The Cormack Trail

On November 4, 1822 William Epps Cormack and his Micmac guide Joseph Sylvester walked down the Flat Bay Brook valley to St. Georges Bay, ending one of the most important explorations of the island of Newfoundland. They had completed the first recorded walk across the interior of the island from Smith Sound in Trinity Bay.

Cormack's published account of the journey was the first accurate description of the interior's geography and wildlife. It also laid the foundation for all later 19th century geological studies of the island's vast interior.

Cormack had hoped to meet the indigenous people of Newfoundland, the Beothuks but the tribe was near the brink of extinction.

The 182 kilometre trail from Petites on the south coast to St. George's on the west coast is called the Cormack Trail in his honour. It is a natural extension of the Appalachian Trail system in the eastern United States of America.

The Cormack Trail is an eight day hike with overnight stops at eight campsites and bed and breakfasts along the way. In the three day hike of the Anguille Mountains section of the trail the accommodations are all campsites. Parts of the trail follow the old rail bed while others cross beaches and over headlands.

The Piping Plover, a threatened bird species with only 500 or so left in the region and ten times that worldwide, has been regularly spotted along the trail. Sandy Point, J.T.Cheesman Provincial Park and Grand Bay East have sandy beaches favoured by this bird and are recommended viewing areas.

The coastline at the base of the Anguille Mountains is a great place to spot harbour and grey seals. They follow their food source which varies along the coast from season to season.

The trail runs through some 40 friendly communities so stop and have a chat or a feed.

To Scenic Tours: Western Region