Leaves crunch underfoot, a thermos of tea warms your hands, and somewhere below the lookout the Atlantic waves roll in. Fall in the St. John’s region is made for being outside, so we rounded up the best places to spend it.
Bannerman Park sits steps from downtown, with tree-lined paths and benches made for slowing down. Bowring Park, in the city’s west end, offers riverside trails, ducks, and colour in every direction. Pippy Park is a bigger escape, with wooded trails and quiet ponds, all without leaving the city.
Want to keep going? The Grand Concourse links parks, rivers, and ponds across the region through a network of walking trails.
Fall is harvest time, and this local farm celebrate it well.
Tucked into the Freshwater Valley, O’Brien Farm is one of the last original family farms in the city. Start at Thimble Cottage, built in the 1850s, then wander the gardens and forest trails. In October, the farm’s After Dark haunted trail hike gives those same trails a spookier side.
The East Coast Trail follows more than 300 kilometres of coastline, and fall is a beautiful time to experience it. The air is cool, the hills turn rust and gold, and familiar paths feel new again.
Start close to town on the Deadman’s Bay Path, which begins near Fort Amherst and climbs across the Southside Hills toward Blackhead. For something shorter, the North Head Trail on Signal Hill winds along the cliffs above the Narrows.
Signal Hill gives you the whole picture: harbour, city, and open ocean, all from the foot of Cabot Tower.
Across the Narrows, Fort Amherst puts you at the mouth of the harbour, with a lighthouse, the remains of a Second World War battery, and a clear view back to Signal Hill and The Battery.
For something unforgettable, head to Cape Spear, North America’s most easterly point, and watch the first sunrise on the continent. Fall sunrises come a little later in the morning, which makes the early start that much easier.
Some of the most memorable fall walks come with a storyteller. St. John’s Walking Tours offers two ways to see downtown.
The Signature Downtown Walking Tour winds along Water Street and Duckworth Street to Bannerman Park and the Colonial Building. As the evenings get darker, Downtown’s Old Haunts reveals the eerie side of the city with pub stops along the way to settle your nerves.
Pull on a sweater, pick a path, and stay a little longer. Fall in the St. John’s region is best seen in person.
Please Note
Some business opening days and times may change seasonally. We always recommend making reservations and calling in advance to avoid disappointment.
