Visiting Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland: Our Complete Guide

I’m finally getting back to writing about our trip to Newfoundland, Canada. I have to admit that I’ve fallen behind on the blog, and my list of articles keeps getting longer! So I’ll try to keep this one a little shorter while sharing more photos. Hopefully, it will inspire you to explore the area for yourself. In this article, I’m taking you through Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland’s largest national park. In a more recent article, I invited you to discover another beautiful park of its kind, Terra Nova National Park, also in Newfoundland.

Before writing about Newfoundland’s national parks, I put together a practical guide on when to go to Newfoundland. It covers everything you need to know about visiting the island, including the weather, crowds, activities, and the best time to go depending on what you want to experience.

Anyway, back to Gros Morne. We spent five days in Gros Morne Park. That may sound like a long time, but we still didn’t manage to do every hike—the park could easily keep you busy for much longer. And, as a reminder, we were traveling with our two children: Téo, who had just turned two when we left, and Louis, age six and a half, who walks well but can start grumbling fairly quickly too, haha.

We made a major last-minute change to our Newfoundland itinerary. We were supposed to visit Gros Morne on the way up to St. Anthony, at the northernmost tip of the island. In the end, we drove straight past the park so we could reach the icebergs in St. Anthony Bay before they melted. We therefore stopped at Gros Morne on our way back toward St. John’s.

First, a few useful facts about Gros Morne National Park. The park is located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland. It lies roughly 700 km from St. John’s, the provincial capital. The park is renowned for the beauty of its varied landscapes and its remarkable geology, particularly Western Brook Pond, a landlocked freshwater fjord carved by glaciers that we explored on a boat tour. The park, which covers an area of 1,805 km², was established in 1973. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

I’ve organized this list of things to see and do in the order we experienced them. There are a huge number of walks and hikes to be done in the National Park. Honestly, a full week would not be excessive if you wanted to explore its different areas properly.

But, as always, we had to work around family life, two young children, and the famously unpredictable local weather!

I’ll start with the first place we visited in Gros Morne. It is not really listed as a park hike, but several people had recommended it to us, so we decided to go—and we certainly did not regret it, despite the less-than-ideal weather.

This was the northernmost campground we visited in the park. As I said, the weather was quite overcast, but the views of the surrounding mountains were striking as we arrived. To be honest, much of the Newfoundland landscape we had seen was comparatively flat and Gros Morne National Park is a bit of an oddity with its beautiful mountains jutting out on the horizon.

Most visitors come to see the famous Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse, but the entire headland is well worth exploring. We spent a good two hours walking around the lighthouse and along the various paths that allow you to explore the surrounding area. Several of them lead down to the beach, and we even took the opportunity to do an impromptu photo shoot with Mélanie, who happily played along! Even if it’s a bit busy, it’s still a great place to explore, and if you’re in the area, I really urge you to stop by! Take a look for yourself!

This is one of the park’s best-known walks, and it is well worth the detour. We stayed for four days at the Trout River campsite in the extreme southwest of Gros Morne Park. The location of this campsite is perfect for discovering the Tablelands Hike. It is less than a 15-minute drive along the famous Route 431, which connects the village of Trout River to Woody Point.

This part of the Tablelands is very different from the rest of the park and as you approach you can see the difference, especially in the color of the rock and the environment. The Tablelands are unique in that they are one of the few outcrops of the Earth’s mantle. This exposed mantle rock once lay beneath the oceanic crust, making the area geologically remarkable.

The trail follows a gentle, steady incline for about 2 km and is not particularly difficult. It is listed as a 4 km round trip taking one to two hours, depending on your walking ability. I’d say that’s about right and we must have spent a good two hours on it. If you want to take your time, take photographs and enjoy the magnificent scenery that this short walk offers, allow about two hours for the walk.

The size of the trailhead parking lot makes it clear that this is one of the park’s more popular walks. We got there early in the morning and the crowds hadn’t arrived yet, which was good for us. We enjoyed a peaceful walk with the children along this beautiful, well-maintained trail. It follows the landscape and climbs inland.

Along the way, the landscape is full of contrasts and variety. Some areas are forested, while others are dry and ochre-colored. The higher you go, the more lunar the landscape becomes, ending in a jumble of boulders at the base of the valley. Louis and I even took the opportunity to go a bit further, but in the end it was a bit tricky and Mélanie was waiting for us with Téo.

A small waterfall is signposted in the eastern part of the national park, close to the road. We decided to have a look at it. The weather was poor when we stopped, but the trail is only about 700 meters long and takes roughly 30 minutes, so it is an easy place to add to your itinerary.

You can get to the famous Southeast Brook Falls on a small, well-maintained path through a beautiful green forest. Frankly, it is not the most dramatic waterfall you will ever see, but it’s still a fun little hike with the kids and no problem at all.

Again, this is not an official trail you are likely to find on the park map, but we loved this walk as a family. We learned about it from local residents. As we were camping at Trout River, they recommended the Eastern Point Trail, which runs along the cliffs starting at the end of the sandy beach in Trout River village.

The trail starts at the end of the town. It’s reached via an imposing wooden staircase. It is a real workout for the legs. But it’s worth the effort. We spent a good hour walking along these beautiful cliffs and Trout River Bay. The views of the surrounding area are superb and everyone enjoyed walking in this dream setting at sunset. We bumped into some people who, like us, came to enjoy the place in this beautiful light!

Recommended to us on several occasions, this is an official trail in Gros Morne Park. It’s a beautiful walk along the coast. This is the type of walk we like to do with the kids. It’s often easy for them to follow. It’s signposted as a 6 km round trip and takes about two hours to complete. The whole walk is completely flat.

We started the walk at Green Point, which offers some very nice views of the surrounding area and a few geological curiosities. A short but interesting walk, especially in good weather.

A little further on is the start of the famous Coastal Trail. We took the car back, but you can get there on foot. We found it particularly enjoyable to walk with the kids. The whole area is flat, airy and easy to get to, and the walk along the seafront offers some lovely views of the rather rocky, pebbled coastline here.

The path passes through several shady wooded areas, with the usual wooden boardwalks. There were also a few flowers along the way. Frankly, the whole family enjoyed it and we turned back at the end. In fact, there’s little point in returning by road as the walk is not a loop.

In my opinion, this is the highlight of the trip and probably, at least for me, one of the most beautiful landscapes we saw during our month-long trip to Newfoundland. This is clearly the most popular attraction and the reason is obvious: the scenery is simply breathtaking and you really have to see it to appreciate the beauty of the place. However, I’ll tell you all about it in my own words and with some photos that I hope will make you want to go there!

Western Brook Pond is a spectacular landlocked freshwater fjord. It is a former fjord, once connected to the sea. What’s special about this walk is that you have to park at the main roadside parking lot and walk about 3 km through some very beautiful countryside, ending with a wonderful boat trip on the pond. The walk itself is not difficult. The terrain is fairly flat all the way. However, it’s best to bring a hat and water as you’ll be in direct sunlight!

As soon as you take your first steps, you can see the famous cliffs in the background. They overlook the pond at a height of more than 600 meters. It’s really impressive, a rare sight in my opinion, and clearly a thing of beauty. In a way, it reminds me of the landscapes I saw in the Norwegian fjords to the north of Bergen back in 2010. But again, these were fjords connected to the sea. In short, the kids and I had a great time walking around and observing the surroundings. For your viewing pleasure, here are some photos.

We finally reached the area reserved for the famous boat trip after almost an hour’s walk from the parking lot. Let me make this clear, even though it’s obvious: the boat tour is ticketed and relatively expensive. There is only one boat company that offers this kind of service. During our 2022 visit, we paid CAD $72 per adult and CAD $39 per child. For the four of us, that worked out to roughly €180 for a two-hour boat tour, which was a significant expense. Bookings can be made here.

But honestly, it’s worth it. We spent two hours on this boat, our hair blowing in the wind (freezing, haha). The landscapes are simply breathtaking. It’s really impressive to see these cliffs so high up. You feel so small in the middle of the lake. The crew even stops a couple of times so we can have a look at the impressive waterfalls cascading down from the top of the cliffs. As a bonus, we even got to see a moose grazing on the edge of the lake. To be honest, it was magnificent. What’s more, we made the most of the day as the weather was perfect. For your information, we had already postponed our trip to the lake because the weather in the area was very uncertain. So keep a close eye on the forecast, because even if the boat trip is beautiful in bad weather and even impressive with low clouds, it won’t be the same as it would be in sunny conditions… A few photos of the trip to share!

Here’s a nice walk we had the chance to start, but didn’t finish because it was late and the kids had had enough, haha. The Green Gardenss Walk starts, like the Tablelands Walk (which isn’t too far away), along Route 431, not far from Trout River. As far as we could see, it’s a really pleasant walk to admire the natural beauty.

The track meanders across a large plain, mainly rocky for the whole early part of the walk. The kids are having a great time, even though it’s still mid-afternoon and clearly not hot.

After crossing the ridge, the next part of the trail descends into a wooded area that slopes down towards the seaside. We weren’t that far from the end, judging by the photos I was able to see. The trail ends at sea level, with some great views of the local cliffs. A walk worth completing! The whole walk is listed as 9 km round trip, between 3 and 4 hours depending on your walking ability.

Trout River Pond was another trail we tried. It was not far from the Trout River campsite where we stayed for four days. As is often the case (haha), we didn’t make it to the end of the hike because we didn’t have enough time. But from what we could see, it’s definitely a hike we would recommend, even though it is not the most scenic trail in the park.

We particularly enjoyed walking in the grass at the start and then in the woods. It was great for everyone to take the time to discover the local flora and fauna.

Here’s a walk I had the chance to do on my own while Mélanie and the kids had a rest (travel can be exhausting too!). As always, the hike is indicated as 6 km and two to three hours, depending on your level. It’s worth noting, however, that there’s a climb of around 335 m, so your legs will probably be a bit tired. It starts at the Discovery Center, not far from the village of Woody Point. I’ll end with this little corner (the Discovery Center) of what there is to see and do in Gros Morne National Park. But first back to the hike.

The weather was really nice in the early morning. I set off alone. There was a beautiful trail winding through the forest. Several signs reminded hikers of the basic safety rules and the possibility of encountering black bears. We’re all in agreement that it would be better if I didn’t have any bear encounters, wouldn’t it? The start of the hike is easy on a gentle to moderate slope, all sheltered from the sun. It didn’t take me long to reach the first viewpoints along the way, which already offered beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding area. If the weather is good, it’s a real treat.

The trail continues to climb, getting quite steep but still shaded (which is something). At the end of the hike we continue on a slightly flatter section where we can see beautiful meadows and the famous flower of Newfoundland, the pitcher plant. This striking plant appears throughout the area and once again the views of the surroundings and the bay below are magical. Judge for yourself.

At the end of the hike, I chatted with two Quebec women who’d come to hike in Gros Morne National Park. We chatted about our respective lives as we finish the hike, which is much flatter and more pleasant, still in large grassy meadows. The break at the top, at the height of the two famous red benches that can be seen everywhere in Newfoundland, is well deserved!

With a few words about the famous Discovery Center, located near the village of Woody Point, I’ll end this article about the must-sees in Gros Morne National Park. As I said in my article on when to go to Newfoundland, it’s clear that the weather is not always good on the island, and we had one day when the weather was really bad.

We decided to go for a walk in the famous center instead of staying in a tent on the campsite and doing nothing with two restless children in a 2 m² tent. And frankly, we weren’t disappointed, and neither were the kids. It’s really big, perfectly laid out and, above all, a lot of fun. There’s something for everyone. At the time of our visit, there were several exhibitions of photographs of the surrounding area, a huge, very well-done presentation on the geology of the island of Newfoundland and numerous rooms for children. Frankly, if you’re staying in Gros Morne National Park for a few days and have a day to kill in bad weather, it’s definitely worth a visit.

I’ll stop here with the walks we were able to do during our visit to Gros Morne National Park. Of course there’s more to see and do. But in four days there and knowing that we have small children, we’re happy to have seen all these places.

As I said above, we obviously didn’t do all the walks. I’d like to mention some of those that were recommended to us:

• Gros Morne Mountain: the most famous, longest and certainly one of the most rewarding hikes in the park. It has two variations (9a and 9b). The 9a is the approach path to Gros Morne (but does not take you to the top). Trail 9b takes you to Gros Morne’s summit. Both are listed as 9 to 10 km and apparently it’s a tough climb. Difficult with the little ones and we didn’t stay long enough to do the hike,
• Stuckless Pond: a walk around a lake, listed as 9.5 km and about 3 hours,
• Stanleyville: a walk from the Lomond campsite (4 km and one to two hours).
  There are of course many others. If you’re looking for a nice map with all the walks listed, here’s the official link.

After Gros Morne National Park, we spent five days on the island of Fogo, also a wonder. Have a look at our article.

As usual at the end of my travel articles, I’ll end with the practical side and everything you need to know for a trip to Gros Morne National Park.

As with Canada’s other national parks, such as Banff National Park in the Rocky Mountains (or Jasper National Park, for that matter), which we visited two years ago, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee to explore Gros Morne.

At the time of our visit in July 2022, the daily admission fees were as follows:

• Adult: $10.50/day
• Seniors: $9/day
• Youth (under 17): free

Annual rates are also available. You’ll find all current annual and daily rates on the following page.

As with Terra Nova National Park, which we visited when we were there, you can also buy a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. This card allows you to discover over 80 destinations, mainly Canadian reserves and national parks. All the locations and details are on this page.

During our trip, the Discovery Pass cost CAD $75.25 per adult or about CAD $145 for a family. Obviously, if you’re planning a trip to Canada for a month or more and want to visit several national parks/reserves, it’s well worth it! Prices and conditions can be found here.

As always, it depends on where you live and where you come from. When we went to visit the island of Newfoundland, we were living in Guadeloupe. So the choice was pretty simple, with a flight from Pointe-à-Pitre to Montreal and then another flight from Montreal to St. John’s, the island’s capital. Have a look at our full guide to things to do and see in Montreal if you haven’t already.

When we got there, the island was far too big for us not to consider hiring a car. We regularly compare prices with different car hire companies using the DiscoverCars platform. We have used it ourselves and found it convenient for comparing rental options.

If you fly in from St. John’s, it’s a good day’s drive to the west of the island. The park is over 650km away. That is a long drive, even if the road is pretty good. We stopped here on our way down from the north of the island. To give you an idea, we drove down from St Anthony to Shallow Bay, in the north of the park, in a single day with the kids.

After that, if you’re coming by boat from Quebec or Nova Scotia, it’s a different story. Read our article on how to get to Newfoundland. There you’ll find all the options, whether you travel by ferry or by air.

The main reason people come here is to hike and enjoy the magnificent scenery of the national park, as you’ll have gathered from the first part of this article. On the agenda: discovering the trails, views of the surrounding peaks, river crossings, mammal sightings, discovering the island’s natural heritage, simply enjoying the outdoors and the wide open spaces… There are so many trails and you can spend 10 days in the park without getting bored.

As well as hiking, there are other activities on offer:

• Kayaking: there are several spots where you can kayak the local fjords and lakes for a few hours or several days. Some of the most popular spots are Western Brook Pond (where we took the boat trip), Anse St. Pauls, Bonne Bay, Trout River Pond and Shallow Bay,
• Fishing: anglers can fish in designated areas, provided they obtain the required permits,
• Snowmobiling and snowshoeing: in winter you can try both activities in the park!

There are plenty of options. If you want to stay overnight in Gros Morne National Park, there are several official campsites. There are five official campgrounds in the park:

• Trout River Campsite
• Lomond Campsite
• Berry Hill Campsite
• Green Point Campsite
• Shallow Bay Campsite.

We spent one night at Shallow Bay and 4 nights at Trout River. You can find the 5 campsites and their location in the park on this map. You can also use the same link to make a reservation, which is always advisable, especially if you’re coming during high season in the summer.

As in Terra Nova National Park, you can choose between:

• A tent site: as we did at Trout River, depending on the size of your car and tent,
• An RV or trailer site: depending on the size you want,
• An oTENTik tent: we tried this at Shallow Bay when we arrived from the north. It’s a big tent with real beds, heating and a barbecue,
• Oasis Accommodation (formerly “Goutte d’Ô”): unusual accommodation in the shape of a drop.

Each campsite has its own characteristics and by clicking on the page above you’ll see the differences between them. Some have special tents, others do not. Some are bigger than others, etc.

However, I would pay particular attention to the location of the campsites and the size (immensity, if I may say so) of the park. To give you a general idea, if you start at Trout River (at the very south) and drive all the way north to Shallow Bay, it’s a 2 hour, 140km drive. That’s a lot and I have to admit we hadn’t really calculated it.

One (invaluable!) piece of advice would be: Look at the walks and areas you are interested in in the National Park and book the campsites accordingly. The campsites at Shallow Bay and Trout River are very remote compared to those at Green Point or Berry Hill, which are more central to be honest. But after that it depends on you and what you want to do. For example, to go to the Tablelands and Green Gardens, being in Trout River was perfect because we were only 10 minutes away by car. But the day we went on a boat trip to Western Brook Pond, it took us about 1½ hours to drive to the start of the walk…

Gros Morne National Park is unique in that it is divided among several small communities that are not officially part of the park itself. You will therefore find a number of small towns offering various types of accommodation—everything from homestays and hotels to entire‑home rentals. You can look for a place to stay in the following towns (listed from north to south):

• Cow Head
• St. Pauls
• Sally’s Cove
• Rocky Harbour,
• Norris Point,
• Bonne Baie,
• Woody Point,
• Trout River.

I even found accommodation around Wiltondale, Bonne Bay Pond, Jack Ladder and, a little farther away, Deer Lake. It all depends on your budget and preferences.

Finally, please note that there are quite a few other campgrounds near the park—particularly in the towns listed above. These are private campgrounds, not ones managed by the national park.

I’ve already written a full article on when to travel to Newfoundland in general. You can refer to that guide for a broader overview. Otherwise, to talk specifically about Gros Morne National Park, I’d say that September and early October can be excellent months. The temperatures will start to drop and it will be a little cooler, but you’ll avoid the summer crowds (June to August).

I’ll stop here for a visit to Gros Morne National Park. I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and that the descriptions and photos inspire you to visit this beautiful park, which I think is one of the best parts of our trip to Newfoundland.

See you soon in another article.

Written by Sylvain PONS

I had the opportunity to explore the beauty of this country I love on several different occasions and in different places (Canadian Rockies, the Island of Newfoundland for 1 month, Yukon and Québec)!

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