Signal Hill National Historic Site Smartphone Audio Walking Tour

The following are highlights from the Signal Hill National Historic Site Walking Tour. In total, you’ll enjoy 14 audio points of interest in this immersive, self-guided experience—including the Cabot Tower, North Head Trail, Johnson Geo Centre, and much more!

Perched above the Narrows guarding St. John’s Harbour, Signal Hill has witnessed pirate raids, imperial battles, trans-Atlantic breakthroughs, and daily cannon blasts. This GPS-guided walking tour drops those stories—plus panoramic ocean views—right in your earbuds as you hike Newfoundland’s most iconic hill.
14 immersive stops reveal how soldiers, scientists, and local legends shaped “the City of Legends,” from the 1762 Battle of Signal Hill to Marconi’s first wireless trans-Atlantic signal in 1901.

Begin your journey at the Signal Hill Visitor Centre, where interactive exhibits, rare artifacts, and a captivating short film reveal the hill’s dramatic military and communication history. From hands-on displays to kids' explorer programs, this modern gateway sets the stage for your outdoor adventure across this iconic National Historic Site.

A spirited pirate narrator brings to life the hill’s eerie past—where criminals once hung in public view as a warning to all. Now a peaceful lookout, this stop offers sweeping views of St. John’s alongside haunting tales of justice on the high seas

Step into the 1860s at the fully restored Queen’s Battery Barracks, where live musket demos and historic cannons bring St. John's military past to life.

Perched atop Signal Hill, Cabot Tower served as a vital military lookout through two world wars, as well as the birthplace of... we'll tell you!

Descend beneath Signal Hill into the Johnson Geo Centre, where ancient rock and interactive exhibits reveal Earth's 3.7-billion-year story from deep within the planet's crust.

Shrouded in legend and ghostly lore, Deadman’s Pond is a tranquil yet eerie stop where tales of bottomless depths, vengeful spirits, and chilling mysteries still ripple beneath the surface.

Climb to Signal Hill’s highest point, where sweeping ocean views meet long-held traditions of waiting and battlefield legend at the storied Ladies’ Lookout.

Hear how this once key defense post guarding St. John’s Harbour, Battery Lookout and Fort Waldegrave echo with wartime vigilance, from cannon-lined cliffs to WWII submarine-spotting strongholds.

Experience a living military tradition at Signal Hill's Noon Day Gun, where a historic cannon—once aboard HMS Calypso—still thunders across St. John’s to mark the midday hour.

Hear from Bill, a WWI soldier brought to life by a narrator, as he recounts Signal Hill’s wartime past along the historic North Head Trail.

From Signal Hill, hear a former lighthouse keeper share stories of vanished forts, wartime defenses, and the enduring memory of a coast that once stood guard.

From this iconic Signal Hill lookout, we’ll tell you about the battles once fought to control The Narrows, as well as the ships and stories that still pass through St. John’s Harbour today.

Hear from Newfoundland and Labrador’s iconic dog breeds, whose bronze statues on Signal Hill stand as proud symbols of the province’s heritage, resilience, and deep connection to the sea.