Hiking in Signal Hill National Historic Site: trails, map and practical info

The five trails

Parks Canada says every trail at Signal Hill has panoramic views, and that whales, icebergs and seabirds can often be seen from them in summer. The trails connect to the Grand Concourse, a trail network that leads to most parts of St. John's.

• Burma Road Trail: easy, 2.4 km round trip, 50 min. A wide, gently sloping surface from the visitor centre to an exit at Cuckold's Cove. The trailhead is at George's Pond, across the road from the visitor centre. The road was built by American servicemen during the Second World War.
• Centre to Summit Trail: moderate, 500 m one way, 10 min. It links the visitor centre to the summit, at the Duke of York Battery near Cabot Tower, and passes the Queen's Battery and barracks. The trailhead is on the far side of the visitor centre parking lot.
• Gibbet Hill Trail: moderate, 1 km round trip, 20 min. The trailhead is at the performance field, to the right of the visitor centre; after visiting the summit, hikers return by the same route.
• Ladies' Lookout Trail: moderate, 1.3 km, 30 min (Parks Canada's English page calls it a loop; its French page calls it one way). It follows the backbone of the hill and connects with the Burma Road Trail. Ladies' Lookout is the highest point of land on Signal Hill. Some sections are steep or have an irregular surface. The trailhead is across the road from the summit parking lot.
• North Head Trail: difficult, 1.7 km one way, 1 hour. Parks Canada describes it as the oldest and most popular trail on the site, with over 35,000 hikers a year. It follows the narrows out to North Head. Trailheads are on the ocean side of the summit parking lot and at the end of Outer Battery Road.

Lengths vary between sources. Parks Canada's accessibility guide gives other approximate lengths (about 1.4 km for Burma Road, 0.7 km for Ladies' Lookout, 0.55 km for Centre to Summit); this page uses the figures from the Hiking page.

The North Head Trail: what to know

According to Parks Canada, some sections are narrow and run next to steep drops, which can bother people with a fear of heights. From Ross' Valley to the summit, the trail rises almost 100 m. The accessibility guide adds that the trail is uneven and steep, with loose gravel, rock and wooden staircases with handrails, and that one section requires chain railings to get along the ocean safely. It also says that the trail exits off-site: to get back, hikers walk up Signal Hill Road, a steep paved road.

Choosing a trail

The Burma Road Trail is the only one rated easy. The three moderate trails are short (0.5 to 1.3 km); Centre to Summit is the one that leads from the visitor centre to the summit and Cabot Tower. North Head is the only one rated difficult: pick it for the cliffs, not for a quiet stroll.

Getting there and parking

The site is at 230 Signal Hill Road in St. John's. By car, head east on Empire Avenue, Duckworth Street or Water Street to Signal Hill Road, then go straight up to the visitor centre, halfway to the summit. Parks Canada says parking on site is free; the accessibility guide mentions accessible spaces in both site parking lots. The number of spaces is not published.

Fees and hours

The grounds and the parking are free. Admission applies to the visitor centre only: $10.00 per adult (ages 18 to 64), $8.50 per senior (65 and over), free for youth 17 and under. The visitor centre is open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, June 1 to October 9, 2026 (access to Cabot Tower closes at 5:30 pm). The grounds are open year-round.

Safety and dogs

Parks Canada notes that the terrain varies greatly and that high winds and irregular footing are a dangerous combination when visitors stray from the designated trails: do not go too close to cliff edges, scale rock faces, or sit on wall ledges. Cell coverage may be limited in some areas. In an emergency, dial 9-1-1; for a safety issue on site, call the visitor centre at 709-772-5367.

At Parks Canada places, dogs must be on a leash of 3 m or less and under control at all times, and their waste must be picked up. The Signal Hill activities page lists dog walking among the things to do.

Services

• Public washrooms; accessible washrooms are in the visitor centre.
• Picnic area, a café (Newfoundland Chocolate Company, in the visitor centre) and a gift shop.
• Electric car charging and bus parking.
• A Hippocampe all-terrain mobility aid is available on request: email signalhill@pc.gc.ca or call 709-772-5367 before your visit.