Route Description – UPDATED 10/20/2022
Start Line: Pouch Cove (Lat/Lon: 47.762021, -52.762973)
Stage 1 Pouch Cove to Flatrock – “Stiles Cove Path”
15.1 km East Coast Trail. Towards the end of this stage, as you are leaving Red Head Cove, there is a left turn onto the ECT to go around the headland. You should take this turn rather than continuing straight on along an ATV track.
Flatrock Aid Station and Relay Transition (Lat/Lon: 47.704992, -52.710386)
Stage 2 Flatrock to Middle Cove.
1.1 km road
Flatrock to Torbay – “Father Troy’s Trail”
8.7 km East Coast Trail
Make sure you run out to and around the split rock at the end of Flatrock. No shortcuts.
About halfway along this section, the trail splits. There is a signpost; take the trail to the left marked “difficult” for “Church Cove”. This turn will be marked with pink flagging tape. Careful on the cliff path; do not fall off.
On approaching Torbay, keep left and cross the bridge. You will follow the trail around the beach and up the hill on the other side of the bay to the road.
1.4 km road.
From Spray Lane turn left onto Marine Drive, turn left on Motion Lane, and then turn right onto Motion Drive until you reach Silver Mine Head Path.
Torbay to Middle Cove – “Silver Mine Head Path”
2.4 km East Coast Trail. This section includes crossing Motion River – where there is now a bridge in place. Continue to Stay left on the ECT, following the ocean, until you reach Middle Cove Beach. Keep your head up on this section; there is a fence blocking off a part of the trail. Don’t run into it.
Middle Cove Aid Station and Relay Transition (Lat/Lon: 47.650311, -52.696599)
Stage 3 Middle Cove to Quidi Vidi.
2.9 km road – Exiting the parking lot at Middle Cove Beach, turn left onto Marine Drive and you will eventually turn left onto Doran’s Lane, keeping right until you reach the Cobbler Path trail head.
Outer Cove to Red Cliff – “Cobbler Path”
8.2 km East Coast Trail. Follow the boardwalk and path until you come out facing the ocean. Nice view. The trail splits. Turn RIGHT. There is pink flagging tape marking the way.
Stay on the ECT until you reach a wooden ECT sign.
Continue going straight (Do not turn right to the radio tower), and the trail will take you to the new ECT Parking lot on Cobbler’s Crescent. When you reach the second wooden sign ECT sign marked ‘Viewpoint’, turn right down the hill to Cobbler’s Crescent parking.
3.9 km road
Exit the parking lot by turning left, turn left reaching Red Cliff Road, and left again onto Marine Drive and finally turning left onto Marine Lab Road to take you to the final Aid Station and the Sugarloaf Path trailhead.
Logy Bay to Quidi Vidi – “Sugarloaf Path”
8.9 km East Coast Trail. This is the most technically challenging part of the course, but thankfully this is where the fun really starts. Your legs will be shot from the recent road running and the previous 40-odd km. Because of the enormous amount of fun during this stage you will probably question why you are doing this – just remember there is a bottle of beer and warm clothes at the end.
Coming down the final hill (you will need to carefully follow the pink flagging tape as we will intersect 5 times with a bike path), as well as the ‘people-signs’ for the ECT, not the bicycle signs, as well as the wooden Black and White posts. There will be pink flagging tape to lead you down past the trailhead to the access trail leading to the parking lot.
Turn left heading towards the wooden bridge, crossing it and keeping right passing the houses on Maple View Road, turning right onto Barrows Road, and crossing Quidi Vidi Village Road leading you to the Inn of Olde.
Finish Line – inside the Inn of Olde!
Leave a Reply