8 things to do in Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland

Canada national parks can be counted on to deliver exceptional natural beauty. And among them, Gros Morne National Park deserves to be at the top end of every nature lover’s bucket list. The geological wonders on offer here are astounding. From Western Brook Pond to the Tablelands and everything in between, Gros Morne National Park is home to some of the most beautiful and distinctive vistas anywhere in Canada.

Here are 8 of the best things to do in Gros Morne National Park, one of Canada’s most scenic and road trip worthy national parks.

We visited Gros Morne National Park as part of our Viking Trail road trip, hosted by Go Western Newfoundland and Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism. Have questions about planning your own road trip to Gros Morne National Park? Join our Facebook community!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on these and make a booking or purchase, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check our Disclaimer for more information. Thanks for your support!

Take a boat tour through a spectacular fjord

You may have seen Newfoundland’s Western Brook Pond before without even realizing it. Until recently, this striking landmark featured prominently in Air Canada’s pre-flight safety video. This remarkable geological formation is one of the most iconic vistas in Gros Morne National Park. Its cliffs tower more than 600 metres above the water. That’s higher than Toronto’s CN Tower!

Technically, Western Brook Pond is a former fjord. It was once a true fjord, carved by more than 40 glaciers during the last ice age and connected directly to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Over time, it became separated from the ocean by lowlands, and the lake transitioned to fresh water. It’s no longer considered a fjord because of this, but the beauty of its origins remains.

To see Western Brook Pond for yourself, you’ll park in a lot just off Newfoundland Route 430. This road, also known as the Viking Trail, is the main roadway through Gros Morne National Park. The walk into Western Brook Pond is an easy 3-kilometre trail. It’s gravel-lined and relatively flat, so it’s suitable for walking and some mobility devices. Expect this hike to take 45 to 60 minutes one-way, depending on your pace.

You’re welcome to take in the views from the end of the trail for free. But for the most spectacular experience, we highly recommend booking the Western Brook Pond boat tour operated by BonTours. This tour lasts for two hours and takes you to the far end of the fjord. You’ll gasp in awe the entire time at the enormous rock faces and trickling waterfalls. A boat tour through Western Brook Pond is a Canadian Signature Experience as selected by Destination Canada.

See part of the Earth’s mantle exposed at the Tablelands

Gros Morne National Park is home to another geological marvel. The Tablelands is is one of very few places on Earth where you can see the planet’s mantle exposed above ground. The peridotite rocks in the Tablelands were pushed through the Earth’s crust roughly 500 million years ago. As the clouds, sun, and sky pass above them, the orange rocks in this barren landscape appear to change colour. It’s like a painting is being completed before your eyes!

To see the Tablelands, follow Newfoundland Route 431 between the towns of Woody Point and Trout River at the west end of Gros Morne National Park. This 17-kilometre drive takes roughly 15 minutes to complete in each direction. Since the road ends just past Trout River, you’ll need to drive the road again to return to Woody Point. (You won’t mind, we promise!)

If you’re able, consider trying a hike on the Tablelands Trail. The Tablelands hike is four kilometres long and takes approximately two hours to complete. Apart from being narrow and slightly muddy when it rains, this trail is rated easy. It leads you into the centre of Winter House Brook Canyon, where you’ll be surrounded on three sides by these otherworldly views.

Experienced hikers are permitted to continue off-trail up the steep slopes of the canyon after consulting with park staff at the Tablelands Discovery Centre.

Hike even further on the park’s many kilometres of trails

Whether you’re an experienced hiker or you’d like to see if you want to become one, Gros Morne National Park is a fantastic place to explore. This park is packed full of fantastic hiking trails for people all levels of skill and experience. The easy trails to Western Brook Pond or into the Tablelands are suitable for most visitors, while more challenging half-day routes such as the Green Gardens Trail or the Trout River Pond Trail are better suited to hikers accustomed to long distances.

To truly challenge yourself as a hiker, tackle the Gros Morne Mountain Trail. This full-day hike takes six to nine hours to complete across 17 kilometres and ascends nearly 800 metres. It requires expertise, advance planning, proper gear, and plenty of supplies such as water and food. If you conquer this trail, you’ll truly earn some bragging rights!

On top of that, there are full-day and multi-day guided wilderness hikes in Gros Morne National Park, such as the difficult day hike to the top of Western Brook Pond Gorge and an extended version of the Gros Morne Mountain Trail that continues toward Bakeapple Pond and Ten Mile Pond.

Encourage kids to enjoy nature as Parks Canada Xplorers

Gros Morne National Park is one of the sites that participates in the Parks Canada Xplorers program. This program helps kids engage with Canada’s national parks and historic sites in a way that fosters a lifelong love of nature and conservation.

When young explorers arrive at Gros Morne National Park, they can ask for Xplorers booklets at any of the visitor centres or campground kiosks. These are filled with activities that encourage kids and their families to visit more of the park than they might on their own. By completing the activities, kids will learn more about what makes each place special.

In Gros Morne National Park, one unique activity helps kids learn more about the pitcher plant, Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial flower. This carnivorous plant gets its energy by digesting insects within the tubular leaves at its base. These collect rainwater and blend it with digestive enzymes, creating a stomach of sorts.

At the Tablelands Discovery Centre in Woody Point, kids can ask for a small dropper and use it to pull this liquid out of the leaves of the pitcher plants found along the Tablelands Trail. This lets them see what these plants are enjoying for lunch! It’s kind of gross but fabulously engaging, and it’s a great hands-on way to learn about the pitcher plant’s unique biology. (Don’t forget to give the plants their meal back after checking it out!)

Before you leave the park, return to a visitor centre or campground kiosk to have the booklet checked by Parks Canada staff. Each young Xplorer will receive a collectible souvenirs to take home!

Tour the historic Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse

On the outskirts of the town of Rocky Harbour, you’ll find Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse. It’s more than a century old today, but this lighthouse once played a critical role in safely guiding boats from the Gulf of St. Lawrence into Bonne Bay.

The lightkeeper’s house is open to the public, and touring the displays here is a great way to learn more about what life was like for lightkeepers and their families and the important role seafaring plays in Atlantic Canada. Don’t forget to keep an eye out to sea, where you’re likely to spot a whale in the distance.

Visit an aquarium and working marine research station

In the community of Norris Point, the Bonne Bay Aquarium and Research Station offers a glimpse into an ocean research facility. This working station is operated by the Memorial University of Newfoundland. For a small admission fee, you can explore inside and learn more about local sea life and the station’s conservation work. You’ll see many varieties of fish, and kids can check out the touch tanks to get a closer look at starfish, crabs, and snails. You might even see a rare blue lobster!

Choose from a tent, a rustic cabin, or a cozy hotel room

Visitors can choose from a wide variety of accommodations in Gros Morne National Park. There are several campgrounds to choose from, and the towns of Rocky Harbour, Norris Point, Woody Point, and Bonne Bay offer a variety of accommodation options from cozy inns to charming B&Bs.

Parks Canada operates five campgrounds in Gros Morne National Park, some with permanent camping structures such as rustic cabins and oTENTiks. Many of the longer hiking trails have primitive campsites available for booking along their routes.

We’ve experienced overnight stays at the park in two ways: at the Fisherman’s Landing Inn at Rocky Harbour, and in one of the rustic cabins overlooking Gull Pond at Berry Hill campground. Both are comfortable and ideally located for visiting the park. Whether you’d rather rough it or sleep in a traditional and cozy bed, the choice is yours!

Meet the communities around Gros Morne National Park

The spectacular vistas will lure you here, but it’s the warm welcome that will make you want to stay. Home-cooked meals at the Fisherman’s Landing Restaurant in Rocky Harbour and The Old Loft in Woody Point will introduce you to the delicacies of the Newfoundland seafood feast. Ask a question to any of the friendly park staff, and you’re likely to receive the answer — to that question, and ten more!

We bought a jar of Joe’s Bakeapple Jam at the Jenniex House in Norris Point, then some locals struck up a chat as we were walking back to our car. Before long, we learned we were talking to the man who made that same jar of jam, Joe himself!

On the island of Newfoundland, you’ll find yourself compelled to slow down, enjoy long conversations, and connect with the people around you. And that, as much as everything else Gros Morne National Park has to offer, is truly a precious gift.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Gros Morne National Park

Explore more destinations in Newfoundland and Labrador >