies, whales, icebergs, the world's southernmost caribou herd, historic sites, a 50-metre suspension bridge, two active archaeological dig sites, and many more attractions. While the East Coast Trail is free to hike. A $25 annual membership fee helps offset the cost of trail maintenance.

Reviewed By 990hectorv - St. John's, Canada

Gigantic spot for a picnic, a “budol fight” will be funtastic for an 8.1Kilometers "tukad-baba, baba-tukad." Worth the trail that will test your agility, endurance and mobility that equates to its easy, moderate and kind of difficult terrain for those who are not use to trudge long distances. Took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach this highlight through different grade of pathways, starting from unpaved road, muddy and stone trail, into the woods, longitudinal boardwalks to stair made of logs, etc. In total, 5 hours back and forth which includes taking a deep breath, a break and at least 3 “viewpoints.” Sweat and perspire a lot under a sultry sun, cooling off under the canopies of spruce. Tasting wild blueberries on the way was such a leisurely treat. Lucky to have the boat on the spot with bunches of people touring the rugged coastline and estuaries.

4. North Head Trail

Signal Hill, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 4E8 Canada +1 709-737-1077 [email protected] http://www.grandconcourse.ca/trail-details.asp?TrailId=9
Excellent
88%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 185 reviews

North Head Trail

An exhilarating hike featuring rugged coastal beauty, striking views, and historic sites. This challenging trail built by Parks Canada descends 500 ft and includes a narrow coastal path along the Narrows. Caution: This trail is not maintained by the Grand Concourse Authority. Steep cliffs and hazardous sections are common throughout and caution should be exercised at all times.

Reviewed By zoller123 - Toronto, Canada

A great hike that rewards you with stunning views! If heights are a challenge for you , you might want to think twice !

5. Sleepy Cove Trail

Route 340, Twillingate, Newfoundland and Labrador A0G 4M0 Canada +1 709-884-5683 http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/PlanYourTrip/Detail/11131833
Excellent
82%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 44 reviews

Sleepy Cove Trail

Reviewed By stevemC636AV - Pasadena, Canada

My wife and I, along with our two golden retrievers, had a great day last week on this trail. We decided to make an afternoon of it and do Sleepy Cove to the lighthouse and add on the lighthouse to Cuckholds Cove with a loop around at the end. Sleepy Cove is a is a beautiful trail that takes you out to the coastline and leads you up to the lighthouse. Great views from many angles. Some inclines, declines and steps. Someone in moderate physical condition would have no problem with this trail. It takes you to the steps that lead up to the lighthouse. Beautiful views up there as well. If you're going to add on the trek to Cuckhold's Cover, beware, there are a lot of incline and declines. I would not rate it difficult, but not moderate ether. But the views of the bay and harbour make the full loop the best option. We took our time and it with stopping for water breaks, photos, and enjoying the scenery, it was 5 hours total, 13 klm. It was too pretty to rush. Good sneakers are a must as there are lots of places you could slip. PS: Leave your car near the trail head of Lower Head Rd. if you do the full loop, you'll end up in front of the Crows Nest Café, where you'll find awesome coffee, cookies, and brownies. And you car is 5 minutes away.

6. Gros Morne Mountain (James Callaghan) Trail

Gros Morne Mountain, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nl/grosmorne/activ/randonnee-hiking/mgm-gmm.aspx
Excellent
85%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 81 reviews

Gros Morne Mountain (James Callaghan) Trail

Reviewed By 908Laura - San Francisco, United States

My husband and I hiked this trail a few days ago to ascend to the summit of Gros Morne Mountain, the second highest peak in Newfoundland. and it was an awesome experience! The official guide claims that the entire trail measures 9.6 miles, but my GPS tracking recorded a half marathon. The trail definitely calls for a pair of good hiking boots with good ankle support. The most grueling was the 500 meter ascend from the base via a scree filled gully. In addition to the loose rocks, there was also a stretch of snow on the way. From below we could not really see the mountain top since it was shrouded in clouds. Park rangers in general recommend caution when clouds hide the top. We pressed on anyway, fully aware that we may not be able to see far from the top if the cloud persisted. It took us about an hour to cover the steep climbing along the gully. 3 and half hours after we set off at the trail head, we reached the summit at about 2,900 feet. Part of the mountain range was covered by the cloud, however, a bit below the summit and on our way hiking down, we were rewarded with a spectacular view of the Ten Mile Brook Pond (see my photos). It took us a bit over 7 hours to complete the hike including picture stops along the way. We were not sure whether this trail would be doable for a 12 year old prior to our hiking, due to the concerns over the gravel gully. Having completed it, I think it would totally be doable. This is a must-do in my opinion if you are visiting Gros Morne National Park.

7. Brimstone Head Trail

Banks Cove Rd. Fogo, Newfoundland and Labrador A0G 2B0 Canada +1 709-266-2402 http://www.townoffogoisland.ca
Excellent
83%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 48 reviews

Brimstone Head Trail

Reviewed By jrdvan

Gorgeous vistas and fresh ocean air make this a wonderful hike. Beautifully maintained trails really help show off how proud Fogo Island and Newfoundland are of their great outdoors.

8. Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

200 Military Rd, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1C 2E8 Canada +1 709-754-2170 [email protected] http://www.thebasilica.ca
Excellent
63%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 377 reviews

Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

Museum featuring historical and artistic artifacts pertaining to the Roman Catholic Church.

Reviewed By ramona551 - St. John's, Canada

If your into stained glass and churches then you will want to see the Bascillica..this beautiful stone building is a remarkable beauty ..the inside is a must see as the stained glass and monuments inside are breathtaking...around the back of the Cathedral on outside you can visit the holy shroud ..a remarkable must see for Catholics and people interested in religioous artifacts and history..a must see ...there is a nice terry walk from downtown St. John’s up to the basilica ..a grea5 easy at your own pace walk..

9. Signal Hill

Signal Hill Road, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1A 1B2 Canada +1 709-772-5367 http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/nl/signalhill/index.aspx
Excellent
73%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,524 reviews

Signal Hill

A hill overlooking St. John's Harbor which has been given "National Historic Site" status.

Reviewed By 992KarenH992 - Franklin, United States

Easy walk up to the top from the parking lot, 360 degree view from the top including St. John's harbor, Cape Spear Lighthouse and other parts of Avalon.

10. Cabot Tower

Signal Hill Road, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1A 1B2 Canada +1 877-753-9262 http://www.wordplay.com/tourism/historic/signalhill.html
Excellent
61%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 423 reviews

Cabot Tower

A tower built at the highest point of Signal Hill, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's discovery of Newfoundland and Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

Reviewed By jenniferb360 - Ottawa, Canada

We took the Hop On Hop Off bus tour, and our first stop was Signal Hill, where Cabot Tower is situated at its highest point. It was built as a monument to John Cabot’s 1497 voyage to North America and to the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign. Climb the stairs for a great view of the city and harbour. There is a gift shop on the first floor, and the second floor has a section devoted to the first trans-Atlantic wireless transmission of the human voice received here by Guglielmo Marconi in 1920.

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