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North Head Trail
North Head Trail
5
About
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.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles204 reviews
Excellent
179
Very good
23
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0

Julie6802
Sainte-Julie, Canada655 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Family
We did the trail going down, and we absolutely loved it. Magnificent views of the ocean. I was glad we did the trail going down because it was 27 degrees Celsius so people who were going up the 1000 + stairs we very sweaty. A definite must do in St John’s. Walking shoes are a definite must. Our 12 y.o. daughter really enjoyed it too.
Written 6 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Caribby96
Burnaby, Canada227 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
This trail was so beautiful! We went as a group, and the views were amazing the whole time. There are so many photo opportunities, and we saw whales.

Our tour guide didn't give us a lot of information ahead of time, so some weren't prepared for this hike. Make sure to wear sturdy walking shoes, as this is a hike, and bring lots of water. There are some steep parts and it gets windy.
Written 28 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jamie L
Halifax, Canada12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Family
Spectacular views. Really well maintained path. Not for anyone afraid of heights (or of walking up/down 800 or so steps). Wear comfortable shoes for a hike and bring water. We went from Battery Rd to Cabot Tower and walking up the hill (rather than down) worked well for us. Definitely the highlight of our stay in St. John's.
Written 5 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brenda S
Winnipeg, Canada134 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Friends
This was absolutely crazy. Started out nice and easy and got progressively steeper as he went on. The wind was incredible. I had to hang onto my hat the whole time. This December was quite unusual. Here. It is the 19th and we were able to do the trail from start to finish the views the views the views incredible. I’m at the nicest couple from Toronto and we did the trail together. So much fun. Get your time correctly. I wouldn’t want to be doing this one in the dark.
Written 19 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike from Rival Town
Niagara Falls, Canada1,065 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
We were dead tired by the end of it, but wow that was by far one of the prettiest if not the prettiest hike we’ve ever done. Such beautiful views, and also love how there’s a few lounge chairs set up around the trail here and there for you to sit and relax. Even saw a group of people that brought a cooler and were sitting and sharing beers. Such a cool spot! Breathtaking
Written 7 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard E
32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Couples
Not for the faint of heart. Being very afraid of heights, there were a couple of sections that were eerie. Having said that....the views are simply amazing. Once we were done, my Fitbit said we had walked nearly 8000 steps and climbed 70 stories.
Written 13 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wloo_andrew
Waterloo, Canada881 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
The trail starts on the ocean side of the parking lot on Signal Hill and goes down! Down to the rocks along the ocean. Lots of steps down but it's great to see Signal Hill from below and to get close to the ocean along the Narrows leading into St John's harbour. Good footwear (ie not flipflops) are helpful as there are rocks you have to walk over. Great hike right in the city!
Written 15 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bucko007
Sudbury, Canada1,037 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Couples
Amazing vistas. Not an easy hike especially for someone afraid of heights. Three navy ships left port during our walk and it was amazing to witness. Lots of ups and downs. Your Fitbit will enjoy the day. Lol
Written 16 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ingle
Vancouver, Canada1,114 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
You’ll have read about the spectacular scenery, the well-maintained trail made up of packed dirt, rock, boardwalk, and wooden steps, and the little Adirondack chair pairs, so I won’t spend any time on those.

We were challenged by a dearth of information on logistics - exactly where to park and exactly how to get back there. I’ll provide details - and photos - on that.

First off, unless you are doing the trail principally for exercise, I suggest that you walk a little uphill and a long trail down, rather than the reverse.

If you have a car, I recommend you park at Johnson Geo-Vista on the L on the road up to Signal Hill. Big sign, can’t miss it. Deadman’s Pond (see photo) is opposite on the R. Then walk on the sidewalk the rest of the way up. Before you reach the parking lot for Cabot Tower, where the road takes a sharp R, take a 3 minute detour to Ladies Lookout (photo) on your L for the highest point. Then return and start the North Head Trail, with a long, curving flight of stairs down (photo). Walk around the hill flanking the coast until you come to the end, when you walk across someone’s porch (photo) to get to the Outer Battery Road.

Follow Outer Battery Rd past little homes and buildings, and a large grey wall mural (photo) on the R, until you come to Hipditch Hill veering sharply off to the R. Take that until you see a set of wooden steps marked Trail (photo), on the L beside a blue house (photo). Take that and climb up keeping to the L (it’s unmarked) as you walk the path. It’s about 5-6 mins from the top of the stairs to Deadman’s Pond. You will approach the pond from behind, and walk L around it. Johnson Geo-Vista is in front of you, across the street. That’s the fastest and most scenic route back and beats taking the long road back.

The chain-link rail is for comfort where the trail is at its narrowest point above the cliff (photo shows the entire length of it) but its use is not even necessary. The hike is a safe and relatively easy 1.7 km, especially if going from top to bottom.

Make sure your camera is fully charged. After pooh-poohing selfie sticks, we used a gift one received several years ago for the first time and took some gorgeous shots. No flipflops. Running or hiking shoes are a must.
Written 3 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

polarman957
St. John's, Canada4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2018 • Friends
The Trail can start at Signal Hill desending by numerus steep steps to the coast line by witch it follows to the entrance of St Johns Harbour and by a number of homes called The Battery, a part of St Johns .One should cover The Trail to The Battery in an hour subject to traffic on the trail . Some start The Trail at The Battery. Its just the reverse of starting at Signal Hill. The Trail partwooden walkway, gravel with rocks is not difficult,there are sitting areas but no washrm facilities. The scenery is stunning,icebergs in season, whales, ships entering the harbour including Cruise Ships in season,fog creeping in and out of the Harbour and to the North East Cape Spear , the most easterly point in North America. One should not forget looking up at Cabot Tower where Marconi received the first wireless ' letter' in 1901 .A Trail truly stimulating and having it ALL.
Written 12 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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NORTH HEAD TRAIL (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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