EAST COAST

TRAIL

16 DAYS, 15 NTS
~286 km

Dates: Check back soon for 2026 dates
Cost: By donation
Skill Level: Advanced
Ages: 18+
Max Group Size: N/A (All participants must be self-sufficient)
Start: Topsail Beach, Newfoundland, Canada
Finish: Cappahayden, Newfoundland, Canada

REGISTRATION COMING SOON

This experience is for women with prior multi-day backcountry hiking experience. It’s an unstructured, community-based thru-hike led by SHE Ventures founder Lauri Corlett, designed to bring together adventurous women who crave backcountry adventures on the trail, but with the comforts of safety, company, and encouragement. It’s a chance to learn the basics of thru-hiking with guidance, while embracing the challenge and freedom of self-directed travel.

The group will meet up each morning and evening to connect, check in, and plan the next stretch, but during the day everyone is free to hike at their own pace and find their own rhythm on the trail. If our paces align, we hike together. If they don’t, see you at camp!

Each participant is responsible for their own safety, gear, accommodation bookings, and decisions on the route. All participants must be self-sufficient. This should not be viewed as a guided trip, but rather as a way to experience the East Coast Trail with the camaraderie of others instead of going solo.

The days will be long. The route will be hard. Plans won’t always work out. We will adapt as needed. If you’re the type of person who prefers structure and certainty, this trip isn’t for you.

ROUGH ITINERARY

But remember… this is a thru-hike. An itinerary is merely an idea. We go with the flow and we roll with the punches.

Notes: Participants attempting the entire thru-hike should allow 21 days to account for unforeseen schedule changes due to weather and minor injuries.

  • 📍 Start: Topsail Beach
    📍 Finish: Portugal Cove
    📏 Daily Distance (km): ~17.2
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 17.2
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 6-8
    🥾 Trail Section: Long Shore Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: Lugar Feliz

  • 📍 Start: Portugal Cove
    📍 Finish: Patch Brook Campsite
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 24.9
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 42.1
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 9+
    🥾 Trail Section: Piccos Ridge Path and White Horse Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: Patch Brook Campsite

  • 📍 Start: Patch Brook Campsite
    📍 Finish: Pouch Cove
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 14.8
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 56.9
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 5+
    🥾 Trail Section: White Horse Path and Biscan Cove Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: Murray House Vacation Home

  • 📍 Start: Pouch Cove
    📍 Finish: Flatrock
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 15.1
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 72
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 5-7
    🥾 Trail Section: Stiles Cove Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: TBD

  • 📍 Start: Flatrock
    📍 Finish: Quidi Vidi Village
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 26.2
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 98.2
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 12+
    🥾 Trail Section: Father Troy’s Trail, Silver Mine Head Path, Cobbler’s Path, Sugarloaf Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: TBD (St. John’s)
    Notes: Group will resupply in St. John’s for next 4 day section.

  • 📍 Start: St. John’s
    📍 Finish: St. John’s
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 0
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 98.2
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 0
    🥾 Trail Section: N/A
    🛏️ Accommodation: TBD (St. John’s)
    Notes: REST DAY. Option for new participants to join for next trail section.

  • 📍 Start: Fort Amherst
    📍 Finish: Maddox Cove
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 25.9
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 124.1
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 12+
    🥾 Trail Section: Deadman’s Bay Path, Cape Spear Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: Caplin Cottage, Harbour House, or Cottage Hill.
    Notes: Group transport to trailhead will be arranged from St. John’s, with costs divided amongst participants.

  • 📍 Start: Petty Harbour (Maddox)
    📍 Finish: Miner Point Campsite
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 12.7
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 136.8
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 3-4
    🥾 Trail Section: Motion Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: Miner Point Campsite

  • 📍 Start: Miner Point Campsite
    📍 Finish: Little Bald Head Campsite
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 12.7
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 149.5
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 4+
    🥾 Trail Section: Motion Path, Spout Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: Little Bald Head Campsite

  • 📍 Start: Little Bald Head Campsite
    📍 Finish: Bay Bulls
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 17.2
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 166.7
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 5-7
    🥾 Trail Section: Spout Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: The Bread and Cheese Country Inn
    Notes: Resupply at the Foodland in Bays Bull, NFLD for the next 4-day section.

  • 📍 Start: Bays Bull
    📍 Finish: Tors Cove
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 19.3
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 186
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 6+
    🥾 Trail Section: Mickeleens Path, Beaches Path, Tinkers Point Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: Air BNB

  • 📍 Start: Tors Cove
    📍 Finish: Roaring Cove Campsite
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 15.5
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 201.5
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 5-7
    🥾 Trail Section: La Manche Village Path, Flamber Head Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: Roaring Cove Campsite

  • 📍 Start: Roaring Cove Campsite
    📍 Finish: Long Will Campsite (Lance Cove)
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 18.8
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 220.3
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 7+
    🥾 Trail Section: Flamber Head Path, Brigus Head Path, Cape Broyle Head Path (Seg 1)
    🛏️ Accommodation: Long Will Campsite

  • 📍 Start: Long Will Campsite
    📍 Finish: Ferryland
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 17.8
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 238.1
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 6-8
    🥾 Trail Section: Cape Broyle Head Path (Seg 2), Caplin Bay Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: Ferryland Cottage
    Notes: Resupply at Foodland in Ferryland, NFLD for remaining days.

  • 📍 Start: Ferryland
    📍 Finish: Gallows Cove Campsite
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 16.5
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 254.6
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 6-8
    🥾 Trail Section: Sounding Hills Path, Spurwink Island Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: Gallows Cove Campsite.

  • 📍 Start: Gallows Cove Campsite
    📍 Finish: Cappahayden
    📏 Daily Distance (km): 31.2
    📏 Cumulative Distance (km): 285.8
    ⏳ Time (hrs): 10+
    🥾 Trail Section: Spurwink Island Path, Bear Cove Point Path, Island Meadow Path
    🛏️ Accommodation: TBD.
    Notes: Our longest and final day.

3% Cover the Fee

Make a donation

This East Coast Trail hike is being offered by donation to make it accessible and community-driven. Contributions are welcome from participants or from anyone who simply wants to support the effort behind organizing and hosting this kind of adventure.

Donations help cover coordination time, planning, and shared resources like maps, GPX files, and group communication tools — as well as ongoing costs such as insurance, website platform, and marketing materials that make running trips like this possible. The more support received, the more likely SHE Ventures is to offer similar community-based experiences in the future.

FAQs

WHO this is for

This experience is designed for women seeking a safe, supportive space to experience backcountry hiking in community. It’s intended for those who have prior thru-hiking experience or highly experienced hikers who are interested in attempting their first thru-hike with mentorship.

what to expect

This is not a fully guided tour — it’s a shared adventure. The itinerary will remain flexible based on group pace, weather, and rest needs. SHE Ventures will coordinate each day’s plan and support with logistics, but it is ultimately a self-directed trip. Participants should allocate additional days to their trip (~3 weeks total) to account for schedule changes due to unforeseen events such as weather and minor injuries.

NEXT STEPS AFTER REGISTERING

Didn’t get a confirmation email? No worries — that’s normal. I keep things simple (and affordable), so my site doesn’t automatically send confirmation emails. Once you’ve registered, I’ve got your info. You’ll receive an email about a month before the trip with a pre-trip questionnaire and waiver, along with details about gear, transportation, and group logistics. That’s also when I’ll set up our group chat for pre-trip introductions and planning discussions.

PARTIAL PARTICIPATION

Can’t join for the entire trail? No problem. Join at one of the access points along the way for part of the journey. Use our itinerary to estimate your arrival and departure dates. Live updates will be provided in the group chats, or communicated via inReach to mobile numbers during periods when the group does not have reception.

SHE VENTURES ROLE

SHE Ventures will:

  • Provide general route guidance and suggested accommodation (campsites, hotels, or B&Bs)

  • Coordinate transportation for up to 5 participants from St. John’s to the starting trailhead and back from the trail end, as well as transportation from St. John’s to Fort Amherst on Day 7 following the rest day. All transportation costs will be divided equally amongst participants. Additional participants are welcome but must arrange their own transport.

  • Conduct daily check-ins and coordinate the group throughout the journey.

  • Create and manage group communication channels (e.g., instagram, whatsapp, or facebook group chats), handle contact information, manage correspondence leading up to trip departure.

  • Provide access to navigation and safety equipment for those who can keep pace.

  • Provide necessary trip documentation, including route maps, GPX files, and other planning materials, to registered participants prior to departure.

TRIP DOCUMENTATION

All GPX files and route maps will be shared with registered participants prior to trip departure. These resources are provided to help you plan, navigate, and feel confident on the trail. They’re not shared publicly out of respect for the East Coast Trail Association, which maintains and manages the route, and to encourage participation through SHE Ventures.