Deadman’s Bay Path is the entrance to the Southern end of the trail: from here, one heads out of St. John’s, towards Blackhead, Cape Spear, and on to the Southern Shore. Beginning in Fort Amherst from the Northern end of the trail, hikers are immediately tested with a steep uphill section that gets the blood pumping!

Once the climb up over the first rocky 500m or so of trail is done, hikers will cross the sparse vegetation atop the South Side Hills, dotted with small ponds and small trees. The map cautions hikers to stay on the established trail so as not to damage sensitive lichen and whatnot along this path, and that’s good advice.

Approaching Freshwater Bay, the trail joins a community path. This has always been a popular area for tourists and locals alike and sees a lot of use: it can be accessed from the Cape Spear highway just outside of Shea Heights. The path takes hikers to the edge of Freshwater Bay where a side trail takes hikers to a viewpoint and the main trail to the spectacular Freshwater Barachois, a long wall of rocks separating the pond from the bay. This is the highlight of the trail and hiking across it is an experience.

Past this point the trail becomes more of a woods path. After skirting a few gulches, the trail opens up and crosses rocks as it heads into Blackhead.

Check out some pics below!

Peggy’s Leg, home to many seabirds.

The trail marker for Peggy’s Leg.

Another angle on Peggy’s Leg, where the birds are more visible.

In the distance, Fort Amherst and Signal Hill are visible.

A Northern Flicker greets us as we walk through thick woods.

Pretty interesting signage!

A bad sign: the first steps were covered in ice.

One of the ponds atop the South Side Hills. Fall colors.

Iced over.

Soldier’s Pond.

A spectacular calm day.

Duck Pond, no ducks.

Coming around a corner, the first view of the Barachois at Freshwater Bay is something else.

Ice starting to form on the Barachois.

The wreckage of something.

The trail here consists of the flatter, larger rocks.

The river crossing is easier than it looks.

Looking north.

One of the jagged rocks visible from the trailside as it approaches the Blackhead end.

Peggy’s Leg.

Peggy’s Leg.

Check out the frost growing sideways from the wood!