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.
How to get to Gros Morne National Park
The majority of travellers vising Newfoundland and Labrador 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. Most travellers want to visit the beautiful capital city during their visit, including the many impressive trails on the east coast.
As an alternative, 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 take under a half hour.
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, I'd recommend first checking availability directly with Parks Canada. There are sites suitable for tents and trailers, but 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 throughout the park. There are two towns we'd recommend, which are on opposite sides of the river, which will act as 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. Check out the hotels and cabins available here.
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. For visual learners, please click here or on 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; detailed below.
Boat Tour: at the end of the Western Brook Pond trail, you'll find a harbour which offer tours deeper into the fjord. The boat will go through the breathtaking 600 meter high cliffs. Tour information here.
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 Centre.
Hiking Trails in Gros Morne
There's a total of 18 official hiking trails maintained by Parks Canada. We added a photo to our favourite trails below.
Old Mail Road - 2.7 km return (1 hour, easy)
Steve's Trail - 1.4 km return (0.5 hour, easy)
Western Brook Pond - 6.8 km return (1-2 hours, easy)
Coastal Trail - 6 km return (1-2 hours, easy)
Berry Head Pond - 1.9 km loop (0.5 - 1 hour, easy)
Bakers Brook Falls - 9.2 km return (2 - 3 hours, moderate)
Berry Hill - 1.3 km return (0.5 - 1 hour, moderate)
Berry Hill Pond - 2.3 km loop (0.5 - 1 hour, easy)
Gros Morne Mountain - 16.9 km return (6 - 9 hours, hard)
Mattie Mitchell - 250m loop (0.25 hours, easy)
South East Brook Falls - 700m return (0.5 hours, easy)
Stuckless Pond - 9.5 km loop (2 - 3 hours, moderate)
Lomond River - 8 km return (2 - 3 hours, moderate)
Stanleyville - 4 km return (1 - 2 hours, moderate)
Lookout Trail - 5.8 km loop (2 - 3 hours, moderate)
Tablelands - 4 km return (1 - 2 hours, easy)
Green Gardens - 9 km return (3 - 4 hours, moderate)
Trout River Pond - 14 km return (4 - 5 hours, moderate)
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 town is an hour from the park entrance and offers more 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.
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'd 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.
Conclusion
No trip to Newfoundland is complete without exploring Gros Morne National Park. While researching the park may be intimidating, we'd recommend starting 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'd 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.
If you're curious about how we got our aerial photography, check out our drone here.