Alexander Murray Trail Hike in King’s Point, NL

Hike up 2200 stairs!

The final push to the summit on the Alexander Murray Trail

The Alexander Murray Trail, named for Sir Alexander Murray – the first person to ever produce a geological map of Newfoundland, is located in the small community of King’s Point, Newfoundland. It’s now a tourist attraction, drawing people from all over the world.

If you’re driving the Trans-Canada Highway northeast of Deer Lake, then it’s worth making the three to four hour stop to hike the Alexander Murray trail.

Alexander Murray Trail summary

Stairs: You will climb 2,200 stairs if you hike the full Alexander Murray Trail.

Distance: 8 km round-trip.

Elevation gain: 335 m or 1,100 feet

Time needed: Allow 3 – 5 hours, depending on your hiking speed and how long you spend by the falls.

Level of difficulty: I’d rate the hike as moderate. Kids 8 and up should be able to do it if they’re regular hikers.

Number of waterfalls: Enjoy three waterfalls over the length of the Alexander Murray trail.

Costs: You do not have to pay to hike, but donations are welcome and are used for trail maintenance. During business hours at the Visitor Center you can purchase drinks and snacks – as well as quilts and jam.

Where to eat: Before or after your hike, drive into town and eat at By the Sea Inn and Café. You can also spend the night.

Don’t forget: Let someone know where you’re going and carry the 10 hiking essentials.

Location map of the trail

                                                     

The Alexander Murray trail is a great hike

The trail is a study in stair construction and design. There are 2,200 stairs in total – both going up and coming down that you’ll have to hike.

Despite the fact that you may be winded doing this – you may even be cursing at times, the stairs make the hiking a whole lot easier.

The trail is incredibly well marked. At various locations there are signs indicating the distance and how long you can expect it to take to the next signed area. For those of you, who worry about getting lost, fear not.

The first of the 2,200 stairs occurs within 5 minutes of the start of the trail
The first of the 2,200 stairs occurs within 5 minutes of the start of the trail
Looking down one of the steep sets of stairs
Looking down one of the steep sets of stairs
Heading for Corner Brook Gorge
Heading for Corner Brook Gorge

Look for wildlife on the hik

There is the chance to see wildlife, though the best we could so was the grouse pictured below. 

You do hike through an area called Moose Barrens, where you’ll spot plenty of moose poop, but unfortunately for us not a single moose.

Mind you, it was hot on the day we did it, so any moose in the area were probably taking a siesta.

The only wildlife we saw on the trail
The only wildlife we saw on the trail
The trail through the Moose Barrens area
The trail through the Moose Barrens area

Hike to Corner Brook Falls and Corner Brook Gorge

The whole Alexander Murray Trail is eight kilometres long. It’s primarily a loop with minimal backtracking required.

There’s a side trip well worth doing to Corner Brook Gorge and Corner Brook Falls.

It requires a descent of over 200 stairs – which is easy enough – but then you have to ascend those stairs to the main trail and continue on to the summit.

Do it, especially on a hot day as it’s cool at the bottom. And the pool at the base of the falls certainly looks inviting too.

Corner Brook Falls in Corner Brook Gorge
Corner Brook Falls in Corner Brook Gorge
The pool at the bottom of the falls looks very inviting on a hot summer day
The pool at the bottom of the falls looks very inviting on a hot summer day

Once you’re back to the main trail, these are the stairs you can look forward to climbing.

Hiking the Alexander Murray Trail near King's Point, Newfoundland
My friend Judy thinking enough already with these stairs
Hiking the Alexander Murray Trail near King's Point, Newfoundland
The final push to the summit
Hiking the Alexander Murray Trail near King's Point, Newfoundland
Lookouts on the summit of the trail offer stellar views

Beautiful views from the summit

The summit, called HayPook offers 360 degree views. Look down the Southwest Arm of Green Bay, where you can spot icebergs this year. You’ll also see the Gaff Topsails, a geological feature known as drumlins on the southwestern horizon.

The descent from the summit is via a combination of stairs and dirt trail. It passes two waterfalls – Roswell’s and Gull Brook Falls as well as a campsite with a couple of tent platforms.

Generally, the descent is very pleasant with the stairs well-spaced. There is one bridge that is washed out where you have to remove shoes to wade across – at least when we did it.

Lookout out to the Southwest Arm of Green Bay
Lookout out to the Southwest Arm of Green Bay
Icebergs can be seen on the horizon
Icebergs can be seen on the horizon
Looking west from the summit
Looking west from the summit
Looking back to Gull Brook Falls and the stairs
Looking back to Gull Brook Falls and the stairs
Wildflowers are common in wetter areas
Wildflowers are common in wetter areas
The one section of trail where you need to remove your boots
The one section of trail where you need to remove your boots

Once you’re back at the Moose Barrens it’s a quick 30-minute hike back to the parking lot.

Precise time and distance signs can frequently be seen on the Alexander Murray trail
Precise time and distance signs can frequently be seen on the trail

Finding the Alexander Murray trail

The trail starts by the entrance of the town of King’s Point at the Visitor Center in central Newfoundland, just 12 km off the Trans-Canada Highway via Highway 391.

The Alexander Murray trail is located approximately 132 km northeast of Deer Lake.

More sights to see in King’s Point

Before of after your hike, visit King’s Point Pottery Gallery, awarded the number 1 craft shop in Atlantic Canada and Newfoundland’s top shopping destination from 2013 till COVID hit in 2020. It features up to 365 craftspeople and artists.

The King’s Point Whale Pavilion is another worthwhile stop if you’re in the area between June 27th and September 5th.  You’ll find the world’s largest reconstruction of a humpback whale. 

Further reading on hiking in Newfoundland

Visit the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism website for more help with planning your vacation.

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

The Alexander Murray hike in Newfoundland - one of the best in the province - but beware - 2200 stairs to the top!

  1. This is Shirley again re: Fogo or Alexander M.Trail.
    Thanks so much for your reply.

    This is what we are thinking , please let me know if this is doable.
    August 9 :
    Drive from Terra Nova – Fairwell harbour, take 11:30am ferry to arrive Fogo, do a couple hikes, overnight at Brimstone Head campsite.

    August 10:
    Take earliest ferry back to Fairwell ( 7 am or 10 am), visit Twillingate area for a few hours, drive to Gros Morne

    I know it sounds so crazy eh? haha

    Quick question. Do you have to arrive at the ferry dock an hour earlier or so to ensure a spot ? or we can just purchase tickets in advance?

    Thank you so much!

    1. Hi Shirley,

      You may or may not get this in time for your trip but you never know. You only pay for the ferry when you’re going to Fogo Island and I don’t think you can purchase in advance. You pay as you enter. For the 11:30 one, probably want to get there a bit early, the same with leaving.

      When in Twillingate, grab food at R&J’s – it’s delicious and grab a hot beverage from Crow’s Nest Cafe.

  2. Thank you so much for sharing this hidden gem. We only have 11 days in NL so have to choose between this hike or going to Fogo Island. tough choice!! I’m more leaning towards this hike as it’s on the way to Gros Morne, and I read that there are chances that ferries may be interrupted making a tight trip to Fogo Island a little more risky.
    Thoughts?
    Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!
    Shirley
    Toronto

    1. @Shirley That is a tough choice. If you only have a day – and not time for an overnight I;d to the hike as to do Fogo in a day is a lot. If you can swing a night on the island then choose it.

  3. Even with the stairs, this looks like a cool hike. And I love that the signs give you time estimates – if I triple them it would probably about right for a slow hiker who stops to take lots and lots of pictures — because that would be incentive to keep going just one more section!

    1. @Cindy In Europe most of the signage id of time rather than distance. I do think it’s helpful so that at least you get a bit of an idea of what to expect – especially if you are newer to hiking. This was a fun hike to do and the stairs actually made the hike up and down a lot easier.

  4. Wow, I love how you captured the mesmerizing blue sky and the green of the landscape in a few of the photos, Leigh! Was that water pretty cold you had to walk through? The lookout out to the Southwest Arm made my jaw drop! That’s like out of movie or a poster! Dang you should consider the latter on that now that I come to think of it. I enjoyed this very much! We hope you are having a great week and that all is well with you guys, our friend! 🙂

    1. @Mike The water was refreshing that we walked through. It actually would have felt good to immerse by whole body. This was a great trail to hike – and thank you I am having a good week – catching up on my writing + just did 2 hikes in nearby Kananaskis Country.

      1. Walked this trail 5 times now and it never gets old. Taking your sneakers off is refreshing but last May 24 we almost got washed away from the high waters from the snow run off. Much rather the old bridge back.

  5. You can’t beat a trail with amazing views like this, multiple waterfalls, and the possibility of seeing moose. Love the cobalt blue color of the water.

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