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
Spout Path runs from Shoal Bay to Bay Bulls.
Check the map for the following details:
- The trail is 17.2 km in length, excluding the hike to the North trailhead.
- The North trailhead is at the end of Shoal Bay Road, in the middle of absolutely nowhere.
- The South trailhead is at the end of Gunridge Road in Bay Bulls.
- Hiking in from Goulds over Shoal Bay Road, the trail becomes 23.5 km in length.
- Hiking in from Petty Harbour over Motion Path, the trail becomes 30.7 km in length.
The quoted 17.2 km length of this trail is from trailhead to trailhead. Because the North trailhead is on the coast in the middle of nowhere, Spout Path hikers are actually looking at 23.5 km or 30.7 km as mentioned in the last two points. Most day hikers go for the Shoal Bay Road option, overnight campers and experienced hikers may well opt for the whopping 30.7 km option which includes Motion Path.
Starting out from the North trailhead is the easiest way IMO, Shoal Bay Road is an unfortunate extra but its 6.3 kilometres are by no means ‘empty’, you can expect to see quite a bit of wildlife on this trail near dawn or dusk.
The first few kilometres of the real trail are the most relaxing, and not just because your legs are still fresh. Practically right at the start there’s a group of beautiful waterfalls at the end of Queens River, flowing over a broad ledge before dropping into the ocean, keep an eye out for Otters. Continuing South the treadway is mostly soft and elevation changes are minor but frequent. From Long Point you can catch your first early glimpse of the Spout, the attraction this path is most famous for.
The Spout is a natural geyser and a real oddity on our East coast, anybody with the legs for it should really go the distance and have a look at it. It’s especially impressive in spring when all the runoff enhances the Spout’s effect. Just South of the Spout you’ll find the official campsite at Little Bald Head, if you plan on staying there please carry out your trash, a spoiled campsite is a letdown for the rest of us on such a beautiful trail.
A little further down South there are a couple of truly remarkable sea stacks and a few more scenic waterfalls. After that comes the long and weary stretch from Drop Cove to Turn of Bald Head, my least favourite part of this trail. Be sure to take a break at Freshwater, if you’re feeling adventurous you can navigate your way down the funky ledge that forms a slide for the river where it flows into the ocean. Closing in on Bay Bulls you’ll find a small lighthouse, after that it’s basically smooth sailing into town.
Scenic spots on Spout Path:
- The Spout, this sea-driven freshwater geyser is the top attraction on the East Coast Trail.
- Sea Stacks, at both The Landing Place and Drop Cove you’ll find impressive rock spires.
- Waterfalls abound all along the trail, some drop directly into the ocean while others flow over the cliffs first.
Wildberries you can find on Spout Path include Blueberries, Partridgeberries, Marshberries, Crackerberries and Creeping Snowberries.
Read more about Spout Path on this blog.
