Gros Morne National Park

Gros Morne National Park is undoubtedly one of the most impressive natural features in eastern Canada, a magnificent landscape of fiords and mountains, partly covered with dense forest, and with wildlife and plant life adapted to cold conditions which are found scarcely anywhere else so far south.

The slopes of the Gros Morne (French for "big bleak hill") end in a plateau at about 600 m (1970 ft), with cliffs dropping down to the deep fiords (750 m (2460 ft)) of the Gulf of St Lawrence.

The park clearly shows the results of 400 million years of continental drift followed by successive ice ages which ended 12,000 years ago. The Long Range Mountains are amongst the oldest mountains on earth and have been shaped by advancing ice and the forces of erosion.

The difficult, 4 km (21/2 mi.) rocky ascent to the summit of the Gros Morne Mountain (806 m (2645 ft)) by the James Callaghan Trail is worth making for the breathtaking view over the whole park and coastal towns below. This is a place to see caribou and snow hares.

The park offers rock-climbing, boating, swimming, camping and fishing.

Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Official site: www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nl/grosmorne/index_e.asp

Address: Box 130, Rocky Harbour, NF A0K4N0, Canada

Entrance fee in CAD: Family $19.60, Adult $9.80, Senior over 64 $8.30, Child 6-16 $4.90, Child 5 & under FREE

Useful tips: Reduced rates in the winter season.

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Related Attractions

Western Brook Gorge

The Western Brook gorge, cutting through the Long Range Mountains, is one of the most spectacular sights in North America. It is 200 m (656 ft) deep, with steep faces towering as high as 600 m (197 ft) on either side, and an 8 km (5 mi.) circular trail on a wooden walk-way leads through magnificent forests and marshy meadows to the edge of the "Pond" the central part of which can only be reached by boat. Along the 14 km (81/2 mi.) trail to the end of the pond there are waterfalls plummeting 600 m (1970 ft) from the plateau. Tours are available.

Bonne Bay

Route No. 431 from the Gros Morne National Park entrance at Wiltondale follows the south shore of the delightfully scenic Bonne Bay, alongside a deep fiord enclosed by the peaks of the Long Range Mountains.

Glenburnie, Canada

Route 431 runs through a hilly lake district to Glenburnie, from where there is a pleasant trip along the South Arm.

Glenburnie has a number of hotels and bed and breakfasts.

Trout River, Canada

It is worth making the detour to the town of Trout River for the wonderful view over the coast and the plateau.

The town is located on the southern side of Gros Morne National Park.

Woody Point, Canada

Woody Point, one of the picturesque places on the west coast, is a good place to visit, since the scenery here is truly beautiful.

The town is located within Gros Morne National Park.

Norris Point, Canada

From Woody Point it is possible to take a 15-minute ferry trip to Norris Point, and return to Route No. 430 in Rocky Harbour by a different route. This was where the Dorset Culture of the Inuit once flourished, and their artifacts, along with those of other pre-European cultures dating back to 2500 bc, have been found in the coastal regions of the National Park.

The drive from Norris Point to Rocky Harbour affords splendid views over Bonne Bay. Like its neighbor Neddy Harbour, Rocky Harbour was named after one of the earliest pioneers. It is in a scenic setting at the entrance to the bay, surrounded by cliffs.

Norris Point is close to Gros Morne National Park, and a good base from which to explore the park and surrounding area.

Picture - Woody Point Lighthouse and Bonne Bay with Gros Morne mountain in the distance.

East Arm Fiord

Route No. 430 from Wiltondale to Rocky Harbour on East Arm Fiord is another beautiful road. After Baker's Brook there is a lovely stretch along the coast, with views of the mountains around Bonne Bay to the south.

Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse, Canada

The sea life exhibition in the restored lighthouse-keeper's house at nearby Lobster Cove Head is worth seeing. Below the lighthouse, there are seawater pools full of sea urchins, starfish and sea snails.

The exhibits also discuss the human history of this coast over the past 4,000 years.

Sally's Cove, Canada

Route 430 crosses the higher western coastal plain to Green Point campsite, a few miles from Sally's Cove.

Sally's Cove is located in Gros Morne National Park. The government had originally hoped to drive the villagers out of Sally's Cove, imposing strict conditions upon the town. However, some residents refused to leave and the town remained.

St Paul's, Canada

St Paul's is a fishing village huddled around the entrance to a very impressive deep fiord in Gros Morne National Park.

Swimming in the Gulf of St Lawrence is not to be recommended, since the temperatures off the beaches of Shallow Bay (campsite) and Western Brook scarcely rise above 15°C (47°F).

Black bear, moose, otter, beaver, caribou, bald eagles, sea eagles, ospreys, snow grouse, and snow hares can all be seen along the local trails.