Your Ultimate Guide to Gros Morne National Park Newfoundland
Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the most beautiful parks in all of Canada. A large portion of the western coast of Newfoundland is dedicated to wildlife preservation in this national park. This World Heritage Site, operated by Parks Canada, received this prestigious title due to its incredible biodiversity, geology and natural beauty.
Many travellers are unsure how to best approach their visit to this National Park, as Newfoundland’s vast landscapes can make the Canadian province challenge to fully explore.
Find the best accommodations around Gros Morne National Park
Don’t forget to secure a rental car.
How to get to Gros Morne National Park
The majority of travellers vising Newfoundland will land in the capital city of St. John’s. There are few international flights here to YYT however, so you’ll likely have to transfer from Toronto, Montreal or Halifax. Getting to Gros Morne by car will take 6.5 hours from YYT. Most travellers want to visit the beautiful capital city during their visit, including the many impressive trails on the east coast.
You can also fly into Deer Lake (YDF), the closest airport to Gros Morne. There are flights available from St. John’s, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. This is the largest town (5000 pop.) before the drive to the national park, which will about half hour. Alternatively, it would take 3.5 hours from YQX and 3 hours from Channel-Port aux Basques from Nova Scotia.
Where to stay in Gros Morne National Park
There are several campsites and a few small settlements in the park, which makes food and getting around quite accessible.
If you’re interested in booking a campsite or cabin, we recommend first checking availability directly with Parks Canada. There are sites suitable for tents and trailers and they even have a few wood cabins for some modern comforts while surrounded by nature.
If you’re not interested in camping or renting an RV, or they are out of availability, you will have no problem finding private accommodation and renting a car throughout the park. There are two towns we recommend, which are on opposite sides of the river and will be a convenient home base for exploring either side of the park.
Rocky Harbour. This town is at the foothills of the tallest mountains of the park. Those hoping to do the most adventurous hikes will find this town to be the most convenient base of operations. The town has numerous authentic Newfoundland restaurants and cafes, tour companies, a wildlife museum and a historic lighthouse. There are several hotels and cabins options in the area.
Bonne Bay. This is a great place to stay for those interested in hiking the park’s lowlands. The bay and surrounding mountains are beautiful, especially in the fall. They have a Discovery Centre which is great for information about the park, and also includes a museum. Check out the hotels and cabins available here.
What to do in Gros Morne National Park
The park has dozens of official and unofficial (community maintained) hiking trails, as well as outdoor activities such as camping, canoeing, swimming and boat tours. To help you with planning, you can check the map below to explore all points of interest in the National Park.
Hiking: The main attraction of the national park is certainly the vast hiking opportunities. There are options for every fitness level, with a wide-range of landscapes to explore, more to that later.
Boat Tour: At the end of the Western Brook Pond trail, you’ll find a harbour which offer tours deeper into the fjord. The Western Brook Pond boat tour will go through the breathtaking 600 meter high cliffs. Do note that they are closed during off-season.
Kayaking: Rent a kayak and get out on the waters to explore some hidden gems on your own. Trout River to Bonne Bay, and Bonne Bay to Norris Point are common routes. Rentals are available in all three towns.
Swimming pool: In Rocky Harbour, you’ll find a swimming pool operated by Parks Canada, great for rainy days. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you’re also able to swim anywhere in the park within the cold Atlantic ocean, lakes and rivers. Shallow Bay and Lomond are popular spots and have showers.
Museums: There are countless small museums in the small towns within the park. Some notable museums are at the Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse, Gros Morne Wildlife Museum and the Discovery Center.
Hiking Trails in Gros Morne
There’s a total of 18 official hiking trails maintained by Parks Canada. We have listed them below including length and difficulty, and added photos to our favourite trails below.
Gros Morne Mountain – 16.9 km return (6 – 9 hours, hard). Some may choose to only do the 9 km moderate Approach Trail, avoiding the hard 8 km Summit Trail. This is the most popular but most difficult hiking trail in Gros Morne National Park, but with rewarding views. We recommend you check the weather prior to hiking as rainy, foggy and windy days are not the most ideal and makes the hike more dangerous.
Old Mail Road – 2.7 km loop (1 hour, easy) – Flat, shoreline trail with beach access.
Steve’s Trail – 1.4 km return (0.5 hour, easy) – Short, well-maintained trail along a rugged coastline.
Coastal Trail – 5.8 km return (1-2 hours, easy) – Easy hike with ocean views throughout. Park at southern access or Green Point campground.
Western Brook Pond – 5.3-6.8 km return (1-2 hours, easy). Optional 1.5km loop near end. You can also take a boat tour to the iconic Western Brook Pond Gorge.
Berry Head Pond – 1.9 km loop (0.5 – 1 hour, easy) – Loop around Berry Head Pond, following bogs and forests. Frequent bird sightings.
Berry Hill Pond – 2.3 km loop (0.5 – 1 hour, easy) – Short, flat hike next to the campground, looking around Gull Pond.
Berry Hill – 1.3 km return (0.5 – 1 hour, moderate) – Modest elevation gain leading to several great lookout spots.
Bakers Brook Falls – 9.2 km return (2 – 3 hours, moderate). This hike can be combined with Berry Hill and Berry Hill Pond, due to their proximity. Note that there’s a few possible routes, such as one that goes through a moose enclosure.
Mattie Mitchell – 250m loop (0.25 hours, easy) – Short yet very scenic, with info signs on the history of guides and charting in the area.
Stuckless Pond – 10 km loop (2 – 3 hours, moderate) – Nice hiking loop around the Stuckless Pond. Can be muddy in places.
Southeast Brook Falls – 700m return (0.5 hours, easy) – Quick and easy hiking trail to a scenic waterfall.
Lomond River – 9 km return (2 – 3 hours, moderate) – Scenic riverside trail, unfortunately poorly maintained. Conditions improve closer to camp. Remote and less-visited.
Stanleyville – 4 km return (1 – 2 hours, moderate) – Enjoyable and well maintained hike through the forest, leading to a great view of the bay.
Lookout Trail – 5.8 km loop (2 – 3 hours, moderate) – One of the most popular and highest rated trails. Modest elevation gain leading to amazing views.
Green Gardens – 10 km return (3 – 4 hours, moderate) – A lengthy hike to a picturesque coast, with a path which leads down to the beach.
Trout River Pond – 13.8 km return (4 – 5 hours, moderate) – Majority of the hike follows the coast of a pond. Occasional mud in areas. 4km marker is a potential turn-around point.
The Tablelands – 4-7.5 km return (1 – 2 hours, easy) – Unlike any other trail in the park – you literally walk on a raised part of the earth’s mantle. Toxic rocks cause little vegetation to grow. You can turn back at the 4km mark, or continue further to walk the mountain ridge.
Nearby Things to do in Gros Morne National Park
If you’re looking for a rest from the hiking, or want more impressive landscapes in Newfoundland there are several other activities which are worth checking out.
Corner Brook / Steady Brook. These beautiful towns are an hour from the park entrance and offers several outdoor activities. There is a beautiful waterfall and more hiking spots, as well as a ski resort.
L’Anse aux Meadows: This stunning park is located 4 hours north of Gros Morne National Park, notable for it’s history as a viking settlement and evidence of first European presence in North America.
Whale & Puffin boat tours: Located closer to St. John’s and Bonavista, there are many tour companies who will take you out into the ocean to spot these beautiful creatures. Available mid-May to September, but July to mid-August is peak season.
Bonavista: If the drive from St. John’s to Gros Morne is too long to fit into your schedule, we recommend looking into the Bonavista Peninsula. In addition to the wildlife, the area has impressive coastal views from Dungeon Provincial Park, numerous hiking trails including Klondike and Skerwink Trail, and a famous lighthouse on the cape. Stop by the town of Dildo on the way.
Final Takeaways
No trip to Newfoundland is complete without exploring Gros Morne National Park. While researching the park may be intimidating, you can start by choosing a few favourite hikes and activities, then booking a campground or cottage nearby. Any lover of the outdoors will want to spend several days in the park to fully experience all it has to offer. We recommend a minimum of two nights, however we could easily spend two weeks in this Newfoundland park and not run out of things to do. The park is open year-round however some amenities close during off season.
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