Cripple Cove Path | Biscan Cove Path | Stiles Cove Path | Father Troy’s Trail
Silver Mine Head Path | Cobbler Path | Sugarloaf Path | North Head Trail
Deadman’s Bay Path | Blackhead Path | Cape Spear Path | Motion Path | Spout Path
Deadman’s Bay Path runs from St. John’s to Blackhead.
Check the map for the following details:
- The trail is 10.6 km in length.
- The North trailhead is near the end of Fort Amherst Road in St. John’s.
- The South trailhead is on the Blackhead Bay turnaround in Blackhead.
- Don’t park at either trailhead, check the map for designated parking areas.
- There is easy access to Freshwater Bay from Blackhead Road.
In my opinion this trail is all about berry picking and great views of St. John’s.
Starting uphill from Fort Amherst the trail can be intimidating, but somehow you get on top pretty fast, even with the view behind you making you turn around every other step. The hills you’ve just entered are called the South Side Hills and they offer two things in abundance: Blueberries and great views. Looking North you’ll see majestic Signal Hill with the Cabot Tower playing the part of the cherry on top. To the West lies downtown St. John’s, there’s a separate trail allowing you to explore that view from many angles.
The actual trail heads Southeast though, passing a few small ponds and eventually dropping down to the water level at Freshwater Bay. A quick side trip to Gunners Cove is worth the effort, be sure to keep a look out for ripe Marshberries if you’re hiking this trail after Winter’s end. Rejoining the main trail brings you to Freshwater Beach, which separates the barachois from the ocean. Crossing this beach is a real pain with every other boulder tipping over as you try to navigate your way to the other end, the unique view from Small Point onto Signal Hill makes it all worth it though.
After Small Point comes the quiet forest hike to the South trailhead in Blackhead, every now and then a viewpoint pokes out of the forest showing you the cliffs below.
Scenic spots on Deadman’s Bay Path:
- The South Side Hills, together with Signal Hill these hills dominate the view from downtown St. John’s, that means in turn they offer a unique view onto Signal Hill and the city.
- Freshwater Bay has an odd beach with large ungainly boulders.
- Small Point, formerly Sprigg’s Point, juts out into the bay offering a great view of Signal Hill.
- Peggy’s Leg is a gorgeous sea stack below the trail.
Wild berries you can find on Deadman’s Bay Path include Blueberries, Crackerberries, Marshberries, Chokeberries, Partridgeberries and Blackberries.
Read more about Deadman’s Bay Path on this blog.
