Cape Spear is a rocky headland about 10 kilometres from downtown St. John's, and it is the most easterly point of land in North America. The first lighthouse here dates from the 1830s, and the restored building, set among clifftops and rolling barrens, is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Canada. Gun batteries from the Second World War still sit along the ridge, a reminder that German submarines operated off this coast. The site is a Parks Canada national historic site, and the grounds are open year-round, though the lighthouse interior, kiosk and heritage shop keep a summer season, roughly June to early October. In every season the draw is the same: the open ocean, enormous skies and the feeling of standing at the edge of the continent. In spring you may see icebergs, and in summer whales often pass close to shore.
What to do
Walk the short paths from the car park to the old lighthouse, then follow the trail along the cliffs to the viewpoint marking the eastern tip. The newer lighthouse and the gun emplacements are easy to reach on foot, and the barrens around them are good for photography and for watching seabirds. If the interior of the historic lighthouse is open it shows how keepers and their families lived, but outside the summer season you will be enjoying the exterior and the landscape.
Practical planning
Parks Canada runs seasonal hours from roughly June to early October and says the grounds stay open year-round, so a winter visit is a walk around the grounds rather than a tour of the buildings. There is no public transport to the cape, so you need a car, a taxi or a guided tour. Weather is the big variable: wind, fog and rain are common, and the cliffs are unfenced in places, so wear warm layers and good shoes and stay on the paths.
Fitting it in
Cape Spear takes about an hour or two, and it is about a 20-minute drive from downtown, so it combines easily with Signal Hill and Quidi Vidi in a half-day loop. Go early or late for softer light and fewer visitors. A small-group guided tour is a good option if you would rather not drive on the coast road.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to a coastal national historic site with a lighthouse, wartime batteries and cliff-top paths.
Best time
A calm, clear day in daylight; summer brings the lighthouse and visitor services, and spring may bring icebergs.
How long
Allow one to two hours on site, plus about 20 minutes each way from downtown.
Tips
Bring warm layers, wear sturdy shoes, stay on the paths near the cliffs and check road and weather conditions before you drive out.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want to stand at the easternmost edge of the continent and see the open Atlantic.
- Families
- Families enjoy the wide paths and the lighthouse, but children need close supervision near the unfenced cliffs.
- Couples
- Visit in the golden hour for soft light on the rocks and the lighthouse.
- Pair with
- Signal Hill and Quidi Vidi make a natural half-day loop with it.
- Time needed
- One to two hours on site, plus the drive from the city.
Good questions
Is Cape Spear open in winter?+
Parks Canada says the grounds are open year-round, but the lighthouse and visitor services keep a summer season, roughly June to early October. In winter, expect to walk the grounds and see the lighthouse from outside.
How far is Cape Spear from St. John's?+
It is about 10 kilometres from downtown, roughly a 20-minute drive. There is no public transport, so plan on a car, taxi or guided tour.
Is Cape Spear really the most easterly point in North America?+
Yes, it is widely recognised as the most easterly point of land in North America. A marker at the cape celebrates that.
Can I see whales or icebergs from Cape Spear?+
Whales can sometimes be seen close to shore in summer, and icebergs appear in spring and early summer in some years. Neither is guaranteed, so treat them as a bonus.
Is there an entry fee?+
Parks Canada publishes the fees for the site on a separate page, so check it before you go. The grounds themselves are open year-round, and walking the cliffs and viewpoints is the main attraction.
