St. John's 
St. John’s is the place to be – and the place to get out of, as well, and explore the beauty of the Newfoundland countryside during the Fall season.
La Manche Suspension Bridge/ Credit: John W/Flcikr
Hike amid fall colours, go on a scenic drive, and do more this fall season. Here are ten-day trips to get you out of the city and have fun in the fall foliage!
Embrace the Season at Cataracts Provincial Park
Located near the picturesque isles of St. Mary’s Bay, Cataracts Provincial Park’s chief feature is Cataracts Gorge, a spectacular waterfall accessible by dozens of steps. It will lead you to the Ellis Memorial Bridge, a 1920s-style arch bridge – the only one of its kind in the province! This will give you a gorgeous view of the gorge below. Hiking and bird watching tend to go hand-in-hand here, and Ruffled Grouse make Cataracts their home! Bring your camera for the trip.
Distance from St. John’s: 100km, 1hr, 15-minute drive
Drive to Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site
Cape Spear Lighthouse has a long and storied history of being the easternmost lighthouse in Canada and Newfoundland’s oldest surviving lighthouse. There are workshops put on by Parks Canada displaying how the earliest settlers to Newfoundland would have lived in the lighthouse. Furthermore, there are two hiking trails – Cape Spear Path and Blackhead Path – these are both moderately-difficult trails along the beautiful rugged Newfoundland coastline.
Enjoy a day out at Cape Spear, whether you hike or not! It’s a beautiful place, well worth the visit!
Distance from St. John’s: 15km, 15-minute drive
More Things to Do:
- 30 Must Do Outdoor Activities & Adventures in St John’s and the Avalon Peninsula
- 25 of the Best Walks & Hikes in St John’s and the Avalon Peninsula
Explore Discovery Geopark
At three and a half hours away, a visit to the Bonavista Peninsula is an ambitious day trip, but if you are sufficiently motivated, it’s a gorgeous, rugged place on Newfoundland’s north coast! Bonavista is where John Cabot (after whom the Cabot Trail is named) first set foot in Newfoundland in 1497. There are dozens of shops and galleries and opportunities to view puffins on the rocks.
The Discovery Geopark, located on the tip of the Bonavista Peninsula, covers approximately 280 kilometres of coastline from Southern Bay to Bonavista and is home to a few amazing features like Tickle Cove Sea Arch, The Chimney, Devil’s Footprints, and Dungeon Provincial Park See how the autumn season transforms the site and showcases the region’s diverse geological, natural and cultural diversity.
Distance from St. John’s: ~300km, 3.5-hour+ drive
Hike Fall Colours at Butter Pot Provincial Park
Standing at an impressive 2,833 hectares, Butter Pot Provincial Park is a beautiful outdoor paradise featuring marshes, woodland, waterfalls and large ponds – perfect for swimming, fishing and kayaking. Fall is often the perfect time of year for hiking as it is cooler and there are fewer bugs. There’s no better place for a view than Butter Pot Hill – the 6.6km trail (return) leads you to the 300m pinnacle of Butter Pot Hill, where you can view the spectacular autumn colours in the valley below.
Distance from St. John’s: 39.5km, 40 minute drive
Hike Sections of the East Coast Trail
St. John’s itself sits on the East Coast Trail. However, there are better sections of the trail to hike! Sugarloaf Path is one of the most recommended hiking trails – and it’s an all-day hike – alongside the Silver Mine Head Path. There are lots of different trails of varying difficulty along the East Coast Trail, many are within an hour or so’s drive, and some are all-day hikes.
Distance: 5-20km, 10-60+ minute drive
Visit Lester’s Farm Market
Lester’s Farm Market is a great experience for the whole family; they have a petting barn, a “Field of Fun” corn maze – and a month-long October “Pumpkinfest.” If you’re looking for some fun inside the city limits, then Lester’s Farm is sure to be the ticket without travelling very far!
Distance From St. John’s: 8.5km, 9-minute drive
Fresh Fish in Petty Harbour/Maddox Cove
If you’re looking for great fish, then look no further than Petty Harbour/Maddox Cove! It’s one of many quintessential Newfoundland fishing villages.
There are dozens of different attractions not far from Petty Harbour, from ziplining to museums and art galleries – it’s also one of the most picturesque places in Newfoundland, so be sure to bring your camera!
Distance from St. John’s: 13km, 15-minute drive
La Manche Provincial Park
Considered one of the must-sees along the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland, La Manche Provincial Park is a year-round adventure wonderland on the coast of Newfoundland. La Manche Suspension Bridge Trail is the trail that will lead you to the suspension bridge itself, at just 2.9 km long, the out-and-back trail is a short conclusion to a fantastic day away from St. John’s.
Distance from St. John’s: 60km, 50-minute drive
Rock Formation Spotting on Bell Island
Bell Island is located a few kilometres off the coast of Newfoundland – and is accessible by ferry. Be sure to bring your car, so that you can take in the best that Bell Island has to offer – including the Bell Island sea stacks – these towering monstrosities of rock make for great picture opportunities.
Distance from St. John’s: 15km, 20 minute drive, 20 minute ferry ride
Drive the Baccalieu Coastal Drive
This is more a weekend journey than a day trip, but nevertheless, one could do the Baccalieu Coastal Drive in a day if one were ambitious enough! Starting and finishing in St. John’s, the drive takes you to one of the northernmost parts of Newfoundland before dropping back into the mainland again. There’s much to see – from museums and hiking trails to art galleries and various historic sites.
Plan to do the drive in multiple days.
Distance: 351km loop, 6+ hour drive
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