The Victoria Community Development Corporation
Walking and Hiking Trails

Maps and Photos

Information about each route is available at the Victoria town hall. A large trail map can be viewed from the outside of the hall by walkers, hikers, and mountain bikers who wish to know the location of all routes. In the lobby of the town hall are brochure describing each trail and photographs of some of the points of interest along each trail.

Plants and Wildlife

Victoria is a rural community with a large amount of open space. Wild life such as Moose, Rabbit, Partridge, and Beaver can be seen on any number of routes. Native plants, and plants imported by the first settlers of the area, grow in many of the gardens and public "commons" that were typical of a traditional community in rural Newfoundland.

Descriptions of Trails in Order of Difficulty

Old Track / Old Salmon Cove Road

This trail, which is easily accessible from many areas of town, is 7 km long and would take about 1.5 hours to walk. It is suitable for walking, hiking and mountain biking. This trail is level 1 rated which means it has a level to gentle grade, is dry most of the year, is less than 2 metres wide, and usable by most people average physical condition.

The route starts at the Victoria Recreation Centre; makes a loop following the abandoned railway bed intersecting: Old Salmon Cove Road, King's Road and back to the rail bed. This route crosses a reconstructed rail trestle and gives an excellent view of the Victoria Valley.

Big Rattles

This trail, with one short, steep hill, is 2.8 km long and would take about 2.5 hours to walk. It is suitable for walking, hiking and mountain biking. This trail is level 1.5 which means: it has a level to gentle grade except for the one short, steep hill, is dry most of the year, is less than 2 metres wide, and usable by most people average physical condition.

The route beginning at the Victoria Recreation Centre; makes a loop following the abandoned rail bed, Ash's Road to Big Rattles. Big Rattles is the site of a water falls that has been a popular swimming hole for the past 100 years. A large rock at this location has the maps of residents etched into its surface. The return route is along the Salmon River through Hiscock's Grove and back to the starting point.

Beaver Pond

This trail, with one short, steep hill, is 0.9 km long and would take about 0.5 hours to walk. It is suitable for walking and hiking. This trail is level 2 which means it is a moderate trail. It has: a gentle grade with one major hill, is dry most of the year, is one metre wide, and is usable by people in average physical condition.

The Beaver Pond Trail was developed in 1995-96. It is a foot path running along side a pond in the centre of the community. Small bridges over the few wet areas have been constructed. This trail, covers a wide variety of natural environments such as a forest cut over area, marsh, stream flood plain, over mature forest to abandoned growth on farm land. To enter the trail take the path at the intersection of Old Salmon Cove Road and Kings Road. If you follow the path all the way through you will end up at the centre of Town 3 Km away.

Swamp Hill / Rattles Road

This Trail, with one steep hill and a section of marsh, covers 5.6 km and would take about 2 hours to cover. It is suitable for hiking and mountain biking. This trail is level 2 which means it is a moderate trail. It has: a gentle grade with one major hill, is dry most of the year, is one metre wide, and is usable by people in average physical condition.

This route begins at the Town Hall, continues along Rattle's Road to the site of the present experimental farm. Following the trail under the pole line and it will take you to the Swamp Hill lookout. From here are visible a large number of ponds and brooks used by residents for trouting. Also visible from Swamp Hill is the "Yellow Marsh"; a Newfoundland bog where one can find such native plants as the Picture Plant. To return to Town Hall walkout the road towards the community.

Harry Dean's Hill / Murphy's Rd

This trail is 9.0 km long and would take about 3.7 hours to cover. It is suitable for hiking and mountain biking. This trail is level 3 to 3.5 which means that it is a strenuous trail: it has several steep hills, may have small sections of bog or marsh, is less than one metre wide in places, and is usable by hikers who are interested in undeveloped areas.

This is loop is 9 kms long and has a very steep hill. This route starts at the Power House Museum, takes the dirt road on left up a steep hill to Blue hill Pond. A foot path turns left up to Harry Dean's Hill look out. The route then descends Murphy's Road to the intersection with the Burnt Wood's Road path. At the intersection of Burnt Wood's Road and Route 70, turn left to return to the Museum. This route gives an excellent view of the town. From the lookout one can see the large amount of agricultural land that has been developed in Victoria since settlers first came here in the 1840's.

Power House/Blue Hill Dam

This trail, with one short, steep hill, is 2.2 km long and would take about 3.7 hours to walk. It is suitable for hiking and mountain biking. This trail is level 3 to 3.5 which means that it is a strenuous trail: it has several steep hills,
may have small sections of bog or marsh, is less than one metre wide in places, and is usable by hikers who are interested in undeveloped areas.

Start at the Power House Museum and take the wide foot path that travels on the right of the river gorge. At the top of the steep hill continue on the right side of Blue Hill pond. Path will take you across a marsh, a bog and through wooded areas. The path returns to cross the brook at the top of Blue Hill pond. Turn left at the intersection of the cart path and return back to the power house.