I’ve been to Gros Morne National Park twice, and I know I’ll be making another trip someday. When you think of Newfoundland, people picture St. John’s. But while I appreciate the charm of that city’s brightly painted buildings, the rugged and verdant landscapes of Gros Morne have my heart.
I planned my first visit to Newfoundland specifically to hike in the park. While the province has some spectacular hikes, my favourite trails are in Gros Morne.
But even though my priority is hiking, there are lots of other great things to do in Grose Morne National Park. It has beautiful scenery that is accessible without hiking, but it also has great food, cute towns, and fascinating geology.
Despite two visits to the area, I still haven’t been to lots of places in the park. (Trust me, I have plans to fix that someday.) But I can recommend lots of gorgeous spots to visit.
My guide to Gros Morne National Park includes:
- Gros Morne Basics: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go?
- Map of Gros Morne that includes all of the places I mention in this post.
- Best things to do in Gros Morne: Hikes, viewpoints, picturesque towns, boat tours, and more.
- Where to eat in Gros Morne: My picks for the best restaurants and cafes.
- Where to stay in Gros Morne from luxury hotels to campgrounds
This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.
Hey there: Thanks so much to Go Western Newfoundland for hosting me during my second trip to Gros Morne. All opinions are my own and my husband’s experiences were not hosted. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn
Gros Morne Basics
How to Get There
Unlike some parts of the province, it’s pretty easy to get to Gros Morne National Park. You can fly directly to Deer Lake airport from big Canadian cities like Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax. If you’re already in St. John’s, you can fly from there to Deer Lake – that’s what I did on my last trip to Newfoundland. From Deer Lake, it’s a 25-minute drive to the park.
If you are road-tripping across the province, you can drive to Gros Morne from St. John’s in about 7 hours. But of course, you’ll want to make lots of stops along the way to visit small towns like Trinity, Bonavista, Twillingate, and Fogo Island.
It’s also possible to get to the park by Marine Atlantic ferry. The ferry leaves from North Sydney on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia and arrives at Port aux Basques in the southern part of Western Newfoundland. The sailing takes 7 hours and then it’s a 3 hour-drive from the ferry terminal.
The first time I went to Newfoundland we took an overnight ferry since we were living in Halifax at the time and it made the most sense to drive.
Getting Around
Gros Morne is a big park – it takes about 2 hours to drive from one side to the other. Driving is the easiest way to get around Gros Morne. The easiest place to rent a car is at the Deer Lake Airport. I use Rentalcars.com since it lets me compare prices between car rental companies.
Another option is to book a tour. Several small tour companies specialize in multi-day tours in the Gros Morne area. On my recent trip, I did day hikes with Wild Gros Morne and Tour Gros Morne – they were both great.
Highways 430, which is also known as the Viking Trail on the south side of Bonne Bay and 431, on the north side of Bonne Bay, wind through the park. All of the park’s attractions are located along these highways or nearby roads.
Instead of driving around Bonne Bay, which takes about an hour, you can take the Bonne Bay Water Shuttle between Norris Point (north) and Woody Point (south). I took a trip on the water shuttle on my most recent visit and it was so beautiful to see the park from the water. Plus it was faster than driving!
National Park Passes
You must purchase a Parks Canada pass to stop anywhere in Gros Morne National Park. You can buy one at the entrance kiosk in Wiltondale or at either of the two park visitor centres. Some businesses in the towns near the park also sell park passes.
Parks passes cost $11/day for adults or $9.50 for seniors. Kids are free. The best deal is the family/group pass for $22/day which covers up to seven people travelling in the same vehicle.
If you plan to visit other Canadian National Parks in the same year or your trip is longer than one week, it’s worth buying a Parks Canada Discovery Pass which is valid at all National Parks for a full year. They cost $75.25/adult, $64.50/senior, or $151.25 for a group of up to 7 people in the same vehicle.
You will need to display your park pass on the dash of your car whenever you are parked in the park.
How Long to Spend
How long you should spend in Gros Morne National Park depends on what you want to do. At a minimum, I would say that you want at least 3 or 4 days. But if you’re a serious hiker I think 7 days is ideal – the park contains most of my favourite hikes in Newfoundland.
Best Time to Go
I’ve heard that Gros Morne is gorgeous year-round. The winter photos look gorgeous and locals raved to me about skiing and snowshoeing. But most visitors will have the best experience between June and mid-September. That’s when the weather is the nicest and when most tourist businesses are open.
Weather
Like the rest of Newfoundland, the western part of the province is never that warm. However, in June, July, and August the average high temperature in Rocky Harbour is 23°C – a bit higher than other parts of Newfoundland!
The Blow Me Down Mountains are just outside the park, which should give you a hint that it’s often windy here. As well, rain storms are common in every month. Bring warm clothing and a rain jacket, just in case.
Cell Service
In some parts of Gros Morne, cell service is spotty or non-existent. There is LTE service in the towns adjacent to the park. However, you will often lose service as soon as you leave a town.
If you are going hiking, use a GPS app like AllTrails+ and download an offline map before you go. You will usually have no cell service on the trail.
Map of Gros Morne National Park
To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Gros Morne National Park for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post.
Best Things To Do in Gros Morne
In this section, I’ve got suggestions for hikes, viewpoints, and boat tours in the park. There are also several of towns next to the park. While they aren’t technically in the national park, it makes the most sense to treat them as part of the greater Gros Morne region since you’ll visit them during your time in the park.
Gros Morne National Park Visitor Centres
If you want to get a feel for the park, the visitor centres are a great place to start. They have lots of exhibits about the park’s ecosystem and geology. They also have an info desk where you can ask questions and pick up park maps.
The park has two visitor centres. The Gros Morne National Park Discovery Centre is located near Woody Point on the south side of Bonne Bay. Since the info centre is up on a hill, it has an incredible view of the bay and Gros Morne Mountain.
You can also visit the Gros Morne National Park Visitor Centre near Rocky Harbour. It’s right next to Highway 430.
Woody Point
Woody Point is the main town on the southern side of Bonne Bay. This is where you’ll find most of the hotels and restaurants in the southern part of Gros Morne. (More on those in the Where to Eat and Where to Stay sections at the bottom of the post.) The Bonne Bay Water Shuttle also leaves from here. It’s a cute historic town spread out along the waterfront.
Tablelands Trail
If you’re interested in geology, you have to hike the Tablelands Trail. The rocks here look like the moon, but they are actually part of the Earth’s mantle. There are two ways to hike the Tablelands.
The first is a flat hike on an old road that follows the base of the mountain. It has great views of the rocks and is an easy walk.
The second option is to hike off-trail to the top of the Tablelands. It’s rocky and there are no markers, so you need to be comfortable with route finding. I went with guides from Wild Gros Morne who helped us find the best path to the top while also teaching us about the unique rocks and plants.
It was a strenuous hike, but it was definitely worth it – this is another of my picks for the best hikes in Newfoundland.
Green Gardens Trail
The trailhead for the Green Gardens Trail is just a few kilometres from the Tablelands, but the scenery couldn’t be more different. The trail starts in the open moonscape of the Tablelands and then descends through lush forest to the coast.
The volcanic soil, thick forest, and steep sea cliffs reminded me more of Hawaii than of Newfoundland. The hike is a 9 km round trip, so it’s a moderate half-day outing. But if you want to stay overnight, there is a backcountry campground at Old Man’s Cove.
Given the incredible ocean views, Green Gardens Trails is another of my favourite Newfoundland hikes.
Zodiac Tours in Bonne Bay
One of the best ways to get a feel for the vast landscapes in Gros Morne is to take a zodiac tour. That way you can zip around the waters of Bonne Bay and gaze up at the Tablelands from sea level. I didn’t appreciate how huge the Tablelands were until I saw them from the water.
I did the Tablelands Boat Tour with Wild Gros Morne. Our guide took us out into the bay to look up at the Tablelands while she explained their unique geology. It was a great prelude to our hike up to the top later the same day! She also took us along the coast to learn more about the history of small fishing villages.
Trout River
The tiny village of Trout River is at the southwestern edge of Gros Morne National Park. The sandy beach and wooden boardwalk are picturesque, but the town really glows at sunset. I spent a memorable evening on the beach watching the setting sun light up the sky. Don’t miss the Seaside Restaurant, right on the beach.
Norris Point and Rocky Harbour
These two cute towns are 10 minutes apart on the north shore of Bonne Bay. Both have lots of restaurants and hotels. (More on those in the Where to Eat and Where to Stay sections at the bottom of the post.)
If you take the Bonne Bay Water Shuttle from Woody Point you’ll arrive in Norris Point.
Gros Morne Mountain
If you’re up for a challenge, take on the hike to the top of Gros Morne Mountain. At 806 m, it’s the second tallest mountain in Newfoundland. (The Cabox near Bay of Islands beats it at 812 m.)
It’s a tough all-day hike but the views from the top are sublime. I’ve got more details on the trail in my guide to the best hikes in Newfoundland.
Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse
When I was off hiking, my husband explored the historic lighthouse at Lobster Cove Head. He loved the exhibits inside including the historical photos and the opportunity to chat with park interpreters about what life was like for the lighthouse keepers.
He also recommends taking a stroll along easy trails around the lighthouse. They lead along the top of a bluff to lots of viewpoints overlooking Bonne Bay.
Western Brook Pond
One of the easiest ways to experience the rugged interior of Gros Morne National Park is to take a boat tour on Western Brook Pond with Bon Tours. The “pond” is actually a former fjord with towering mountains on either side and lots of waterfalls.
To get to the boat dock you must walk a flat and easy 3 km trail from the parking lot. The trail has great views as well, so it’s a good option if you don’t have time for the boat tour. And if you want to do the tour but have mobility challenges, the tour company can transport you via golf cart.
Long Range Traverse
While the Western Brook Pond boat tour is one of the easiest outdoor adventures in Gros Morne, the boat leads to the most extreme adventure in the park – the Long Range Traverse.
You disembark from the boat tour at the head of Western Brook Pond then navigate through the rugged Long Range Mountains off-trail for three to five days before finishing at the base of Gros Morne Mountains.
I planned my first trip to Newfoundland specifically to hike the Long Range Traverse and it’s by far the hardest trail on my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland. The five days I spent on the trail were incredible – we saw moose and bears, got lost in a bog, and made lots of incredible memories.
Broom Point
Another spot that my husband experienced without me (much to my chagrin) is Broom Point. It’s a viewpoint with easy trails. You can explore along the coast and get great views inland to Western Brook Pond and the Long Range Mountains. There is also a restored fishing premises here that makes for great photo ops.
Cow Head and Theatre Newfoundland
The town of Cow Head is near the northern boundary of Gros Morne National Park. The village has a long sandy beach and a picturesque lighthouse.
I haven’t spent any time in Cow Head, but my friend Vanessa from Turnipseed Travel was there recently and raved about Theatre Newfoundland.
She says “For twenty summers, the tiny community of Cow Head has hosted Neddy Norris Night, an intimate, acoustic show of traditional Newfoundland songs and stories. There are plenty of laughs but also several poignant moments as the musicians share songs alluding to hard bygone days. While the audience was packed with “CFAs” (that’s come-from-aways, i.e. visitors) this wasn’t a gimmicky show just for tourists. It’s a heartfelt creation of good cheer and authentic folklore that will stick with you long after the show ends.”
Where to Eat in Gros Morne
Seaside Restaurant: This iconic restaurant in Trout River is right on the beach. The same family has been cooking up seafood here since 1981. I had the best fried fish of my trip here.
Taste: Located inside the Gros Morne Inn near Woody Point, this fine-dining restaurant that focuses on locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. I had a great lunch here with an incredible lobster bisque.
Merchant Warehouse Retro Cafe: We dropped into the Merchant Warehouse Retro Cafe in Woody Point one afternoon for a coffee and wished we had more time to come back for lunch. The front of the restaurant is a full-on 50s soda shop, but they also have a patio overlooking the water. Locals told us that the fish and chips are incredible here.
Cat Stop Pub: The Bonne Bay water shuttle docks right next to Cat Stop Pub in Norris Point, which has a huge waterfront patio. It’s a good place for a beer and casual pub food.
Chanterelle’s: I had an amazing meal of duck breast with local patridgeberries at Chaterelle’s in Norris Point, located inside the Sugar Hill Inn. It offers fine-dining and exceptional food without too much pretension. Trust me: get the seafood cakes.
Java Jack’s: On my first visit to Gros Morne we had a memorable dinner at Java Jack’s in Rocky Harbour. The restaurant is in a bright yellow house in the middle of the village. They serve upscale versions of traditional Newfoundland food. I had an elevated version of stroganoff with caribou instead of beef.
Where to Stay in Gros Morne
Bonne Bay Inn: I loved my stay at this boutique 10-room hotel. It is perched on the hillside so I had a great view of the bay from my room.
Gros Morne Inn: When I ate lunch at Taste, I got a mini tour of this hotel. They have incredible private hot tub pods. Each one has a panoramic view of Bonne Bay. The hotel is also the base for Tour Gros Morne, so it’s easy to book hiking tours if you stay here. (I had a great guided hike on the Green Gardens Trail with them.)
Sugar Hill Inn: I loved my time at this quaint inn in Norris Point. It had huge rooms and the wide front porch was great for enjoying the view.
Camping: The park has five well-equipped campgrounds with flush toilets, showers, and even wifi. I stayed at the largest Berry Hill Campground, on my first visit to the park. It has a great central location near Rocky Harbour.
Final Thoughts
Gros Morne is one of my favourite Canadian National Parks. Honestly, it’s right up there with the Rocky Mountain Parks. That might be because the Long Range Traverse was one of my first long backpacking trips or because the trails are stunning but not crowded.
But I think it’s also because the community around the park is in so wonderful. In places like Banff, you spend your days hiking gorgeous trails and then head back to a touristy town at night where you eat at a generic restaurant staffed by seasonal workers. It’s different in Gros Morne. The old fishing towns outside the park are full of locals who love where they live and want to make sure you have a great time.
If you’ve got questions about Gros Morne, ask them in the comments. I’d love to help.
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