The Best Trail Running on the East Coast

Saint John's & Newfoundland - a trail running paradise.

If you're looking for some of the best trail running head to Eastern Canada and keep going - all the way to St. John's, Newfoundland. St. John's is officially part of North America, but the best trail running closer in America is closer to Europe than the rest of Canada and the USA. Situated on some of the oldest rock in the world, this small city offers more than unquenchable Newfoundland hospitality and great seafood. St. John's and Newfoundland is home to great trail running!

Here's a few runs worth doing, and re-doing.

Best Trail Running at Signal Hill and Quidi Vidi

There's a number of classy bed-and-breakfast places in St. John's, many located in restored down town row housing. From down town, a few minutes jog east on Water Street gets you on one of the most unique trail running urban and rural trails I've seen.

Run north on Water street to the harbour master's office, and follow streets that keep you close to the water. St. John's dates from the 1700's and you'll see some unique urban housing along the water even if you don't find the trail right away. Take advantage of St. John's hospitality and talk to any locals you meet!

You'll get plenty of exercise just finding the trail head. Signage is scanty, but head North along the waterfront and you'll find it. You'll be on the right track once you find yourself running through a private residence's back yard (really!).

You'll go up their stairs, across their deck, and then you'll be on the trail to Signal Hill. It's not very long, but what it lacks in length it makes up in elevation and the stunning views, in short, the best trail running!

It's easy running past the old gun batteries protecting the harbour from ghostly battles of the past. Newfoundland was a commonwealth until it joined Canada in 1949, so they looked after their own defenses during WW II - with a little help from the USA! Keep running until you see the trail narrowing, then grab the chain along the cliff face to keep yourself from sliding into the Atlantic - already far below you.

The next attraction is a wooden span across a deep cleft in the the cliffs. You can hear the eerie sounds of the Atlantic grinding away far below you at the bottom of the cleft. You just know that this would be a really bad time to slip up!

Now the trail gets rougher, with more ups and downs and lots of sturdy and irregular wooden stairs. Take good trail lighting if you're doing this at night. The stairs are often wet and uneven, and the area is prone to fog. Weather can make this trail challenging and so of the best trail running around!

Continuing on, you'll reach the lower headlands with great views of the Atlantic and the entrance to St. John's harbour. In June and July you'll have a good chance of seeing massive ice bergs as they drift by. This part of the north Atlantic is, after all, the graveyard of the Titanic and many other ships. You'll also be running across the 450 to 500 million year old rock, some of the oldest rock in the world.

Follow the head lands around to the base of cliffs below Cabot Tower on Signal Hill. This is the time for some great stair work. I counted 301 steps from the headlands up to the Cabot Tower parking lot. That gets your heart going! Running the whole shooting match is most definitely optional!

You're about 25 minutes into your run now, and you can return to St. John's via an easy jog down Signal Hill road past George's Pond, 19th century cannons, and the St. John's Geo Centre - or - you can strike out for Lady's Lookout. This takes you to a high point just west of Signal Hill, and to the spot where generations of spouses watched and waited for their loved one's ships to return. From there it's a short jog west to the steep tangle of trails heading down to Quidi Vidi, a small fishing village which is still pretty picturesque and unspoiled - considering it's only a few minutes drive from St. John's!

Well, you're not driving so you'll be running "The Boulevard" along the far side of Quidi Vidi Pond. This is the lake where North America's oldest rowing regatta is held each year. Beautiful looking sculls, but it's only fixed seat rowing at the regatta, and as a 'modern' rower I can't imagine what a rowing scull with a fixed seat would feel like!

Run right around the lake if you like - it's not that big - and then head back to St. John's downtown district.

Give yourself 90 minutes to complete the Water Street - Signal Hill - Quidi Vidi - Water Street circuit at an easy pace. But allow some extra time to poke around and take in the scenery. It's world-class spectacular! I did this run three times in daylight, at dusk, and at night. Take light if you run at night. If it's foggy, there's no ambient light!

Best Trail Running at Cape Spear National Historic Site

A short drive from St. John's brings you to Cape Spear. This is the oldest existing lighthouse in Newfoundland - built in 1835. It's also a great place for best trail running.

The park itself has a few kilometers of trails - but stay away from the lower paths. Deaths occur each year because tourists are swept away by the unpredictable north Atlantic surf. On the plus side there are two massive gun emplacements from WW II, complete with underground tunnels!

South of the old lighthouse there's nice running along the bluffs, and more trails lead inland through attractive gorse and heather. Keep a low profile and stick to the trails!

South of the old lighthouse there's nice running along the bluffs, and more trails lead inland through attractive gorse and heather. Keep a low profile and stick to the trails, and experience the best trail running!

Cape Race Lighthouse

If you've got the time take Highway 10 down to Portugal Cove South. Stop in at the interpretive centre and check on the road condition to Cape Race Lighthouse. This is some of the best trail running around!

It's a 19 kilometer gravel road that's infrequently graded. Head out to Cape Race, and while you're on the road plan your running strategy. There are turn offs along the road where you can park, or you could just drive to the cape and explore from there. The road itself isn't much more than a trail - with next to no traffic - so it makes an excellent out and back route. This is desolate and beautiful country. I'd go back in a New York City minute!

If the lighthouse is open for tours, pay a few bucks and head up the lighthouse stairs. It's great exercise, a beautiful view, and you'll also get a good look at a working lighthouse. Our guide let us climb all over the outside and inside of the lighthouse with a laconic warning not to touch the bulb: "She'll sure be hot, you know?"

St. John's itself is a great place to experience the best trail running. The city views are great, pedestrian and vehicle traffic is light, and Newfoundland drivers are a little more polite and relaxed - than you'll find in most places. This is urban row housing at it's finest, mostly dating from the last big fire in 1898. After running, you'll find a great selection of local restaurants and pubs - civilization at it's best!

Consider St. John's and Newfoundland a traveller's destination. Like Quebec, it offers a scenery and culture we don't typically associate with "America", and it's right here in North America - even if it is closer to London than western Canada!

That's it for Best Trail Running! And don't forget...

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