Lately I've been reading about the fantastic work the Conception Bay North Trailway Group has been doing on the old railway branch line in Conception Bay North. I was very happy to read about a similar effort underway on the Southern Shore involving the old Trepassey branch line!

For those of you who are unfamiliar, the CBN Trailway group who are all volunteers, have taken on the task of revitalizing the old CBN branch line turning it into a multiuse trail for ATV's, hikers, horseback riders etc. This monumental task includes organizing volunteers to complete brush cutting along the trail,  fundraising to coordinate both paid and volunteer efforts of heavy machinery in repairing the trail, and working with neighbouring towns regarding ATV right of ways especially along sections of railway now turned into roadways. 

The Southern Shore Trailway group (both groups can be found with a quick search on Facebook) has started work on re-vitalizing and in many areas construction brand new multiuse trail down the Southern Shore. Where possible it follows the old Newfoundland Railway branch line (which was abandoned in 1931), to connect the gaps of the long abandoned route the new path utilizes power line corridors and in some places cutting new trail with permits from Crown Lands. This is a monumental task not only for the actual construction but the planning, permitting and fundraising as well.

We've spent quite a bit of time on the Southern Shore hunting, berry picking, trouting and camping so we're excited to hear of this great addition of ATV trail riding! This year the group fundraised and successfully roughed in a brand new section of trail that now connects Merrymeeting Road (at the top of Merrymeeting Pond) in Ferryland to the old railway line in Calvert. This connects approximately 50 kilometres of trail from North Hawke's Nest Pond all the way to Horse Chops Road.

Summer 2022 should see final grading and installation of culverts along this new stretch of trail and the start of expanding the route with another major section of new trail. This new section will connect Horse Chops Road to Cape Pond Road which will get riders all the way to Mobile via Beachy Cove Road! Long term plans (provided they get enough support) is to complete a new section of trail from Mobile all the way to Witless Bay line. This is a truly huge undertaking that will bring a lot of valuable ATV tourism to the area.

Today I had some service work on the Southern Shore so I threw my boots in the truck, on my way home hiked in the new trail leaving from Merrymeeting Road. It was a great walk, the trail although not yet finished is absolutely fantastic! I can't wait to come back in the new year and ride to Calvert and beyond on Project Foreman.

As expected the new trail will be very friendly to ride, especially compared to the very rough old bike path it replaced!

All in all I'm very impressed with all the work that has gone into this project, it's a great job and has bee very well executed. Don't forget to search Southern Shore Trailway on Facebook and help support the new trail by taking part in their fundraisers. I think it's a great cause that will benefit many many people here in the province.

Cheers, MIKE

Copyright © 2025 Michael Smith