Fun fact: It took nearly 500 million years for Mother Nature to create the landscape of Gros Morne National Park. And now, the UNESCO World Heritage Site has seemingly endless natural wonders and features to show for it. If you enjoy hiking through one-of-a-kind mountain trails, this park is definitely one to add to your bucket list.
Situated on Newfoundland’s west coast, the national park has everything from dense forests to its signature red cliffs and towering waterfalls. So every kind of nature lover has something to look forward to!
Natural features
Visitors can travel along the water through fjords carved by glaciers millions of years ago, and even walk over the ancient sea floor, courtesy of plate tectonics.
And for ecology enthusiasts, it doesn’t get much better than hiking the Tablelands, where the theory of plate tectonics was confirmed, according to Newfoundland & Labrador’s official website.
Visitors can make the challenging one-day trek (18 km loop) to the top of Gros Morne Mountain for rewarding views of the Long Range Mountains, or explore the scenic Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse and its tide pools.
Beach-goers can swim and lounge at the sandy beaches of Shallow Bay, Western Brook Pond, and the town of Trout River.
Camping & accommodation
And in terms of places to stay, Gros Morne has numerous b&b’s, hotels, inns, cottages, RV parks, and campsites available in the South, Central, and Northern regions of the park.
As for the latter, there are five scenic front-country campgrounds, several “primitive campsites” along notable hiking trails, and rustic cabins to choose from.
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This national park is home to famous hot springs & some of the oldest fossils in the world
Don’t know where to start? Head to the park’s Discovery Centre to tour the Miawpukek First Nation’s exhibit and learn more about the ‘Mi’kmaq Story,’ which precedes much of the history of the island of Newfoundland.
Gros Morne is located 30 minutes away from the Deer Lake Airport, and is accessible via car, guided boat tour, or kayak.
Note that annual or day passes are required to enter the park.
So there you have it, explorers! Happy adventuring.
Gros Morne National Park
Where: Newfoundland and Labrador
Information on Gros Morne National Park is from Parks Canada and is accurate as of the publication date.
