(click here to find Harvey Trail on the map)
(click photos to enlarge, click caption for mapped location)
To find the Harvey Trail you will go east on Route 470 from Port aux Basques for about 20 km until you reach Isle aux Morts. There are some signs in town to follow. You can also click on the captions on the photos above. A google map will open to show you how to get there.
The streets in these coastal communities weave and wind around and it is easy to lose your direction. Street signs and directional signs for local attractions can be rare or nonexistant. Relax, it's part of the experience and there is always a local that will be happy to give you directions.
(click photos to enlarge, click caption for mapped location)
The Harvey Trail turned out to be one of the nicest hikes that we have done, and that is saying a lot. The well kept trail meanders along the coast in an easterly direction for the first part. Soon after you begin, the story, on large plaques, begins to unfold about the Harvey family and the frequency of shipwrecks on this coast. There are no sandy beaches and as you look far out onto the water you will see many partially submerged rocks. Only tide and weather conditions would let you know they were there. Along the way there are picnic tables that will give you great views of the coast. While the trail rises and falls there are no dramatic changes in elevation. The main trail is a loop that starts and ends at the visitor centre. There is an off-shoot to the trail at the point where it starts to loop back. This takes you to another viewing platform.
(click photos to enlarge, click caption for mapped location)
Along the coast the vegetation is very short with everygreen shrubs that are only inches high. In small nooks and crannies, partially protected from the wind, some small trees can be found. About half way through the hike the trail turns inland and you begin to cross the barrens. You are entering another world again. You will encounter several small granite enclosed ponds that are at different elevations. The end of the trail brings you back towards Isle aux Morts, the cemetery and the parking area.
(click photos to enlarge, click caption for mapped location)
Hikes of Western Newfoundland by Katie Broadhurst and Alexandra Fortin is an excellent guide if you like to do trails. The book covers Western and Central Newfoundland as far east as Twillingate. They don't cover every trail, that's almost impossible. You'll find information on a good range of trails that you should consider.
You start with the area map where they show the trails that are covered by the book. The pages about each trail include GPS co-ordinates of the trailhead and a good map of the trail. They also tell you the level of difficulty and distances.
We bought a copy ahead of our June 2015 trip to scout out the trails we wanted to do ahead of time. The book is available on Amazon and you can purchase it through this link.
We've written a blog about a few more of the trails that are within an hour of Port aux Basques. You can read it by clicking here.
Before you head to Newfoundland, you may want to consider one or more of the great field guides that are available. We have done short reviews of the following:
