Are you heading to Signal Hill National Historic Site in St. John’s Newfoundland and want a full guide on what to see?
Cabot Tower at the top of Signal Hill is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to St. John’s, and as a returning guest, I’m excited to feature a whole article on why it’s worth the trip. A short walk from downtown St. John’s will have you walking trails that have been traversed for hundreds of years, looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean and sweeping views back to the beautiful town of St. John’s.
In this guide I’ll break down how to get there, the main sights including Cabot Tower and the Queen’s Battery, as well as the side trails and places to note that are worth exploring. And I’ve done my fair share of exploring, I love the Signal Hill National Historic Site so much that I went there twice on my last trip to St. Johns!
Disclaimer: While I share my own thoughts and stories about these experiences, should you click on the affiliate links, I may receive a small commission on that sale which helps fund Adventure Awaits.
Where is Signal Hill National Historic Site?
Signal Hill National Historic Site is located at 230 Signal Hill Rd, St. John’s, NL A1A 1B3, a short drive or 10-minute walk from downtown St. John’s. The historic site sits on the edge of the narrows, the only entrance to the harbour, making it the most scenic spot in downtown St. John’s.
Cabot Tower is the most iconic structure located at the top of the hill and is worth heading inside to climb the narrow staircase and explore, but there are a lot of other sites to see and trails worth exploring.
What is Signal Hill Famous For?
Signal Hill got its name centuries ago when signalmen were stationed at the top of the hill. Their job would be to survey the ocean for ships that were heading toward St. John’s port and use flag signals to communicate the names of arriving ships to those below.
Cape Spear National Historic Site was built at the entrance of the harbour in the mid-1700s, as a way to protect the town of St. John’s. The tower on top of the hill has a perfect 360-degree view over the city, harbour, and Atlantic Ocean, perfect for spotting potential threats. The grounds also host barracks for soldiers, cannons (which have never been fired in anger), as well as an interpretation centre, and hiking paths for visitors to explore.
Signal Hill Visitor Information Centre
Start your visit to Signal Hill National Historic Site at the Visitor Centre by exploring the new and improved interactive exhibits. With artifacts, maps, and storytelling, the visitor centre helps bring the communications and military history of Signal Hill to life. We loved watching the 15-minute video in the theatre which helped provide insight as to what life was like at Signal Hill years ago and how the site has transformed over the years.
My kids loved doing the Xplorers Program which kept them engaged and taught them age-appropriate facts about Signal Hill, awarding them with their dog tag once their tasks were complete. The Xplorers Program is designed for kids 6-12 years but I’ll be honest, our whole family loves doing them!
Note: The Visitor Centre is open during the operating season, which is June 1 – October 11, 2024.
Cabot Tower at Signal Hill National Historic Site
Make your way to the Cabot Tower at Signal Hill National Historic Site. Built in 1898 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s landing in Newfoundland and Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The building’s primary purpose was for signaling, and its first signal was sent by the British military in 1704. Signalmen would keep an eye out for ships approaching St. John’s and when they spotted one they would put up a flag indicating what type of ship it was and where it was from. Then they would fire off a cannon to let the men in the town know to look up towards the hill to learn this information and the townsfolk would fire off a response. Cabot Tower was used for signaling until 1958.
My kids affectionately called it “The Castle” as it looked like a little castle on the top of the hill. I loved the fact that we were welcomed inside to explore. The narrow winding staircase led us up into another interpretation room with displays, we were even allowed to climb up to the top of the building and pretend to be a guard looking for potential threats.
The view from the top is worth checking out!
Queen’s Battery and Barracks
After visiting Cabot Tower you can take the Centre to Citadel trail down towards St. John’s, leading you to the Queen’s Battery and Barracks as well as give you another great view of the city. This trail is .5km and takes about 10 minutes, definitely worth the walk and allows you to envision what life was like for soldiers on guard.
Calling All Cannoneers
Right next to the Queen’s Battery you can check out these huge cannons and pretend to be a cannoneer.
Fun to pose with and perfectly positioned over incredible panoramic views, these cannons that were once meant to protect the city now welcome visitors for photo ops. These cannons have never been “fired in anger” but were once fired to test them out, and unfortunately, the test went awry… the cannons blew out all the windows in the houses below, leaving the Queen angry and requiring that they only be set off if in times of war. Fortunately, they have never been fired off again.
Sweeping Views Of St. John’s, Newfoundland
One of the biggest benefits of visiting Signal Hill National Historic Site is the lookouts you can visit that showcase the beautiful city that is St. Johns. With huge ships in the foreground set back on the row of jelly bean houses, this unique city is as picture-perfect as any photographer could wish.
Looking back towards St. John’s with the Queen’s Battery and the cannons in the foreground. The colours of the city are so vibrant, I just love it!
Signal Hill National Historic Site Trails
Signal Hill is more of a place to explore than one singular destination. There are a lot of different trails that will take you through the park and out to different lookouts, each of which I have done and recommend! Here are some of the other trails worth exploring at Signal Hill.
Signal Hill Trail Map
North Head Trail to Signal Hill
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate / Difficult
- Distance: 1.71 km round trip
- Time: 80 mins
- Location: Trailhead is located at Chain Rock Battery (Google Maps should direct you)
The North Head Trail runs along the cliffs edge and through several sets of stairs, bringing you incredible views looking back at St. John’s and out to the Atlantic. This is the oldest and most popular trail at Signal Hill National Historic Site, with speculation that it may have been traversed as far back as the 1500s. If you climb the trail from St. John’s you’ll go through The Battery and ascend to Cabot Tower, with one big flight of stairs at the end (you’ve been warned, but it’s worth it). I love this trail so much as the views are incredible and the oceanside trek is the perfect workout. Many of my colleagues did the trail more than once on our visit.
The trail is 1.7km long and takes the average person about an hour due to the steps. It’s defined as a strenuous/challenging hike so be sure to bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and have proper shoes on.
Address: 18 N Head Trail, St. John’s, NL A1A 1B2
Traveler Tip: Finding the access point to the trail is tricky, I missed it on my first attempt. Google Maps should take you to the right spot, down Battery Road to the trailhead. It’s a bit odd as you have to walk a step over someone’s stairs, which feels like you’re walking on private property, but it’s okay and is the correct place! Just keep a lookout for the signs and use Google Maps to get you to the right spot.
Ladies Lookout at Signal Hill National Historic Site
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: .71 km round trip
- Time: 20 mins
- Location: Trailhead is located at the North end of the Cabot Tower parking lot.
From the top of Signal Hill you can take a moderate .71 km hike down through the Ladies Lookout trail that if you continue on will lead you to Quidi Vidi. We had this trail almost to ourselves, except for a local who told us to keep an eye out for the resident eagle.
When you come to the lookouts (pictured above) take some time to see if you can spot the giant eagle nest! Also, take time to soak in the surrounding flora and fauna, it’s a beautiful spot with lots to take in. Some sections of the trail do have ascending stairs and uneven surfaces, hence the moderate rating, so be sure to have proper walking shoes.
Fun Fact: This iconic trail got its name as this is where the ladies used to come to look to see if their husbands were returning on ships.
Centre to Summit Trail
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: .51 km round trip
- Time: 10 mins
- Location: Trailhead is located at the back of the Visitors Centre
If you want to leave your car parked at the Visitor Information Centre you can take the ten-minute walk up from the Visitors Center to the Summit Trail via the Centre to Summit Trail. This trail offers great views and gorgeous seasonal wildflowers.
Gibbet Hill, Signal Hill National Historic Site
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 1 km round trip
- Time: 20 mins
- Location: Trailhead is located at the performance field to the right of the Visitor Centre
An out-and-back 1km trail that will take you to a lookout, Gibbet Hill has a dark past. In the 1700s Gibbet Hill was the site of a wooden scaffold where executed criminals were hung on display.
What to Pack For Your Trip To Signal Hill National Historic Site
- Camera
- Time to explore (I recommend at least 1 hour, if not 2-3 if you plan on hiking)
- Good walking shoes
- Be prepared for the weather and wind (sunscreen and hats, dress in layers)
- Give yourself time to watch the movie in the interpretation centre
St. John’s Adventures
While a visit to Signal Hill National Historic Site is a must, there are countless other adventures and locations in St. John’s to explore. One of the things that we love to do while visiting a new city is to take a guided tour. Learning about a city firsthand from a local allows you to gain insight that you normally wouldn’t on your own.
We recommend this Historic St. John’s Newfoundland and Cape Spear Tour where you will visit Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site, Petty Harbour, the Jellybean Row Houses, Signal Hill, and Quidi Vidi. The tour lasts 3.5 hours and includes time at each of the stops. It’s the perfect way to get a taste of each place, and then you can go back on your own and spend more time at the spots that interest you the most.
Book your Historic St. John’s Newfoundland and Cape Spear Tour here!
Whether you visit once on your trip or are like me and plan to hike around the site and visit multiple times, a trip to Signal Hill National Historic Site is one of the must-visit attractions in St. John’s. I love the integration of history that is aligned with such iconic views. My only regret is that I haven’t had a chance to go to a sunrise or sunset at Signal Hill so I guess I’ll have to plan another trip back as I think those photos would be incredible!
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Is this a sponsored post?: Yes, however, my experiences and thoughts are my own!
