Ochre Hill Trail is a beautiful 5 km hike that leads to a viewpoint over Bread Cove Pond and Clode Sound that I absolutely recommend you try if you have time while in Terra Nova. However, if you are running short on time or the weather is a little socked in, as it was for us, I recommend taking the shorter Ochre Hill Viewpoint Trail instead.
This trail leads to a fire lookout and viewing platform that overlooks bogs, forest, and ponds that make up the beautiful Terra Nova National Park. We opted for this trail because the rain was coming heavily as we drove through the south portion of the park, and the fog obscured most of the views. Although our view was limited, I still think it was a worthwhile stop.
Ochre Hill Viewpoint Trail Summary
- Difficulty:Â Easy
- Distance:Â 300 metres round trip
- Elevation:Â 8 metres
- Trail type:Â Loop
- Time:Â 5-10 minutes
- Trailhead:Â Ochre Hill Lookout
To find the lookout parking area, take the turn signed for Ochre Hill off the Trans Canada and follow the road until the end. Here you will find that parking area beside the stairs up to the lookout.
Detailed Trail Description
The “hike” to Ochre Hill Fire Lookout is a simple set of wooden stairs up the hill to the fire lookout structure. This structure is open to the public to climb, and brings you high above the surrounding landscape.
We opted to skip the climb to the top of the lookout due to the limited visibility, but on a clear day this platform gives you 360° views of Terra Nova.
We continued to the left, across a bridge that connects the fire lookout to a viewing platform. This two-tiered platform had several signs displayed, teaching some of the history of the land and animals that live here. One sign educates visitors on the impact of moose, an incredibly plentiful animal but not native to Newfoundland.
Four moose were originally brought to Newfoundland in 1904 and since then their population has exploded to more than 120,000. This has had a detrimental impact on certain environments, such as areas of Terra Nova where the over-browsing of plants and trees by moose has transformed 13 km² of forest into open fields. Parks Canada is working with Mi’kmaq First Nations, wildlife specialists, and the province to manage the moose population and regenerate these forests.
After reading about the moose problem, we took some photos with the Parks Canada Red Chairs and completed the loop back to the parking lot. This loop included dirt trails, wooden bridges, and wooden steps. The trail is well-maintained and cared for, but there is no way around the steps so it is not wheelchair/limited mobility friendly.
