Hiking and Walking Trails

 

See the article at the end of this page.

 

( Photo by K. Pelley )

 

 

 

 

            Twillingate is host to some spectacular walking trails bordering cliffs with ocean views.  If you are not quite sure how to find the starting point of some of these trails, ask any local person and they will be sure to help. Work is now under way to improve the Hiking and Walking trails including trails in and out of Hospital Pond. 

            These trails are maintained by Twillingate Islands Tourism Association and are to be used by everyone full with expectations of the rugged walking terrain and  to ' USE AT YOUR RISK '.   Enjoy.

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Hiking Trails

- include many rugged cliffs and coast lines , root cellars, rock formations - ie; Queen Victoria's head, head of gorilla facing upwards,

Long Point - Sleepy Cove- Lower Head - East side of Light House (to Cuckold's Point)

Icebergs, Copper mine, main viewing platform at the light house.

Mutford Cove - Back Harbour-(Twillingate, Museum & Beyond)

Devil's Track, overnight campers, beaches, and land one occupied by the Maritime Archaic Indians.

Top of Twillingate

Part boardwalk, part woods trail.  A climb to the top of the hill provides a view of the entire island of Twillingate.  Great nature walk and bird watching area.

French beach to Spiller's Cove (1) & Spiller's Cove to Codjack's Cove (2)

Beautiful rocky beaches, rugged coastline, rock pillars and rock formations. (info; Codjack is a male Cod)

Lower Little Harbour - Natural Arch - Jones Cove

Resettled community, winter home of Thomas Sugg, old cellar.  Jones Cove is a beautiful secluded beach.

 

Near the Trails from an Ocean View

( Photos by Ken Howell )

 

 

Walking Trails

 

Batrix Island in Back Harbour

 

 

Coves in Little Harbour

Minty's Farm

Look Out Hill

Burnt Island Tickle

                         Ragged Point to Bluff Head Cove                                   

AND -  visit the new

Hospital Pond

 Walking Trail around the pond -

 You will enjoy a  1-1/3rd km. walk with it's beautiful gazebos and benches and the many varieties of trees, flowers and shrubs.  It includes a wading area for the young and old alike.  It provides an excellent venue for patients from the Hospital to be taken and to enjoy the wonderful flowers with their own flower boxes to tend to.

Watch for Hiking Trails leading off at some points.

 

       

 

( Photos by Ken Howell )

French Beach below

 

Hiking Trails - 'as a lifestyle and for pleasure' - - ' healthy things to to do'

The following are excerpts from an article in the local newspaper from an 'expert hiker' listing eight great trails on Twillingate Islands;

 

 1 - Lighthouse to Cuckold's Point my favourite.  The trail takes you past rugged coastline, interesting coves and beaches like Devil's Cove, Horney Head Cove with a sea cave, and Cuckold's point with an outstanding view of Twillingate harbour. This trail in the future will be connected to Crow Head and the trail to Sleepy Cove.  This trail is worth the hike.  About six miles; level 4-5 because of the distance.  (This is a trail you should do after you have completed all the others).

 

Part of the Viewing Platform by the LightHouse

( Photo by Ken Howell )

 

 2 - LightHouse viewing platform to Lower Head.  Go left from the viewing platform, down the steps and turn right to Nanny's Hole, then back to Sleepy Cove, across Sea Breeze Park, and on to Lower Head.  You will pass root cellars and at Lower Head see the Gorilla's Head rock formation while taking in a in a great view of Crow Head.  At Lower Head the trail will loop around to give you a great view of the rugged coastline and Sleepy Cove.  About four miles Level 2-3. 

 

 

Queen Victoria Rock

( Photo by Ken Howell )

 

 3 - Mutford's Cove to Twillingate Museum.  A great trail to spend a day with the kids, very easy going.  You can enter the trail at many locations.  Visit Gaullis Cove, a great sandy beach with a huge Devil's Track (track of lava flow that was developed millions of years ago when this area had active volcanoes).  Visit Spencer's Park and bring a ball or frisbee.  You can continue on the old road or follow the beach to Back Harbour and to Batrix Island.  And on to Twillingate Museum and historic St. Peter's Church, built in 1845.  About three-four miles depending where you enter: Lever 2-3.

 4 - French Beach to Spiller's Cove.  This is one of the most interesting hikes with rugged coastline that can stir your imagination, rock formations and sea stacks, a hole in the wall and great beaches.  Look for the Cobra Snake, the Indian, the Old Man on the Cliff, and the Camel.  Just look and see what you can find.  About four-five miles: Level 3-4.

 5 - Spiller's Cove to Codjack Cove.  A great trail to stir your interest in geology.  You can just sit to look and wonder how the land and cliffs were made.  About four-five miles;  Level 3-4.

 6 - Lower Little Harbour.  See the area of a resettled community, root cellars, winter home of Thomas Sugg, 30-foot natural arch and beautiful Jones Cove (no other place like ).  Great area to see wild flowers like  the Pitcher Plant and Round Leaf Sun Dew (and please do not pick the plants, they are in their natural habitat and for all of to enjoy).  About three miles: Level 2-3.

 7 - Top of Twillingate.  A great nature hike and a site for bird watching.  Hike to the highest point of land on Twillingate Islands and climb up a well built tower to get a panoramic view of Twillingate Islands.  If there are icebergs in the area, this is the place to see where they are located.  About two and half miles;  Level 2-3.

 8 - Hospital Pond Trail.  Not really a hiking trail, but a great place to start - with an access to Minty's Farm via the waterline trail.  A great walk through a flower garden and around the pond and swimming area.  You will see wild flowers, birds and butterflies.  The trail around the pond is wheelchair accessible.  About 1 mile; Level 1.

 

( Permission given to use this article by the 'expert hiker' - Fred Bridger ).

Here is a map of Crow Head Hiking Trails;

 

 

           

 

 

 

To order a copy of our Map of Twillingate showing all major hiking trails, send us an e-mail c/o  fred.bridger@nf.sympatico.ca or write to us ;

 

 

 

Twillingate Islands Tourism Association,

P.O.Box 217,

Twillingate, NL

A0G 4M0

( Photo by Ken Howell )

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there maybe even a friendly critter or two....