Hiking the Spout Overland Trail

Hiking the Spout Overland Trail is a must-do Winter hike and it is for sure a highlight on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland. This path has been on my radar for a few years, however, it always seemed so intimidating. But that is far from the reality of it, it is truly an incredible hike and can be done by more than just the avid hiker. This post will highlight what you need to know before embarking; what to bring, when is the best time to go, and if you should be wearing snowshoes.

What is the Spout?

The Spout, pictured above, is a wave-powered, freshwater geyser that sprays roughly twice every minute. It is stunning in every season, although, in the Winter an ice cone forms around the geyser which is remarkable to see and perfect for pictures. The cone seen in the above image is roughly 15 feet high.

About the hike

The hike is roughly 15 kilometres ie: 7.5 kilometres to reach the Spout and then another 7.5 Kilometres back the same route. I would recommend planning for about five hours or more as it took us two hours to get to the Spout, we spent around half an hour at the Spout, and then another two and a half hours to get back to the car (mainly because we were tired at this point lol). The hardest part of the hike for us was the steep decline into the Spout and then turning around and having to hike back up over the ridge.

When is the best time to hike?

As this hike involves crossing bogs and small ponds, it is necessary to complete this hike in the Winter only after a couple of weeks of consistent temperatures below zero. This means the bogs will be frozen and therefore safe, and much easier, to cross. For an easier hike, it is also important to have a decent amount of snow, so that it covers the bogs, this again will make for an easier hike. The best months to hike this trail are generally between December to March, however, this again is highly dependent on weather. 2022 was a very strange, warm, and wet winter on the Avalon Peninsula, thus there was not a large window to hike the trail. Nonetheless, if it could be done in 2022, I would say it can be done every winter!

How to prepare

The quality of trail markers and the ability to follow the trail depends on when you are completing this hike. On the day we hiked the overland trail, we were the second last group to leave and there were around 20 people who hiked it before us that day. Therefore, the trail was so easy to follow and well bet down into the snow. For this reason, and the fact that there was less snow accumulation this year, we did not need to bring snowshoes and were able to follow the trail easily. However, this is not always the case. If you are the first one to set out and hike this trail after a snowfall, the trail may be harder to find and you will need to rely on the trail markers such as the one in the image below. I would recommend screenshotting the All Trails route on your phone. But above all else, if you are going when the trail may not be clear or bet down, bring a GPS with a preset route to follow to ensure you do not go off course in the barrens.

What to bring

Snowshoes would be helpful if you are planning to hike after a large snowfall or if the path is not bet down by previous hikers. However, when we completed the trail we acknowledged that snowshoes would have been a hindrance to us for the majority of the hike. Wear higher boots in case you do go deep into the snow in a drift, and bring a change of socks just in case. About a litre of water was perfect for the trek and we packed a lunch to enjoy with the beautiful views of the Spout!

Where to park?

I see a lot of people asking questions about this, so I may as well make it a heading. The entrance to the Spout Overland Trail is located on the Southern Shore Highway in Middle Pond (Between the Goulds and Bay Bulls). This year, due to the weather, parking was not much of an issue, and there were no 'No Parking' zones. Generally, just note to keep the vehicle off the road if at all possible when parking on the side of the road, as the Police may ticket you if it is on the road. In busier years, it was necessary to follow the no parking zones, which may have meant a longer walk to the trail entrance.

Who can hike the Spout Overland Trail?

I wouldn't say just anyone can hike this trail as it was at times challenging and has various elevation changes. That being said, you do not need to be an avid hiker. If you are not an avid hiker prepare for a longer hike and take lots of breaks. I have been dying to hike this trail and the day I decided to do it was the last window of favourable cold weather for a couple of weeks. The only problem was that I could not find anyone to do the trail with me. I usually would not mind going on my own but honestly, I am still getting used to the winter adventuring and I have never done this trail before (Also, it is worth mentioning that there is no service for the majority of the hike). Finally, my dad agreed to go with me because he didn't want to see me miss this opportunity (sweet, right?). He made out great on the hike and we met so many people of varying ages on the trail.

Tip for the Trek

One thing I would recommend doing prior to hiking the trail is to check the Facebook group, Hiking in Newfoundland and Labrador (Hike NL). People who hike the trail will generally post in real-time what weather conditions are like on the trail and information on wayfinding.