Bill’s Woods Trail is at Daniel’s Harbour on Route 430 (The Viking Trail). The trail is 2.5 km long and takes you from the highway to a beach on Portland Creek Pond. The trail starts just across from Bennett Lodge in Daniel’s Harbour. There is a good sized parking area and interpretive signs at the beginning of the trail.
Before roads, to get from Daniel’s Harbour to the neighboring community of Portland Creek in the winter was not easy. The fast running creek did not freeze over, so you had to trek inland quite a ways to cross. The story has it that a guy named Bill got lost between the communities. He survived the ordeal and the woods next to the trail became known as Bill’s Woods.
The trail follows the edge of a forest of balsam fir and black spruce. As you follow the trail, you pass by two small sawmills, known as ‘push mills’. They have been in use since the 1920’s to make studs and planks for house construction. They are also used to build lobster traps.
The trail crosses a sphagnum bog. Plant life consists of bog loving varieties. Newfoundland’s provincial flower, the pitcher plant, are abundant.
The trail ends at Portland Creek Pond, which is one of the west coasts land locked fresh water fjords. Portland Creek Pond is just as spectacular as it’s more famous neighbors in Gros Morne National Park. There is a sandy beach at the end of the trail.
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