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 Gros Morne National Park. It has beautiful scenery that is accessible without hiking, but it also has great food, cute towns, and fascinating geology.

Despite three visits to the area, I still haven’t been to a few 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:

• 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
• Gros Morne Travel Tips: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go?

Planning a trip to Newfoundland? I’ve got a big list of the best things to do Newfoundland plus lots of travel tips for the province.

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 and third trips 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

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.

Since Bonne Bay splits the park in half and it takes about an hour to drive from one part of the park to the other, I’ve split this section into things to do in Southern Gros Morne to Northern Gros Morne.

Things to Do in Southern Gros Morne

Be sure to plan to spend part of your time in Southern Gros Morne along Highway 431 and in Woody Point. You can’t miss the starkly beautiful barrens of the Tablelands. Here are the best things to do in that area.

Gros Morne National Park Discovery Centre

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.

If you want to get a feel for the park, this is 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.

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. Most of the restaurants and businesses are down along Water Street. I recommend stopping at Galliott Studios for coffee and cute art. Molly Made Fibre Art on Main Road also has great handmade souvenirs along with sewing and knitting supplies.

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.

Lookout Trail

This moderate hike has one of the best views in Gros Morne. It climbs up through the forest to the subalpine of the Lookout Hills. From the viewing platform, you can see Bonne Bay, the Tablelands, and Gros Morne Mountain.

Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours on this 5.8 km hike. While it gains 360 m, the trail is well groomed so it never feels that steep. Don’t miss this trail in late September or early October – it has incredible autumn colours and is one of my picks for the best things to do in fall in Gros Morne.

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. There are info plaques along the way to help you learn about the plants and geology.

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.

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.

Things to Do in Northern Gros Morne

The Northern part of Gros Morne along Highway 430 includes the towns of Rocky Harbour and Norris Point. The towering Long Range Mountains provide an imposing backdrop. Here are my must-dos in this area:

Norris Point and Rocky Harbour

These two cute towns are 10 minutes apart on the north shore of Bonne Bay. If you take the Bonne Bay Water Shuttle from Woody Point you’ll arrive in Norris Point.

Both towns 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’re looking for souvenirs, Gros Morne Crafts in Rocky Harbour has lots of options.

In Norris Point, visit the aquarium at the Bonne Bay Marine Station. They have lots of tanks with local marine life, some of which you can pick up and touch. Students working at the research station can tell you all about the animals, many of which are unique to this area.

ATV Tours with Under the Stump

If you’re looking to explore Gros Morne’s backcountry, but you want an accessible way to do it without hiking, book an ATV Tour with Under the Stump. I did a 2-hour tour with Trina in her side-by-side ATV, and it was so much fun!

She drove us out into the Rocky Harbour Hills, a small pocket of wilderness that is surrounded by Gros Morne National Park, but not actually in the park. It has incredible views of Gros Morne Mountain from its less-seen Eastern side.

Trina also told us about the history of the area, including her Mi’kmaq heritage and taught us about how to forage for several types of local plants. She is a natural storyteller, and like many Newfoundlanders, loves to talk!

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 since you can see for kilometres. Since the top of the trail is a loop, you also get a good view into Gros Morne National Park’s backcountry from the backside of the peak.

I’ve got more details on the trail in my guide to the best hikes in Newfoundland.

Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse

On my second trip, my husband explored the historic lighthouse at Lobster Cove Head while I was off hiking. 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.

Green Point Geological Site

The short walk at Green Point Geological Site has incredible clifftop views of the ocean and a pair of iconic Parks Canada red chairs, perfect for photo ops.

But the real reason to visit lies down a set of stairs. Once you reach the beach, you’ll see the the cliffs above are made of rock layers tilted on their sides, exposing hundreds of thousands of years of geologic time. Geologists used the rock layers here to confirm their theory of plate tectonics.

Be sure to go at low tide when you can access the beach. You can explore the site on your own, but its better to go with a guide who can explain the unique geology and help you find fossils. Parks Canada runs guided tours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Or you can go with a guide from one of the local hiking tour companies – I went with Gros Morne Adventures.

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.

The best views are from the top deck, which is outside, so be sure to dress for the weather. I recommend packing warm, waterproof, and windproof clothing just in case. The wind really picks up in the afternoon. (I’ve got more packing tips at the bottom of this post.)

Pro tip: Sit on the left side of the boat for a closer view of the scenery.

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

Restaurants in Southern Gros Morne

Galliott Studios and Cafe: This tiny coffee shop in Woody Point doubles as a pottery studio with drinks served in mugs thrown on site. Their sunny patio hangs over Bonne Bay and is lovely on a crisp fall day (but you’ll want to use one of their blankets). They also have a small selection of pottery and art for sale. I couldn’t resist the hand-drawn hiker stickers.

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 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: On one of my trips, we dropped into the Merchant Warehouse in Woody Point one afternoon for a coffee. The front of the restaurant is a full-on 50s soda shop, but they also have a full restaurant and patio overlooking the water. On my most recent trip, I had great fish and chips here.

Restaurants in Northern Gros Morne

Old Store Cafe: This little cafe in Norris Point is a great spot for coffee, baked goods, and lunch. Try their “Gull Shit muffins” – they are chocolate muffins topped with cream cheese. Delicious!

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.

Buoy & Arrow: This Indigenous-owned restaurant in Rocky Harbour has lots of locally-sourced game meat and seafood on the menu. I had an amazing moose burger. Their menu gives the names for dishes in both English and Mi’kmaq.

Where to Stay in Gros Morne

Southern Gros Morne Hotels

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.)

Northern Gros Morne Hotels

Gros Morne Base Camp: I spent four nights at Gros Morne Base Camp’s Burnt Hill Cabins on my fall visit. These rustic but cute cabins felt like home with little kitchens and full living rooms. They are also an easy walk to the waterfront in Norris Point or the Old Store Cafe for a morning coffee. Check rates.

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 in Gros Morne

Gros Morne National 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.

Gros Morne Travel Tips

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 second 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 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 DiscoverCars 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 trips, I did hikes with Gros Morne Adventures, Wild Gros Morne and Tour Gros Morne – they were all great.

The park is split into two parts by Bonne Bay. Use Highway 430 to access the northern part of the part and Highway 431 for the southern portion.

To get between the two sections, you can drive around Bonne Bay, which takes about an hour. Or, 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 one of my visits and it was so beautiful to see the park from the water. Plus it was faster than driving! Some tour companies also have their own boats to take you across the bay.

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.

You will need to display your park pass on the dash of your car whenever you are parked in the park. If you are on a guided tour, your guide will take care of park passes for you.

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 and I’ve visited in June, August, and late September/early October. 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 late-September. That’s when the weather is the nicest and when most tourist businesses are open.

If you’re looking for a different experience than most visitors get, consider visiting in fall. It’s perfect hiking weather, the colours are gorgeous, and you’ll have the place mostly to yourself. My guide to fall in Gros Morne has all the details.

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.

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.

READ NEXT:

• Fall in Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland
• 20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland
• 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
• 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Bonavista, Newfoundland
• 12 Things To Do in Trinity, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland
• Things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland

The post Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

To the people of Corner Brook… I apologize. I was wrong. In a lot of ways, Corner Brook reminded me of some of my favourite outdoorsy towns in BC like Revelstoke or Port McNeill. It’s a young town with a resource focus, but the reason locals love it so much because of the incredible access to nature just outside of town.

I’ve been to Corner Brook twice, and the first time I visited, I was constantly surprised at how beautiful it was. The Bay of Islands region in particular was stunning. On both trips I did lots of hiking (of course) but I also ate great food.

Since I haven’t seen everything the town has to offer, I also had my husband and some travel friends help me put together this guide to things to do in Corner Brook. It includes:

• A Map of Corner Brook that includes all of the places I mention in this post.
• Best things to do in Corner Brook: Viewpoints, hiking, history, extreme sports, and more.
• Where to eat in Corner Brook: My picks for the best restaurants and cafes.
• Where to stay in Corner Brook including my pick for the coolest hotel in Newfoundland.
• Corner Brook Basics: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go?

Planning a trip to Newfoundland? I’ve got a big list of the best things to do Newfoundland plus lots of travel tips for the province.

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 my friends and I during my two trip to Corner Brooks. 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

Map of Corner Brook

To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Corner Brook for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post.

Best Things to Do in Corner Brook

Corner Brook Stream Trail

On my first, I caught up with an old friend from university who has lived in Corner Brook for the last 15 years. She suggested we get coffee and go for a walk. I expected an urban stroll but instead, she led me through the Corner Brook Stream Trails around Glynmill Pond.

The easy forested paths lead around the pond and nearby stream. With its central location, it was really cool to experience nature in the middle of a city.

My second visit to Corner Brook was in the fall. I went on a hike with Robbie, one of the owners of Gros Morne Adventures, who is a lifelong Corner Brooker. He took us on a longer hike along the Corner Brook Stream Trail to see the fall colours.

We started near Crockers Road, then hiked down to a viewpoint above the gorge. From there, we continued downstream to Margaret Bowater Park and Glynmill Pond on the Pipeline Trail. The entire hike is about 6 km long and has incredible views. And if you visit in late September or early October, the autumn colours are spectacular.

Railway Society of Newfoundland Museum

On my first trip, my husband Greg spent some time in Corner Brook while I was off hiking. He discovered the Railway Society of Newfoundland Museum. It’s a collection of old locomotives and train cars. For a few dollars, you can go inside and look at the historic artifacts.

The railway played an important part in settling the province’s interior and my husband said it was pretty interesting. However, he might be a bit biased because he had just finished cycling most of the way across the province on the Newfoundland T’Railway, a trail that follows the path of the former railway.

Captain Cook Historic Site

The best view in Corner brook is Captain Cook Historic Site at the top of Crow Hill. From the viewing platform, you can gaze down on Corner Brook and across to the Bay of Islands and the Blomidon Mountains.

There are also lots of info boards and a statue of Captain James Cook. Cook spent five years mapping the western coast of Newfoundland and nearby Labrador.

The view is great year-round, but I really enjoyed the fall colours on my most recent visit.

Marble Zip Tours

Marble Mountain Resort is just 10 minutes east of Corner Brook. In the winter, it’s the largest ski resort in Atlantic Canada. But it’s worth visiting year-round to ride their ziplines. Marble Zip Tours has a huge zipline course with nine lines that zigzag across a gorge above and below Steady Brook Falls.

Honestly, these were some of the best ziplines I have done. They were fast, and scary (in a good way) since many of the lines are really far off the ground. The last few lines are also really long.

The fall colours here in early October were also insane. The whole Humber Valley has some of the best fall colours in Newfoundland.

If ziplining isn’t for you, it’s still possible to see some of this scenery. You can hike to Steady Brook Falls, which has viewing platforms. It’s an easy 1 km hike with about 100 m of elevation gain.

Man in the Mountain

Across the Humber Valley from Marble Mountain, you’ll find the Man in the Mountain. From the bottom, you can gaze up and spot the face in the rocks.

But if you follow the Humber Valley Trail to the top you’ll get an incredible view. It is one of Newfoundland’s best hikes. I hiked it with Glen from Everoutdoor and he explained that the trail is also part of the Trans Canada Trail and the International Appalachian Trail.

The trail is steep, but there are a few viewpoints on the way up. The best views are from Arne’s Lookout at the top. It looks down to the Humber Valley and Corner Brook, and had an incredible display of fall colours in early October.

ATVing

I was surprised to see ATVs rolling right through downtown Corner Brook past my hotel. Locals explained that the city is very ATV-friendly and there are several designated ATV routes through the heart of the city that connect with trails.

On my second visit to Corner Brook I went out on an ATV tour with Melissa and Craig from Rugged Edge. We drove past Corner Brook City Hall and the Corner Brook sign, then out of the city to some nearby trails. I even got to drive for a short stretch!

Bay of Islands

Until my most recent visit to Newfoundland, I hadn’t heard of the Bay of Islands. It’s a long inlet with Corner Brook at its head. And it lives up to its name – there are a sprinkling of islands at its mouth.

The region used to be dotted with isolated, water-access-only fishing villages. Today, roads connect villages in the southern and eastern parts of the bay and the villages on the islands are abandoned.

It’s a strikingly beautiful place. The green flanks of the Long Range Mountains, Lewis Hills, Blomidon Mountains, and Blow Me Down Mountains rise up out of the ocean and the rugged coastline is riddled with caves and rocky clefts.

The entire region is part of the aspiring Cabox UNESCO Global Geopark. Named for the highest peak on the island of Newfoundland, the proposed geopark will recognize and protect the exceptional geology of the area. This region is sometimes called the Galapagos of plate tectonics since the rocks here confirmed the theory of plate tectonics in the 1960s and 70s.

It’s worth driving Highway 450 from Corner Brook to Lark Harbour just to admire the views. You can also continue a few minutes further to the end of the pavement at the adorable tiny fishing village of Little Port. The trip takes about an hour. Be sure to stop at Lark Harbour Tilt for coffee and snacks.

The Saltbox

The Saltbox is a must-stop on any trip to the Bay of Islands. It’s a little restaurant with a great patio right on the bay in Benoit’s Cove. I had incredibly fresh mussels here as part of a boil-up dinner.

But there is another reason to visit – The Saltbox acts as a visitor info centre for the Cabox Geopark and the entire Bay of Islands region. The walls of the building are covered, inside and out, with maps, diagrams and photos about the local area.

I studied physical geography and geology as part of my undergraduate degree, so I loved looking at all the maps. In particular, the map showing how the Appalachian mountains of the eastern USA continue up into Newfoundland was particularly interesting.

Kayaking in the Bay of Islands

Before the roads were built, everyone travelled through the Bay of Islands by boat. Everoutdoor Adventures offers kayak rentals and tours out of their headquarters at The Saltbox in Benoit’s Cove.

On both of my trips to Corner Brook, I was too busy hiking, so I didn’t get to go out on the water. But I was travelling with my friend Mary Anne from the Let’s Take This Outside podcast on my first visit, and she opted to go on a kayaking tour.

She had a great time on her tour and said it “felt like a peaceful little escape… We kayaked along the southern shore up St. John’s Beach, soaking in the quiet nature. My guide Rob from Everoutdoor Adventures was incredibly knowledgeable on the history and wildlife.”

While I didn’t get to do a tour with Rob, I did chat with him that evening over dinner. Rob is one of the main drivers behind the Cabox Aspiring Geopark. His passion for his home ecosystem in Bay of Islands is contagious.

Cape Blow Me Down

On my fall trip to Corner Brook I hiked Cape Blow Me Down, and it cemented my love for the Bay of Islands area. It’s a steep trail that works its way up to the highest point on the peaks ringing the south side of the bay.

There are great views of the bay and coastline from multiple points on the ascent, but the views from the top are the best.

Be warned, the hike does live up to its name: It can be crazy windy on top. I had to brace myself against the wind to stay standing up! As a local told us later, it’s so windy it could blow the milk out of your tea!

Bottle Cove and the South Head Lighthouse Trail

If you are looking for a spectacular hike, check out the Bottle Cove and South Head Lighthouse Trails near Lark Harbour in the Bay of Islands. Both are on my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland.

If you just want a short walk, wander through the trails at Bottle Cove. The paths lead down to the beach and through the forest to a viewpoint on a windy headland.

But I recommend continuing through the forest and up the hills on the South Head Lighthouse Trail. At the top, there are incredible views of the islands at the mouth of Bay of Islands.

Volunteers from Outer Bay of Islands Enhancement Committee have built and maintained several trails in the area including the Bottle Cove and South Head Lighthouse Trails. I met two volunteers fixing a small bridge on my hike. Please consider making a donation if you hike here.

Stephenville and the Port au Port Peninsula

If you’re looking for a good day trip from Corner Brook, I recommend heading south to Stephenville and the Port au Port Peninsula. It’s an interesting (and gorgeous) area with a unique mix of French and Indigenous heritage along with more recent history as a WWII-era American military base.

In my opinion, the main reason to go the Port au Port area is for the scenery. The narrow and rocky isthmus connects the peninsula to the mainland and the roads follow the coastline.

One of the prettiest hikes I did in this area leaves right from the end of the isthmus. The flat and easy Danny’s Walking Trail at The Gravels follows the rocky coastline in and out of coves for a few kilometres.

Another spot I loved was Boutte du Cap Park at the end of the Port au Port Peninsula. It has towering sea cliffs and incredible views.

Other highlights in this area include Our Lady of Mercy Church, Newfoundland’s largest wooden structure, Secret Cove Brewing, and the Fossilized Tree Trail in Stephenville.

It takes about 1 hour to drive from Corner Brook to Stephenville and another hour to get from there to the end of the Port au Port Peninsula. Plan to spend a full day on this road trip.

Deer Lake

If you fly to Western Newfoundland, you’ll land at Deer Lake Regional Airport. The nearby town of Deer Lake is pretty small – it has about 5000 residents.

The town is named for the lake upon which it sits, which means it has a pretty good sandy beach. And while the water isn’t tropical, it’s much warmer than the Atlantic Ocean!

If it isn’t beach weather, there are a few other options for things to do in Deer Lake. I spent a pleasant hour walking along the flat and easy Humber River Trail near the airport.

If you want to stay indoors, the Newfoundland Insectarium lets you get up close to butterflies and lots of other insects.

Gros Morne National Park

The southern entrance to Gros Morne National Park is about 1 hour north of Corner Brook so I recommend visiting the park too. It’s huge with lots of hikes, historical sites, and viewpoints. For all of my recommendations, check out my guide to Gros Morne National Park.

Where to Eat in Corner Brook

Brewed Awakening: My friend took me to Brewed Awakening to pick up coffee and a snack to enjoy on our walk along the Corner Brook Stream Trails. She said it’s one of the best places to get coffee in town. She was right – my latte was great.

Hew and Draw Restaurant/Boomstick Brewing Co.: The Hew and Draw Restaurant and Boomstick Brewing share space at the Hew & Draw Hotel. It has a hip big-city vibe and a menu to match. I stayed at this hotel on both trips so I can vouch for their excellent breakfast. Their dinner menu is also great – try the lobster roll.

Park West: One of the most upscale restaurants in Corner Brook, but still unpretentious. Look for lots of locally-sourced ingredients. I had an incredible tuna tartare made with tuna that one of the restaurant owners caught!

Newfound Sushi: I didn’t expect to find high-end and innovative sushi in Corner Brook, but Newfound Sushi does it. Their menu calls out which items include locally caught fish. I had an incredible omakase sushi patter that featured smoked arctic char, local tuna, and Atlantic salmon. Their signature rolls are also great.

The Saltbox: Eat next to the water at The Saltbox in beautiful Benoit’s Cove in Bay of Islands. I had an incredible seafood boil-up here including mussels and moose tacos.

Harbour Grounds: This cute coffee shop has an incredible view of Corner Brook Harbour and serves up great panini sandwiches.

Sugar and Dice: On my first trip, My husband spent an afternoon working remotely at Sugar and Dice and said it had a great vibe. They serve breakfast, lunch, coffee, and treats. And they have a huge selection of board games you can play while you eat.

Where to Stay in Corner Brook

Hew and Draw Hotel: I’ve stayed here twice now, and it’s by far the coolest hotel I’ve stayed at anywhere in Newfoundland. It has a modern feel with high ceilings and lots of thoughtful touches like original art and wallpaper from local artists. Hikers will appreciate the free guest laundry station and the hot tubs. I also love that a big restaurant breakfast is included. Check rates.

Glynmill Inn: I walked past the Glynmill Inn on my stroll along the Corner Brook Stream Trails and it looked really cute. The historic Tudor-style building is a designed provincial heritage structure. Check rates.

Corner Brook Basics

How to Get There

Getting to Corner Brook is fairly easy. It’s a quick 40-minute drive from nearby Deer Lake, which has a regional airport. You can fly directly to Deer Lake from Montreal, Halifax, Toronto, and other Canadian cities. You can also fly to Deer Lake from St. John’s, which is what I did.

It’s also possible to get to Corner Brook by road. You can drive there from St. John’s in about 7 hours. But of course, I recommend turning it into a Newfoundland road trip and stopping at lots of cute towns like Trinity, Bonavista, Twillingate, and Fogo Island.

There is also a bus service from St. John’s that stops in Deer Lake and Corner Brook.

If you’re coming from Nova Scotia, you can take the Marine Atlantic ferry to Port aux Basques. The sailing takes about 7 hours. It’s 2.5 drive from Port aux Basques to Corner Brook. On my first trip to Newfoundland, I took the overnight ferry since I was living in Halifax at the time and had my car with me.

Getting Around

While there are a few things to see in the centre of Corner Brook, you’ll want a car to explore the surrounding area. Deer Lake Airport is the easiest place to rent a car. I use DiscoverCars since it lets me compare prices between car rental companies.

However, it is possible to get around Corner Brook on public transit or taxis. If you want to go hiking outside the city, I recommend booking a tour with Everoutdoor Adventures – they can get you to the trailhead.

How Long to Spend

I recommend spending at least one night in Corner Brook. That will give you enough time to see the main sights. But if you love the outdoors, you’ll want two or three days.

Best Time to Go

I’ve heard that Corner Brook 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 late May and early-October. That’s when the weather is the nicest and when most tourist businesses are open.

If you want a different experience than most visitors get, consider visiting in fall. It’s perfect hiking weather and you’ll get most of the hikes and attractions to yourself. My guide to fall in Western Newfoundland has all the details.

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 Corner Brook is 22°C – a bit higher than other parts of Newfoundland!

The Blow Me Down Mountains are just outside of Corner Brook, 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.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been to Newfoundland three times now and I feel kind of stupid to have skipped Corner Brook on my first visit. I really fell in love with the Bay of Islands and would love to go back there to do even more hiking. Even though it’s a long, off-trail trek, I want to summit The Cabox – the highest mountain on the island.

I know I haven’t seen everything in the Corner Brook area… yet. If you’ve been, give me some more suggestions for things to do in the comments. Because I’m sure I’ll be back.

READ NEXT:

• 20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland
• Fall in Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland
• 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park
• 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Bonavista, Newfoundland
• 12 Things To Do in Trinity, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland
• Things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland

The post Things to Do in Corner Brook, Newfoundland appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Fall in Western Newfoundland is gorgeous. Unlike many other areas of Newfoundland, Corner Brook has lots of deciduous trees, so they have some of the best autumn colours in the province. Nearby Gros Morne also has great fall colours in the alpine blueberry bushes and grasses turn amber and crimson.

It was also much quieter in the fall, which meant lower prices, fewer crowds, and more time chatting with friendly locals.

I spent most of my trip hiking to maximize my time with the changing leaves, but I also managed to fit in quite a few other fall activities. Here’s my guide to visiting Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland in fall. It includes:

• Why visit Newfoundland in fall? I explain why I love it
• Map of Western Newfoundland that includes all the places I mention in this post.
• Best things to do in Gros Morne, Corner Brook, and Deer Lake in fall: hiking, ATVing, boat tours, viewpoints, and more.
• Where to eat: My picks for the best restaurants in Gros Morne and Corner Brook
• Where to stay: My picks for hotels in Gros Morne, Corner Brook, and Deer Lake
• Fall Travel Tips for Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland: When to go? How long to spend? What’s the weather like? And lots more.

Hey there: Thanks so much to go Go Western Newfoundland for hosting my experiences on my recent fall trip. All opinions in this post are my own 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

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.

Why Visit in Fall?

Most people go to Newfoundland in the summer. (The prime tourist season is July and August.) But after visiting in late September and early October, I have to say that fall in Newfoundland is gorgeous.

Here are three reasons why I recommend visiting Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland in fall:

1. Fall colours: This is the big one. You get the traditional yellow, orange, and red of deciduous forests changing colour (especially around Corner Brook), but you also get the beauty of the boreal forest and alpine plants changing from green to crimson and gold.
2. It’s low season: That means you’ll get viewpoints, trails and attractions almost to yourself and can take advantage of lower accommodation prices. It also means that you’ll have a better chance of connecting with friendly locals.
3. Perfect hiking weather: It’s a bit colder than summer, so the bugs are dead and you won’t get sweaty. The weather is just sunny as in the summer, and the winter rain (and snow) is still a month or two away.

Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland Fall Map

To help you plan your trip and find your way around, I created a custom Google Map of fall highlights in Gros Morne National Park and Western Newfoundland for you. It includes every place I mention in this post.

Best Things to Do in Fall in Gros Morne

Western Brook Pond Boat Tour

Taking a boat tour of Western Brook Pond is a classic Gros Morne activity. The 2-hour tour takes you down the length of the former fjord past waterfalls and beneath cliffs. It’s pretty incredible scenery!

I had done this tour before in August, but doing it in the fall felt like a different experience since so many of the trees on the slopes of the pond were lit up in yellow and gold. We also spotted a giant moose!

This tour is also one of the most accessible ways to see fall colours in Gros Morne. The 3 km walk to the boat dock is flat, easy, scenic, and takes about 45 minutes. And if you aren’t up for the walk, you can catch a ride in on a golf cart.

The best views are from the top deck, which is outside, so be sure to dress for the weather. I recommend packing warm, waterproof, and windproof clothing just in case. The wind really picks up in the afternoon. (I’ve got more packing tips at the bottom of this post.)

Pro tip: Sit on the left side of the boat for a closer view of the scenery.

Under the Stump ATV Tours

If you’re looking to explore Gros Morne’s backcountry, but you want an accessible way to do it, book an ATV Tour with Under the Stump. I did a 2-hour tour with Trina in her side-by-side ATV, and it was so much fun!

She drove us out into the Rocky Harbour Hills, a small pocket of wilderness that is surrounded by Gros Morne National Park, but not actually in the park. She told us about the history of the area, including her Mi’kmaq heritage and taught us about how to forage for several types of local plants.

The fall colours were also great: we drove through an area called the Barrens where treeless hilltop was covered in crimson blueberry bushes. The tour also had stand-out views of Gros Morne Mountain from its less-seen eastern side.

Fall Hikes in Gros Morne

While the hiking in Gros Morne is spectacular (many of the hikes in the park are on my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland), many of the park’s trails are in evergreen forests. However, there two hikes that particularly beautiful in the fall:

Lookout Trail

The Lookout Trail has the best fall colours in Gros Morne. The bottom part of the trail goes through deciduous forest with red and gold maple and alder trees. Once you get higher into the hills, the trees disappear, and you’ll walk through blueberry meadows with leaves that have turned crimson.

The moderate 5.8 km hike takes 2 to 3 hours and gains about 360 m. The climb through the forest is on a machine-built trail that works its way uphill, but is never too steep. Towards the top, you’ll be walking on boardwalks across an upland bog and on a natural trail through the meadows. The highlight is a wooden viewing platform with an incredible panoramic view of Bonne Bay and Gros Morne Mountain.

Gros Morne Mountain

My favourite fall hike in Gros Morne National Park was ascending Gros Morne Mountain, the second-highest peak in Newfoundland. The first part of the hike, called the Gros Morne Approach, goes through the forest with glimpses of fall colours. As we got closer to the viewing platform, we could see the yellows and reds of the low blueberry bushes and grasses on the slopes of the mountains changing colour.

The next part of the hike, called the Gros Morne Summit Trail, is a loop that goes up one side of the mountain and then down another. This section had more views of the red blueberry bushes and yellow grasses, but from above. And of course, the views from the summit were insane.

This is a long and difficult hike. The Gros Morne Approach Trail is 9 km return with 460 m of elevation gain and takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours. The Gros Morne Summit Trail is an 8 km loop with 535 m of elevation gain and takes 3.5 to 5.5 hours.

So if you want to summit the mountain, you’re looking at a 17 km hike with 995 m of elevation gain between 6 and 9 hours on the trail. For reference, it took me about 7.5 hours, which included several long snack and photo breaks.

More Things to Do in Gros Morne

While I’ve highlighted must-do activities in fall above, there are tons of other things to do in Gros Morne. My guide to Gros Morne National Park has a full run-down on where to go and what to see.

While they aren’t specifically fall activities, I recommend spending time in Woody Point, hiking the Tablelands and Green Gardens Trails, and exploring the coastline at Lobster Cove Head or Green Point, among tons of other things to do.

Best Things to Do in Fall in Corner Brook

Captain Cook Historic Site

Corner Brook sits in a broad valley, so it has tons of deciduous trees that turn crimson and amber each autumn. The best place to get an aerial view of the fall colours is from Captain Cook Historic Site, a viewing platform atop a hill on the west side of Corner Brook. You can look down to the mill site in the centre of town, across the Bay of Islands, and inland along the Corner Brook Stream.

Captain Cook spent five years mapping the coastlines of Newfoundland and Labrador, so there is a set of info plaques at the historic site explaining his life and voyages.

Marble Zip Tours

If you’re up for a bit of an adrenaline rush, go ziplining with Marble Zip Tours. Honestly, the fall colours here were some of the best I saw on my whole trip. The nine ziplines go back and forth across Steady Brook, passing through stands of trees with full autumn colours.

Even without the fall colours, these are the most scenic ziplines I’ve ever ridden. (Honestly, I think the views here are better than the ziplines in Whistler!) The ziplines go over top of and in front of Steady Brook Falls, which is spectacular.

I also found these ziplines on the scarier side (in a good way). Some of them are very high up – one of the lines is the second-highest one in Canada. While some of the platforms have ramps or stairs to ease you into the zip experience, a few require you to just take a leap of faith and jump off! The last few lines are also really long.

If ziplining isn’t for you, it’s still possible to see some of this scenery. You can hike to Steady Brook Falls, which has viewing platforms. It’s an easy 1 km hike with about 100 m of elevation gain.

Rugged Edge ATV Tour

I took a great ATV tour with Melissa and Craig from Rugged Edge on the trails around Corner Brook. They took me on a circular route that included some rougher sections of trail along with some smooth bits. I even got to drive the side-by-side on some of the easy sections. The tour included viewpoints, ponds, and some fall colours.

However, my favourite part of the tour went right through the city. Corner Brook is an ATV-friendly city: there are designated streets that allow licensed ATV-drivers. We drove past City Hall, the Corner Brook sign, and my hotel! We also stopped into a historic store in Curling, an old fishing village that is now part of the city. It was so nice to connect with locals there over a cup of tea!

Fall Hikes near Corner Brook

The Corner Brook and Humber Valley area has some of the best fall colours in Western Newfoundland. And the best way to see them is on a hike.

Corner Brook Stream Trail

The Corner Brook Stream Trail meanders along beside the Corner Brook Stream in the heart of the city. If you’re looking for an easy and flat walk with some fall colours, explore the trails near Glynmill Pond.

But for the best views, you need to walk the entire Stream Trail, starting at the top off Crockers Road. The path works its way down to a viewpoint into the gorge, then across a bridge. On the other side, it meanders through stands of autumn colours (and beside the city’s water supply pipe) before descending to Margaret Bowater Park.

Along the way, there are lots of viewpoints to look down at the town and across the valley to even more fall colours. The easy hike from Crockers Road to the Glynmill Pond is about 6 km with 150 m of elevation gain and takes about 2 hours. You can do it as an out-and-back, but it’s easier as a one-way hike that is mostly downhill if you take a taxi to the start on Crockers Road.

Man in the Mountain/Arne’s Lookout

Of all the fall hikes I did in Western Newfoundland, the Man in the Mountain Trail had the best colours. The steep-sided Humber Valley has tons of deciduous trees that change colour in late September and early October.

The trail to the top of the bluff has several viewpoints that let you look across the river to Marble Mountain and down the valley to Corner Brook and the Bay of Islands. The trail is part of the much longer Humber Valley Trail, which in turn is part of the International Appalachian Trail.

I did a short loop using the steep Bear Head Trail and part of the Humber Valley Trail to visit Arne’s Lookout. You can also continue to the top of Man in the Mountain (a face in the rocks you can see from the Highway below).

The moderate/challenging loop I did is about 4.5 km round trip with 340 m of elevation gain. Plan to spend 2 to 2.5 hours.

Cape Blow Me Down

If you’re looking for something a little different, head out to the Bay of Islands to climb Cape Blow Me Down. It’s the tallest point on the hills flanking the south side of the bay. The hike starts in a mixed deciduous forest with a bit of fall colour. Before long, you climb above the treeline into an alpine landscape with lots of blueberry meadows turning red and grasses turning yellow.

The views above the treeline and from the top are spectacular: you can see the entire Bay of Islands as well as lots of fishing villages dotted along the coast.

Be warned, the hike does live up to its name: It can be crazy windy on top. I had to brace myself against the wind to stay standing up! As a local told us later, it’s so windy it could blow the milk out of your tea!

The moderate/challenging hike is about 7.5 km return with 650 m of elevation gain. Plan to spend 3 to 4.5 hours on the trail.

More Things to Do in Corner Brook

Besides the fall-specific activities above, there are lots more things to do in Corner Brook. My guide to Corner Brook has more details on what to see and where to eat.

My top picks for things you can do in the non-snowy months include day trips to the Bay of Islands and the Stephenville/Port-au-Port area, among other things to see in Corner Brook.

Best Things to Do in Fall in Deer Lake

Humber River Trail

If you’re looking for a gorgeous fall walk, head to the Humber River Trail in Deer Lake. It’s a flat and easy 5 km loop that takes about 1.5 hours. You can access the trail from the road to the airport or from Highway 430.

I spent a pleasant hour wandering beside the river and admiring the fall colours on the last morning of my trip. It was a great way to get a bit of exercise before a long day of travel. If possible, go in the morning when the air is still – you’ll get great reflections on the river.

Upper Humber Settlement Farm and Foraging Tour

One of the most unique experiences I had on my trip was a farm and foraging tour at Upper Humber Settlement. I spent the evening with the owner, Lauralee, who led me on a tour around her property. We collected greens, herbs, and mushrooms to make a salad while also learning about other wild plants.

Later, Lauralee cooked up a delicious moose meat dish in her outdoor gazebo while telling me stories about the war veteran history of Upper Humber Setttlment and reconnecting with her Indigenous heritage. Lauralee is a natural storyteller, and it was a pleasure to chat with her over some lovely food.

Kayaking with Humber River Off Grid

If you’d rather see fall colours from the water, book a kayaking tour with Humber River Off Grid. Ashley runs this unique off-grid business along the Upper Humber River north of Deer Lake, and has a popular YouTube Channel. Her remote property has off-grid cabins and tent rentals, and she also offers ATV tours and boil-ups where she cooks local food over a campfire.

But I headed into the wilderness to go kayaking on the Humber River with Ashley. While I was only 20 minutes from a paved road, it felt like we were miles from anywhere. We paddled a loop through the calm and meandering waters of the Upper Humber River while admiring the fall colours. We saw tons of evidence of beaver activity, but we didn’t spot any.

More Things to Do in Deer Lake

If you’re looking for more things to do in Deer Lake that aren’t purely fall-oriented, I’ve got a few suggestions.

If the weather is good, head to Deer Lake Beach. It’s a long sandy beach that makes a good place to walk, even if it isn’t warm enough to swim.

If you’d rather stay indoors, I spent a pleasant hour at the Newfoundland Insectarium. They have lots of unique live insects, including leaf-cutter ants, which kept me mesmerized for longer than I expected. But by far my favourite part is the butterfly house. I spent so much time wandering around watching them flit from flower to flower.

Where to Eat

Both Gros Morne and the Corner Brook area have lots of great restaurants. However, in the fall, some park restaurants are only open for a few days per week or may be closed for the season. Check opening hours and make advance reservations to avoid disappointment. Visit Gros Morne keeps an updated list of fall hours for local businesses.

Gros Morne

The Gros Morne area is split in half by Bonne Bay, so I’ve grouped my restaurant recommendations accordingly. In the South, you’ll find recommendations for restaurants in Woody Point, Shoal Brook, and Trout River. In the north, I’ve got picks for Rocky Harbour and Norris Point.

Southern Gros Morne

Merchant Warehouse: The front of this Woody Point restaurant is a full-on 50s soda shop, but they also have a big dining room and a patio overlooking the water. The fish and chips here were great, which isn’t a surprise since they have the same owners as the Seaside Restaurant in Trout River.

Galliott Studios and Cafe: This tiny coffee shop in Woody Point doubles as a pottery studio with drinks served in mugs thrown on site. Their sunny patio hangs over Bonne Bay and is lovely on a crisp fall day (but you’ll want to use one of their blankets). They also have a small selection of pottery and art for sale. I couldn’t resist the hand-drawn hiker stickers.

Taste: Located inside the Gros Morne Inn near Woody Point, this fine-dining restaurant focuses on locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. A few years ago, I had a great lunch here with an incredible lobster bisque.

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 here a few years ago.

Northern Gros Morne

Chanterelle’s: I’ve eaten here twice, and it is easily the best restaurant in Gros Morne. It offers fine dining and exceptional food without too much pretension inside the Sugar Hill Inn in Norris Point. My advice here is to order anything local: the mussels, seafood cakes, and fish dishes are all excellent. For dessert or drinks, get something with partridge berries.

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.

Old Store Cafe: This little cafe in Norris Point is a great spot for coffee, baked goods, and lunch. Try their “Gull Shit muffins” – they are chocolate muffins topped with cream cheese. Delicious!

Buoy & Arrow: This Indigenous-owned restaurant in Rocky Harbour has lots of locally-sourced game meat and seafood on the menu. I had an amazing moose burger. Their menu gives the names for dishes in both English and Mi’kmaq.

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.

Corner Brook

Hew & Draw Restaurant/Boomstick Brewing: These two businesses share space on the ground floor of the Hew & Draw Hotel. It has a hip big-city vibe and a menu to match, plus lots of craft beer on tap – you can watch them make it too! I had an amazing dinner here (try the lobster roll), and a bunch of breakfasts since I was staying at the hotel. (Get the mushroom toast for breakfast!)

Park West: One of the most upscale restaurants in Corner Brook, but still unpretentious. Look for lots of locally-sourced ingredients. I had an incredible tuna tartare made with tuna that one of the restaurant owners caught!

Newfound Sushi: I didn’t expect to find high-end and innovative sushi in Corner Brook, but Newfound Sushi does it. Their menu calls out which items include locally caught fish. I had an incredible omakase sushi patter that featured smoked arctic char, local tuna, and Atlantic salmon. Their signature rolls are also great.

Harbour Grounds: This cute coffee shop has an incredible view of Corner Brook Harbour and serves up great panini sandwiches.

Sugar and Dice: On a previous trip, my husband spent an afternoon working remotely at Sugar and Dice and said it had a great vibe. They serve breakfast, lunch, coffee, and treats. And they have a huge selection of board games you can play while you eat.

Where to Stay

If you’re visiting Western Newfoundland in fall, it makes sense to split your stay with a few nights in Gros Morne and a few in Corner Brook. If you’ve got an early or late flight, it can make sense to spend your first or last night in Deer Lake to shorten your drive to the airport. Below I’ve got options for all three locations.

Gros Morne

Gros Morne Base Camp: I spent four nights at Gros Morne Base Camp’s Burnt Hill Cabins on my fall visit. These rustic but cute cabins felt like home with little kitchens and full living rooms. They are also an easy walk to the waterfront in Norris Point or the Old Store Cafe for a morning coffee. Check rates.

Bonne Bay Inn: I loved my stay at this boutique 10-room hotel in Woody Point a few years ago. It is perched on the hillside, so I had a great view of the bay from my room. Check rates.

Sugar Hill Inn: I had a great time at this quaint inn in Norris Point. It has huge rooms, and the wide front porch was great for enjoying the view. Plus, the best restaurant in the park, Chanterelle’s, is on site. Check rates.

Camping: Gros Morne National Park has five well-equipped campgrounds with flush toilets, showers, and even wifi. The Trout River, Berry Hill, and Shallow Bay campgrounds are open until late September. You can stay at Lomond and Green Point campgrounds until mid-October. On my first visit to the park, I stayed at Berry Hill Campground. It has a great central location near Rocky Harbour. Check rates.

Corner Brook

Hew and Draw Hotel: I’ve stayed here twice now, and it’s by far the coolest hotel I’ve stayed at anywhere in Newfoundland. It has a modern feel with high ceilings and lots of thoughtful touches like original art and wallpaper from local artists. Hikers will appreciate the free guest laundry station and the hot tubs. I also love that a big restaurant breakfast is included. Check rates.

Glynmill Inn: I walked past the Glynmill Inn on my stroll along the Corner Brook Stream Trails, and it looked really cute. The historic Tudor-style building is a designated provincial heritage structure. Check rates.

Deer Lake

Deer Lake Horizon Hotel: I stayed at the Deer Lake Horizon Hotel after arriving on a flight after midnight. It was comfortable, clean, and well-appointed. And they have a complimentary shuttle service and comfy beds, so I could pass right out as soon as I arrived. Check Rates.

Upper Humber River Settlement Farm Stay B&B: If you want to connect with locals, book a stay at this B&B on a working farm in Cormack, just outside Deer Lake. It has cozy rooms, a great breakfast, and a serene setting. The owner’s family is one of the original farming settlers in this area, and they are happy to chat about the area’s unique history. Check rates.

Travel Tips for Fall in Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland

Best Time to Go in Fall

The fall tourist season in Western Newfoundland runs from mid-September to early October. The peak fall colours are usually in the last week of September and the first week of October.

By early to mid-October October, some tour companies, restaurants, and accommodations will be closed or on reduced hours, but if you book ahead, they may stay open for you. Visit Gros Morne keeps an updated list of fall hours for local businesses.

How Long to Spend in Fall

I recommend spending 5 to 7 days in the Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland area in the fall. That’s enough time to see the National Park highlights and do a few hikes or tours.

I spent 10 days in the area in late September and early October. Honestly, I could have extended my trip by a few days to do even more hiking.

Fall Weather in Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland

Newfoundland in fall has variable weather. It rains a little bit more in September and early October than it does in summer, but not much. And it’s a few degrees colder than summer too, with average highs of 17°C/63°F and lows of 9°C/48°F.

That means that while it can be cold and rainy, you are sure to get quite a few days of sun as well. On my 10-day fall trip, most of the days were sunny, with a few cloudy days. I was lucky enough that the only times it rained were overnight or while I was in the car driving from one location to another.

It’s important to note that even if it isn’t that cold out, sunny weather can bring high winds, which makes it feel much colder!

What to Pack for Fall in Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland

Newfoundland is a pretty laid-back place, so you don’t need to bring anything fancy. Even if you go out for a fine dining dinner, nice jeans and a sweater are fine.

Make sure you bring clothing for the weather. A rain jacket and rain pants are key, especially if you plan to go hiking or take a boat tour. Even if it isn’t that cold, wind chill can be a major factor, so bring warm layers like a fleece or lightweight puffy jacket to wear under your rain gear. Don’t forget gloves and a toque or other warm hat.

Waterproof hiking boots are necessary if you’re planning to hit the trails. Pack a small backpack to carry snacks, layers, a water bottle, and other essentials. I’d also recommend bringing a rain cover for your backpack.

You should also be prepared for warm and sunny weather. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and at least one short-sleeved shirt. You never know what the weather is going to do!

How to Get to Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland

It’s easy to get to Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland since it’s close to Deer Lake Airport. It’s an easy 25-minute drive to the National Park or 40 minutes to Corner Brook. Deer Lake Airport has flights from major Canadian cities like Montreal, Halifax, Toronto, and St. John’s.

If you want to drive yourself, it’s about 7 hours from St. John’s. (But you’ll want to make stops along the way in Trinity, Bonavista, Twillingate, and Fogo Island.)

You can also drive to Western Newfoundland by taking the Marine Atlantic ferry from Nova Scotia. It docks in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, which is 2.5 hours from Corner Brook and a little over 3 hours from Gros Morne National Park.

Getting Around Western Newfoundland

The easiest way to get around Western Newfoundland is to rent a car. The Deer Lake airport has lots of rental car options, and unlike in summer, they don’t get booked up. I like to use Discover Cars since it lets me compare rates across multiple rental companies.

Another option is to book a tour. Several small, local tour companies specialize in multi-day tours in the Gros Morne area.

On my fall trip, I spent seven days with Gros Morne Adventures on their Fall Colours hiking tour. It included hikes every day in Gros Morne and Corner Brook, sightseeing, restaurants, hotels, and transportation. I also did a guided day hike in Corner Brook with Everoutdoor Adventures.

On past trips, I’ve also done guided hikes with Wild Gros Morne, which offers hiking tours and Tour Gros Morne, which offers hiking and cultural tours.

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.

You will need to display your park pass on the dash of your car whenever you are parked in the park.

Cell Phone Service

In some parts of Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland, cell service is spotty or non-existent. There is LTE service in the towns. However, you will often lose service as soon as you leave a town.

If you are going hiking, use a GPS app like AllTrails+ or Gaia GPS and download an offline map before you go. You will usually have no cell service on the trail.

I recommend putting your phone in airplane mode while hiking. That will preserve the battery. If you leave it on, it just keeps looking for signal, which drains the battery.

Indigenous Context in Western Newfoundland

The Indigenous context of Western Newfoundland is complicated due to hundreds of years of colonialism. While the Beothuk formerly lived all across Newfoundland, their numbers dwindled thanks to loss of access to traditional hunting and fishing grounds, disease, and violence from Europeans. They were declared extinct in 1829.

However, there are still thousands of Indigenous people living in Western and Central Newfoundland. They are members of the Qalipu First Nation, a Mi’kmaq band. In the 18th century, Mi’kmaq in modern-day Nova Scotia and PEI were pushed out of their traditional territory by British settlers since the Mi’kmaq were allied with the French. At that time, Western Newfoundland was sparsely populated, so the Mi’kmaq were able to continue many of their traditional practices here.

As European settlement accelerated in Western Newfoundland, wildlife populations declined, as did Mi’kmaq populations. However, the Mi’kmaq survived, often intermarrying with European settlers. Many families hid their Mi’kmaq heritage.

In the past few decades, there has been a resurgence in Indigenous pride and identity in Western Newfoundland, with many people actively seeking to reconnect with their Indigenous culture that had been lost for several generations. There are many Indigenous-owned tourism businesses in Western Newfoundland working to tell the stories of the Mi’kmaq and connect with their traditional territory.

Final Thoughts

It’s no secret that I love Newfoundland (look at how many Newfoundland posts I’ve written), and with this autumn visit, I feel so lucky to have experienced a side of the province that most visitors don’t get. The fall colours were gorgeous on this trip to Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland.

But what really has me smiling as I remember the trip is all the time I spent chatting with locals who had more time to spend with curious tourists like me.

If you have questions about planning a trip to Gros Morne and the Corner Brook area in fall, ask in the comments. I’d love to help.

READ NEXT:

• Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park
• Things to Do in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
• 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland
• 20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland

The post Fall in Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Newfoundland and Labrador is Canada’s youngest province, joining in 1949. It includes the island of Newfoundland and a section of the mainland called Labrador. Labrador is remote and sparsely populated (and I haven’t been there yet!), so this guide focuses on the island of Newfoundland, home to 94% of the province’s population.

Nicknamed “The Rock”, Newfoundland has gorgeously rugged scenery with a windswept and craggy coastline. It’s also a rural place with tons of whimsically named fishing villages full of brightly painted cottages clustered around small coves. History runs deep here – the province is home to North America’s oldest settlements.

Besides the beautiful scenery, one of the main reasons to visit Newfoundland is the unbelievably friendly people and the unique culture. Since it is is geographically remote, it has its own accent, dialect, food, and traditions.

Since it’s a big place (it takes 7 hours to drive across the island), it can be tough to know where to go. In this post, I’ve got 20 things to do in Newfoundland and lots of travel tips. It includes:

• A map of Newfoundland with every place I mention in this post marked
• Best things to do in Newfoundland: towns, national parks, wildlife, food and more
• Newfoundland travel tips: how to get there, getting around, when to go, what to pack, and more

Hey there: Thanks so much to Go Western Newfoundland for hosting me during the Gros Morne and Corner Brook parts of my second and third trips to Newfoundland. All other parts of my trips were at my own expense and my opinions are my own. 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

Map of Newfoundland

To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Newfoundland for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post.

20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland

Explore St. John’s

St. John’s is Newfoundland’s largest city and is also the provincial capital. With its colourful buildings, great food, and welcoming atmosphere, St. John’s is an easy place to love. On two of my trips to Newfoundland, I spent a few days in St. John’s because there was so much to do.

My guide to St. John’s has the full list of things you can’t miss, but here’s a quick run-down of the highlights:

• Jellybean Row: A cluster of downtown streets have rows of colourful houses that make a great photo op.
• The Rooms Museum: A huge museum and art gallery with great exhibits of Newfoundland’s history and culture. It has great views from the top floor.
• Signal Hill: A great viewpoint just outside of downtown that is also a Canadian National Historic Site. You can also hike here on the North Head Trail.
• Quidi Vidi: A quaint, old fishing village in a protected cove near downtown. Today it has a brewery and artist studios.

St. John’s is also a great base for day trips to Cape Spear, Dildo, and the Avalon Peninsula as well as iceberg, whale watching, and puffin tours. (More on all of those below.)

READ MY ST. JOHN’S GUIDE

Cape Spear

If you visit Cape Spear, you can say you’ve stood on the easternmost point in North America. But it is also worth visiting for the great views of the coast and the iconic lighthouse, which is the oldest one in Canada and is a National Historic Site.

The cape is just 20 minutes from St. John’s. The best way to get there is to drive yourself or to take a tour. The last time I was in St. John’s I visited Cape Spear as part of the City and Cape tour with McCarthy’s Party. It’s a great tour that hits the highlights in the city and then takes you out to Cape Spear.

Dildo

Yes, Newfoundland has a town named Dildo! If you want to visit, it’s a little over an hour outside of St. John’s. Honestly, it would be like any other small town in the province if it wasn’t for the name… but that name has brought the town lots of fame.

The town had been a popular tourist spot for years, thanks to various tongue-in-cheek articles. And in 2019, Jimmy Kimmel did several bits about Dildo on his late-night talk show. In the end, the town made him the honourary mayor and he paid to erect a huge Hollywood sign-style sign spelling out “Dildo” on a hill above town.

There isn’t much to see in Dildo, but it’s still fun to grab photos of the sign. You can also head to Dildo Brewing, which has craft beer and pub food. If you need cheeky souvenirs, both Dildo Brewing and Nan and Pop’s Dildo Souvenir Shop can help you out.

Avalon Peninsula

I have to admit that despite three trips to Newfoundland and over a month spent in the province… I haven’t really been anywhere on the Avalon Peninsula besides St. John’s, Cape Spear, Bay Bulls (for a puffin tour), and the Argentia ferry terminal.

And that’s entirely my fault. I’ve heard great things about the area, I just haven’t made time to visit. In fact, it’s one of the most popular tourist areas in the province since it’s an easy drive from St. John’s. Highlights include bird watching at Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, fossils at Mistaken Point, puffins, whales, and icebergs in Bay Bulls, roadtripping along the Irish Loop, and hiking the East Coast Trail.

Trinity

Trinity is the prettiest town in Newfoundland. It’s a tiny place, tucked into a protected harbour at the end of a narrow peninsula about 3 hours from St. John’s. Historically, it was one of the most important merchant fishing towns in the province. Today, the remaining buildings are protected as heritage sites and most of the town is geared towards tourists.

That gives Trinity a bit of Newfoundland-meets-Disney feel. That could be cheesy, but I think they’ve done a good job of respecting the heritage and making things feel authentic.

My guide to Trinity has lots of things to do as well as all the info you need to visit.

The main draw in Trinity is the town itself. I recommend giving yourself an hour or two to just wander around and gawk at all the adorable old houses.

The other big attraction is the Rising Tide Theatre, which stages several Newfoundland-themed plays each summer. They also offer a popular walking tour/theatre performance.

If you’re into the outdoors, Trinity also has good kayaking and hiking (don’t miss the Skerwink Trail one of the best hikes in Newfoundland) as well as boat tours to see whales and icebergs.

READ MY TRINITY GUIDE

Bonavista

Just up the road from Trinity is Bonavista, my favourite town in Newfoundland. While Trinity is picture-perfect and lovingly restored, Bonavista is equally old, but a bit rougher around the edges. I love the juxtaposition of falling-down buildings with newly refurbished ones. Bonavista is also a real working town with 3000 residents (compared to just 78 in Trinity).

Read my guide to Bonavista for more must-sees in the area as well as lots of travel tips.

The biggest draw is the Bonavista Lighthouse just north of town. The striped facade is on countless postcards, teatowels and even mailboxes all across the island.

You also should visit some of the historic sites in town. On my first visit, we toured the Ryan Premises, which is a National Historic Site. Its exhibits, housed in a 19th-century building, explain the history of fishing in Newfoundland. Other historic sites include the Matthew Legacy, a reproduction of John Cabot’s ship, and the Mockbeggar Plantation, a collection of historic buildings.

If you venture a few minutes outside of Bonavista, you can visit the unique cliffs and caves of Dungeon Provincial Park. Or drive a few minutes further to Elliston, the best place to see puffins from land.

READ MY BONAVISTA GUIDE

St. Pierre and Miquelon

Did you know you can go to France from Newfoundland? The tiny islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon sit just south of central Newfoundland. Founded by French fishermen, the islands are still part of France: the 5,800 residents speak French and use the Euro.

I’ve always wanted to visit the islands, but I haven’t made it yet. To get there you can fly from St. John’s or take a 90-minute ferry from the town of Fortune, which is a 4-hour drive from St. John’s.

Besides the novelty of visiting France, the islands offer cute towns, small museums, boat tours, and stunning nature.

Terra Nova National Park

Unless you’ve been to Newfoundland, you probably haven’t heard of Terra Nova National Park. Compared to stand-outs like Banff, the subdued beauty of Terra Nova just doesn’t get the same press. But it’s still a gorgeous park. It is about 3 hours from St. John’s just past the Bonavista Peninsula.

The park protects vast swaths of coastline, mudflats, and rolling hills. Most visitors will concentrate their time around the Visitor Centre, which has great exhibits about wildlife including touch tanks where you can get up close to sea life.

For great views, make the short drive from the highway to the Ochre Hill Fire Tower. There are several wooden platforms, but if you’re brave, scale the steps to the top of the tower. It was windy on my visit, which added to the thrill/terror.

If you like hiking, the park has over 80 km of trails. I enjoyed the Coastal Trail, which made my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland.

Twillingate

Twillingate is a tiny town in the centre of the province. It sits on a pair of rocky islands and since it’s on the windswept northern coast, it has a rugged and austere beauty that sets it apart from other charming towns like Trinity and Bonavista.

Part of its charm is its isolation. Twillingate stis on the north coast amongst a a cluster of other fishing villages. It’s 5 hours from St. John’s or 4.5 hours from Corner Brook, but I think it’s worth the journey.

Most of the area around Twillingate had no roads until the 1950s and 60s, which means that everything is oriented towards the sea and strung out along the waterline.

My guide to Twillingate has tips for visiting along with lots of things to do.

Twillingate bills itself as the iceberg capital of the world since it’s right in the path of the currents that bring them south from Greenland. It’s often possible to see icebergs from land, but there are several iceberg boat tours as well.

Like other cute towns in Newfoundland, one of the main things to do here is to wander around and admire the old buildings. The nearby Long Point Lighthouse is also worth a visit. And if you like, there are several small museums in the area.

But my favourite reason to spend time in Twillingate is the hiking. The trails range from short and simple to longer and more challenging, so there is something for everyone. The Rockcut Trails are gorgeous, especially the hike to French Head, which made my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland.

READ MY TWILLINGATE GUIDE

Fogo Island

I didn’t get to Fogo Island on my first trip, but after we visited it on our second trip to Newfoundland I was kicking myself for not going sooner. Fogo is so unique! The only way to get to this small island near Twillingate is by ferry.

Check out my Fogo Island guide to learn more about visiting and more must-sees on the island.

For decades after the collapse of the cod fishery, the island stagnated. But in the last decade or two, a revitalization project and social enterprise have transformed Fogo. Today it has a network of excellent hiking trails, nine picturesque towns to explore, and a thriving arts scene with artisans, galleries, and studios you can visit.

The backbone of the social enterprise project is the Fogo Island Inn, an ultra-luxury hotel catering to wealthy guests with high-end food and lots of included day tours. However, you don’t have to stay at the hotel to enjoy it – you can take a free tour to get a close-up look at the interesting architecture.

The hiking on Fogo is some of the best in the province. The barren landscape is gorgeous and allows for lots of views. The trail to the top of Brimstone Head made my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland.

READ MY FOGO ISLAND GUIDE

Corner Brook

I know Corner Brook doesn’t make some people’s lists of the best things to see in Newfoundland… but it should. Corner Brook is the second largest city in the province and by far the biggest city in the western part of the province.

While it is a regional hub for government and business, it also has a scrappy small outdoor town feel with incredible access to nature and an up-and-coming food scene with craft beer and good coffee.

My guide to Corner Brook has a full list of things to do and tips for visiting.

Corner Brook is a great place to base yourself for a day trip to the nearby Bay of Islands region which has incredible hiking and kayaking along with some really cute old fishing villages like Little Port. The entire region is part of the aspiring Cabox UNESCO Global Geopark to recognize its exceptional geology. The South Head Lighthouse Trail is on my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland.

READ MY CORNER BROOK GUIDE

Gros Morne National Park

Located in Western Newfoundland near Corner Brook, Gros Morne National Park is gorgeous – if you’re interested in hiking and the outdoors, it’s worth coming to Newfoundland just to visit this park. The park is fairly large, spreading across the coastline and over mountain ranges. It also includes a few charming small towns.

If you’re thinking of visiting, read my guide to Gros Morne National Park, which has lots of trip planning advice and more things to do.

There are a few key highlights in Gros Morne:

• Tablelands: Hike over rocks from Earth’s mantle exposed at the surface.
• Green Gardens: A hike to the coast through a forest so lush that it reminded me of Hawaii.
• Bonne Bay: A deep inlet cutting through the middle of the park, best appreciated from a boat tour.
• Western Brook Pond: A former fjord that is now a lake. Take a boat tour to appreciate the steep terrain rising up from the lake.

READ MY GROS MORNE GUIDE

L’Anse aux Meadows

Most people learn that the first European to visit the American was Christopher Columbus. However, in the 1960s, archaeologists discovered evidence of a 1000-year-old Norse settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows near the northern tip of the island. That means the Vikings beat Columbus to North America by nearly 500 years!

Today, L’Anse aux Meadows is a Canadian National Historic site and UNESCO World Heritage site. I made the long drive up there (5.5 hours from Corner Brook) on my first visit to Newfoundland. The site protects the remains of the Norse buildings and also has reconstructed buildings and interpretive displays.

I spent a fun day wandering around and chatting with the costumed actors who reenact Viking life. It’s a fascinating place, and while it’s tough to get to, I thought it was worth it.

Road Tripping

On two of my visits to Newfoundland we drove across the island on an epic road trip. With lots of paved roads, tiny towns, and viewpoints, Newfoundland is an ideal road trip destination.

One of the most popular itineraries includes is an east-to-west (or vice versa) trip across the province between St. John’s and Gros Morne National Park.

If you want to take a shorter trip, you could drive around the East Coast hitting up St. John’s, the Avalon Peninsula, and the Bonavista Peninsula. Or stick to the West Coast by visiting Corner Brook, Gros Morne National Park, and L’Anse aux Meadows.

Whichever itinerary you choose, leave lots of time for unexpected stops. We found ourselves pulling over to take photos, explore villages, and stop at small cafes.

You can also visit out-of-the-way attractions, like the International Lounge at the Gander Airport, where it is still 1959 and the age of transatlantic air travel is brand new. (They also have exhibits about the flights that landed here on 9/11 and inspired the musical, Come From Away.)

Whale Watching

While I haven’t been whale watching in Newfoundland, I’ve heard great things. (I skipped whale watching on my trips since I live in BC and have been kayaking with whales.) Since Newfoundland is way out in the Atlantic, it’s right on lots of whale migration routes including the annual summer migration of humpback whales. You can also see other species of whales and dolphins.

Many boat tours combine whale watching with spotting icebergs and seabirds like puffins as well as touring the picturesque coastline. (More of puffins and icebergs below)

The most popular place to take a whale watching tour is Bay Bulls and Witless Bay about 30 minutes south of St. John’s. You can also book whale watching tours in Trinity and Twillingate.

Icebergs

One of the coolest things to do in Newfoundland is iceberg viewing. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun!) In spring and early summer, icebergs drift south from Greenland towards Newfoundland along a rough path called Iceberg Alley.

The best time to go iceberg spotting is May and June. We didn’t see any icebergs on my first trip to Newfoundland since we were there in August. But we planned our second visit for June in the hopes of seeing one.

Often you can see the icebergs from land (binoculars help), but nothing beats seeing them up close on a boat tour. The north coast of the province is the best place to see them but it’s also possible to see icebergs near St. John’s.

The icebergs aren’t predictable and move every day. In some years icebergs are plentiful, while in others (like the year I visited) there aren’t that many around. You can book iceberg tours in Bay Bulls near St. John’s or in Trinity, but for the best chance of seeing them, I recommend going to Twillingate or other small North Coast towns.

You can use Icebergfinder.ca to get the latest locations for icebergs you can see from land or via a tour. I found the Newfoundland and Labrador Iceberg Reports Facebook group super helpful on my trip. It was updated more often than Icebergfinder and it had up-to-date reviews on boat tours.

We went to Twillingate looking for icebergs but there weren’t any. So, we used the info from the Facebook group to find out that there was an iceberg in a bay near a tiny town called Brighton 3.5 hours away. We also got a recommendation for a local tour guide (Clarey of Badger Bay Boat Tours). We booked a B&B, then made the drive.

It was incredible to see the iceberg up close and we got to experience a part of Newfoundland that not many tourists see since it was so off the beaten path.

Puffins

Puffins are adorable so they get the most press, but you can also see tons of other bird species in Newfoundland. The best time to see puffins is the summer nesting season between mid-May and late September – they head down south and out to sea the rest of the year.

The first time I went to Newfoundland I wasn’t that into birding. We took a boat tour and saw the puffin colonies from the water. I got hooked on these clown-like birds with their wobbly walk that contrasts with their grace once they dive under the water. Since then I’ve seen puffins in Iceland and Haida Gwaii, BC. So of course, on my next trip to Newfoundland, we looked for puffins everywhere we could.

The most popular way to see puffins is to take a boat tour in Witless Bay and Bay Bulls which combines puffin spotting with whale watching. (They might also take you to see icebergs in the spring/early summer iceberg season.)

But you can also see puffins from land in a few places near Bonavista. As a bonus, it’s totally free and there’s a zero percent chance you’ll get seasick.

I think the best place to see puffins from land is at the Elliston Puffin Viewing site near Bonavista. We had puffins walking right up to us! You can also see puffins from land at the Bonavista Lighthouse and on the Klondike Trail (one of my picks for the best hikes in Newfoundland.

Hiking

The main reason I have been to Newfoundland three times is to go hiking – the province has incredible trails. While there are long and challenging trails, most routes are easy to moderate and take half a day or less. That makes them perfect for tourists since you can go for a beautiful hike but still have lots of time for sightseeing.

My list of the best hikes in Newfoundland includes my top 16 hikes across the province.

There are gorgeous trails all over the island – you can even hike up Signal Hill in the heart of St. John’s on the North Head Trail. But if you want to spend a lot of time hiking, I recommend you concentrate your stay around the hikes in Gros Morne and Twillingate, my two favourite hiking areas.

READ MY PICKS FOR THE BEST HIKES IN NEWFOUNDLAND

Get “Screeched In”

The Newfoundland tradition of getting “screeched in” is a quirky ceremony that welcomes visitors (known as Come From Aways). The ritual involves taking a shot of Newfoundland rum, called screech, kissing a codfish (which is usually frozen) and eating a cube of bologna (nicknamed Newfoundland Steak).

It’s a silly tradition that’s mostly for tourists, but it’s also lots of fun. The best place to get screeched in is at one of the bars on George Street in St. John’s. However, you can get screeched in at bars and tourist businesses across the province. If you take a multi-day bus tour in the province, it will almost always include getting screeched in.

Unique Newfoundland Food and Drink

Since Newfoundland is so isolated and has only been part of Canada since 1949, it has a distinct food culture. Like most coastal places dominated by the fishing industry, it has world-class seafood. But it also has some quirky Newfoundland food and drink that you have to try.

You can find Newfoundland-style cuisine on restaurant menus everywhere from small towns to the city. A trip to the grocery store is also an experience to see what Newfoundlanders actually eat.

Some restaurants I recommend across the province include:

• Chafe’s Landing in Petty Harbour near St. John’s for lobster rolls
• Mifflin’s Tea Room in Bonavista for fish n’ brewis or toutons
• Annie’s Harbour Restaurant in Twillingate for cod tongues
• Bangbelly Bistro on Fogo Island for modern takes on traditional Newfoundland food
• Boomstick Brewing in Corner Brook for craft beer
• The Salt Box in Bay of Islands for seafood, moose tacos, and more
• Seaside Restaurant in Trout River for fried fish
• Chanterelle’s in Norris Point for partridge berry cheesecake

Here’s a quick list of some uniquely-Newfoundland foods you have to try:

Appetizers and Sides:

• Cod tongues: Deep-fried cod tongues have a texture a bit like calamari with a cod flavour.
• Fries with dressing and gravy: Like Quebecois poutine but instead of cheese curds they put turkey stuffing (dressing) on top of the fries, then pour gravy over top.

Mains

• Fish and brewis: a mash of soaked salted cod and hard tack bread with fried pork fat on top
• Moose: Newfoundlands love to eat this invasive species and put the lean meat into burgers, pasta sauce, tacos, and more
• Jigg’s Dinner: a traditional Sunday meal of salt beef boiled with cabbage, potatoes, and carrots
• Flipper pie: A pot pie made with seal flipper meat. It has a VERY strong fishy taste that not everyone will like.
• Fish n’ Chips: This is not unique to Newfoundland but what is unique is how prevalent it is. I dare you to find a menu in the province that does NOT include fish n’ chips!
• Mary Brown’s Chicken: This fried chicken chain started in Newfoundland and now has hundreds of locations across Canada. It’s so pervasive in the province that you can find locations in some of the provinces’ small, remote towns.

Desserts

• Bakeapples: also known as cloudberries, they taste a bit like blackberries and are often made into jam or pies
• Partridge berries: A bit like cranberries, these are also often found in jams, pies, and baked goods
• Toutons: fried yeasted dough eaten with molasses, syrup or jam, usually for breakfast
• Purity candy: This 100-year-old Newfoundland company makes several types of old-school hard candy including Peppermint Nobs and their infamous Climax Mix
• Jam Jams: Packaged sponge cookies with a jam filling.
• Crush Pineapple: A sickly sweet soda, like Crush Orange but with pineapple flavour instead of orange.

Newfoundland Travel Tips

History of Newfoundland

Indigenous Beothuk and Mi’kmaq people have lived on the island of Newfoundland since time immemorial. In 1497 when John Cabot landed at Bonavista, he “claimed” it for England. In the next few centuries, Basque, Portuguese, and French fishermen frequented the waters and set up small fishing settlements.

Newfoundland became an English colony in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht and English settlement begun in earnest. By the 1930s, Newfoundland’s economy was in trouble. In 1949, Newfoundlanders voted to join Canada as the 10th province.

Historically, cod fishing was the backbone of the province’s economy. However, the cod fishery collapsed in 1992, leading to widespread poverty. Today fishing for other species dominates the economy along with oil and gas, mining, and of course, tourism.

Since Newfoundland is geographically isolated, it has a unique culture that blends aspects of England, Ireland, and Canada. Newfoundlanders also have a distinct accent that sounds a bit Irish, and a distinct vocabulary, sometimes called Newfoundland English or Newfinese.

How to Get to Newfoundland

Since it is an island, the only way to get to Newfoundland is to fly or take a ferry.

The main airports are in St. John’s and Deer Lake near Corner Brook. You can get direct flights from major Canadian cities like Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, and Edmonton.

It’s also possible to get to Newfoundland by ferry. This option makes the most sense if you driving your own car or RV. There are two ferry terminals: Argentia in the east is 1.5 hours from St. John’s. Port aux Basques in the west is 2.5 hours from Corner Brook. Both ferries leave from North Sydney in Nova Scotia.

Travel times by ferry are long: it’s six to eight hours to Port aux Basques and 15 hours to Argentia.

Getting Around Newfoundland

Newfoundland is big so you can expect long travel times between locations. For example, if you drive across the province from St. John’s to Corner Brook, it takes about 7 hours without stops.

Unless you are sticking around St. John’s or taking a multi-day tour, the only real way to see the province is to rent a car since the only long-distance bus service misses most tourist spots. You can rent a car at the airport in St. John’s or Corner Brook. Heads up: rental cars in Newfoundland are expensive and they book up in summer!

Driving in Newfoundland is fairly straightforward since there aren’t that many roads. The Trans Canada Highway that runs across the island is wide and well-maintained, which makes for easy travel. However, I can’t say the same about many of the smaller highways. Expect twists and turns and lots of potholes. You will often need to travel well under the speed limit.

The weather is very changeable so be prepared to drive in heavy rain or thick fog. You will also want to avoid driving at night since there are more moose than people on the island and collisions with moose are one of the main causes of serious car crashes.

How Long to Spend in Newfoundland

Each time I’ve gone to Newfoundland I’ve spent about 10 to 14 days there. It’s enough time to road trip across the island as well as spend a few days in St. John’s and Gros Morne. However, it’s not enough time to see everything. If you really want to see all of Newfoundland’s attractions, it would take at least 3 to 4 weeks.

I think most visitors will be happy with a trip that lasts 10 to 14 days and takes in some of the major sites around Newfoundland. However, you could also do 5 to 7 days in either the St. John’s/Avalon Peninsula area or the Corner Brook/Gros Morne National Park area.

Since it’s not easy to get to Newfoundland, I don’t think it’s worth visiting if your trip is less than 4 or 5 days.

Best Time to Go to Newfoundland

Newfoundland’s tourist industry is heavily geared towards summer travel. That means between mid-June and mid-September. If you visit outside of those times you’ll be faced with wet weather and closed attractions.

If you’re looking for a different experience than most tourists get, consider visiting in fall. It has perfect hiking weather and less crowds. My guide to fall in Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland has all the info you need to plan a trip.

Weather in Newfoundland

Newfoundland is in the middle of the cold North Atlantic Ocean so even in summer, it’s not that warm. The average summer temperature is 16°C (61°F) but on warm days you can expect temperatures up to 25°C (77°F). Keep in mind that June is spring and September is fall so it will be a bit colder in those months.

The weather is also quite unpredictable. Rain, wind, and fog are common, but you can still get lots of sunny days. Plan your itinerary with some flexibility so that you can do indoor things like museums or galleries on the worst weather days.

Be sure to pack a waterproof jacket and waterproof hiking shoes. You’ll also want a warm mid-layer like a fleece or a lightweight puffy jacket. A warm hat and gloves are also nice.

Newfoundland Time Zone

One of the quirks of Newfoundland is that it has its own time zone: Newfoundland Time (NT). And even quirkier, that time zone is 30 minutes off from the next time zone over. So if it’s noon in New York (Eastern Time), it’s 1 pm in Halifax (Atlantic Time) and 1:30 pm in St. John’s (Newfoundland Time).

Cell Phone Service in Newfoundland

While you’ll find reliable 5G cell phone service in the cities and major towns, parts of Newfoundland don’t have great cell phone service. You will get at LTE in most towns, but smaller villages will have patchy service or no service at all. As well, some highways have no service or poor service.

Make sure you download offline maps when you have service and look things up in advance. The upside is that there are road signs most places so you won’t get lost. And the locals are super friendly so can always just pull over and ask someone for directions. The only danger is that they’ll talk your ear off for 15 minutes before you can get back on the road!

Where to Stay in Newfoundland

Outside of St. John’s you won’t find chain hotels. Instead you’ll find small, locally-owned inns and guesthouses. You can book some of them on major platforms like Booking.com or VRBO, but for others you’ll have to book through their website directly.

A few places that I recommend are:

• Russelltown Inn in Bonavista: rooms in gorgeously restored heritage homes.
• Hew and Draw Hotel in Corner Brook: a gorgeous modern hotel with so many local touches
• Bonne Bay Inn in Gros Morne: A motel-style inn with incredible views of Bonne Bay and Gros Morne Mountain
• Sugar Hill Inn in Gros Mornet: A quaint inn with a huge front porch and an incredible in-house restaurant (Chanterelle’s.)

Restaurants and Grocery Stores in Newfoundland

While larger towns have lots of restaurants and groceries, if you’re heading to some of the smaller villages, options become a lot more limited. Some small villages may not have a restaurant or grocery store, or if they do, it will have limited hours or a limited menu.

If you follow any special diets (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.) you may want to buy your groceries in a larger town and book places with a kitchen. And even if you aren’t on a special diet, it’s worth keeping enough snacks to put together a makeshift meal in case you get caught in a place where food isn’t available.

It’s also worth mentioning that the food in small villages is often very processed and/or fried and grocery stores very rarely have fresh vegetables. Expect lots of fried food and potatoes on all menus. But simple things like pasta, sandwich fixings, etc. are readily available.

Cash and Credit Cards in Newfoundland

You’ll need both cash and credit cards in Newfoundland. Most places accept both, but there are a few that only take one or the other.

Historically, businesses in small or remote places didn’t take credit cards and wanted you to pay with cash. However, now that cell service is more widespread, now some places don’t take cash since it takes so long to get to the bank to deposit it. In particular, many businesses on Fogo Island don’t take cash.

So bring both cash and credit cards. And of course, this is Canada, so you’ll need Canadian money. Some places will accept American cash, but they take it at par, which is usually a terrible deal on the exchange rate for Americans.

Final Thoughts

In some ways, Newfoundland reminds me a bit of Iceland: incredible scenery, friendly people, and a great place for a road trip. Honestly, I’m surprised that it isn’t as popular as Iceland since they have similar vibes. However, Newfoundland has a fraction of the crowds.

If you want to visit a part of Canada that looks and feels nothing like the rest of the country, go to Newfoundland. The geography and culture as so different. From the adorable towns to the wildlife sightings to the hiking, there’s just something about this place that draws me in.

And after three trips to Newfoundland, I still haven’t seen everything. Next time I go, the Avalon Peninsula and St. Pierre and Miquelon are definitely on my list of things to do. I’d also like to hike more of the East Coast Trail and explore the Bay St. George area on the southwestern part of the island.

If you want help planning your trip to Newfoundland, I’m happy to answer your questions. Ask them in the comments or book a trip planning call with me.

READ NEXT:

• 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s
• 12 Things To Do in Trinity
• 10 Things To Do in Bonavista
• 10 Things To Do in Twillingate
• Things to do on Fogo Island
• Things to Do in Corner Brook
• Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park
• 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland

The post 20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

If you’ve never heard of Fogo, read on. This place is so beautiful and unique. But if you’ve heard of it, it’s likely for one of two reasons. Firstly, it’s featured prominently in the chorus of the Newfoundland folk song “I’se the By'”. (The lyric is “Fogo, Twillingate, Moreton’s Harbour, All around the circle.” I couldn’t stop singing it when I was there.

The other reason is that a social enterprise organization built a new luxury hotel called the Fogo Island Inn. It’s been in the news for attracting celebrity guests like David Letterman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

If you’ve read any recent press about Fogo, they make it sound like the hotel is the main attraction and you must be rich to visit. As a regular person, I wasn’t sure about visiting Fogo. Would there be anything for me to do?

After visiting I can tell you that anyone can visit Fogo and have a great time, even those on a regular person budget! There are lots of guest houses and restaurants catering to independent travellers. And most of the things to do on Fogo Island (like hiking and the museums) are free or cheap!

I’ve put together a complete guide to things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland. It includes:

• Fogo Island Basics: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go?
• Map of Fogo Island that includes all of the places I mention in this post.
• Best things to do on Fogo Island: Cute towns, hiking, an iconic hotel, history, and lots more.
• Where to eat on Fogo Island: My picks for the best restaurants.
• Where to stay on Fogo Island from basic campsites to luxury hotels and everything in between.

Planning a trip to Newfoundland? I’ve got a big list of the best things to do Newfoundland plus lots of travel tips for the province.

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: 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

Fogo Island Basics

How to Get to Fogo Island

Fogo Island is located off the north coast of central Newfoundland. Depending on your budget and timeline, there are several ways to get there.

I took the slowest and cheapest route – driving and the ferry. The ferry terminal in Farewell is one hour from Gander, 3.5 hours from Deer Lake, and 4.5 hours from St. John’s, all of which have airports if you’re flying into Newfoundland. If you’re already in Newfoundland on a road trip like I was, the ferry terminal is 1 hour from Twillingate, which is worth visiting before or after Fogo.

You cannot reserve the ferry so it’s best to show up early. Check the ferry schedule for the latest times. On busy summer days, there can be multiple sailing waits. There are two ferries from Farewell to Fogo Island. The direct ferry takes 45 minutes. There is also a ferry that stops on the sleepy Change Islands which takes 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Once on the ferry you must leave your car and go upstairs to the lounge. On a nice day, you can enjoy the view from the outer decks. But if the weather isn’t great, bring a book.

If you’re looking for a fast and expensive way to get to Fogo Island, you can book a charter plane or helicopter from Gander or St. John’s. If you’re staying at the Fogo Island Inn their staff can help you arrange flights.

Getting Around on Fogo Island

Fogo Island isn’t big. But it’s not tiny either. The island has nine villages and is about 25 km long by 14 km wide (16 x 8.7 mi) so you will need a car to get around. If you drove all the roads on the island it would take you about 90 minutes.

Cell Service on Fogo Island

Cell service is pretty spotty on Fogo Island. You won’t get 5G anywhere on the island. There is LTE in most of the towns, but many areas have little to no service. I recommend downloading offline maps before you go. If the visitor centre near the ferry terminal is open, they also have paper maps.

Money and Banking on Fogo

Fogo Island is isolated and doesn’t have a bank. All the businesses we encountered take credit and debit cards. We also saw a few businesses with signs saying that they don’t take cash since they have to go off-island to deposit it and it’s too time-consuming and expensive. Expect to pay with cards on Fogo.

How Long to Spend on Fogo Island

If you get the first ferry to the island and the last one off, it’s possible to do Fogo Island as a day trip. But I recommend spending at least one night on Fogo Island. Doing it as a day trip will be quite rushed and since you can’t reserve the ferry, you’ll have to line up quite early to make sure you don’t miss the last boat.

I spent one night on Fogo and honestly, I wished I had spent a second night. It’s such an interesting place with a vibe that is like nowhere else in Newfoundland. Spending an extra day would have allowed us to do some more hiking and also would have made our time on Fogo a bit more chill. And Fogo is definitely a place to slow down and take it all in.

Best Time to Go to Fogo Island

At the Fogo Island Inn they argue that Fogo has seven seasons: winter (December to February), pack ice (March), spring (April to mid-May), trap berth (mid-May to June), summer (July and August), berry (September to mid-October), and late fall (mid-October to November). If you stay at the Inn, they will organize activities for you at any time of the year.

But if you are travelling independently like I was, the best time to visit is July and August. That’s the time of the year with the best weather. It’s also when you will find most businesses and museums open. June and September can also be good, but will have more variable weather. As well, some businesses and museums will be closed.

Check the opening hours of key attractions. Fogo is small and some businesses don’t open until early June or July and shut in early September. As well, some are closed a few days a week even in the height of summer. Some places have opening hours posted online, but for others, you’ll just have to go check in person.

Fogo Island Weather

Summer might have the best weather on Fogo Island, but this isn’t the tropics! You are still on a windy island in the Atlantic Ocean! Bring a rain jacket and a fleece or puffy jacket for warmth, just in case.

In June, July, and August, temperatures are usually between 10 and 20°C (50 to 68°F). Fogo Island is windy and doesn’t have very many trees, so it can feel much colder than the thermometer might indicate.

History of Fogo Island

Like the rest of Newfoundland, Fogo Island is the traditional territory of the Beothuk and Mi’kma’ki.

The name of the island means fire in Portuguese and it likely got its name from the cooking fires of Indigenous people that European fishermen spotted from their boats.

The first European settlers on Fogo were mostly from England, although the village of Tilting is the oldest Irish settlement in North America. The settlers were mostly fishermen who needed a place on land to dry their cod.

Over the years mercantile companies in St. John’s monopolized the cod fishery. The people of Fogo Island fought back by forming the Fishermen’s Protective Union in the early 1900s to sell their fish as a cooperative and gain control of their livelihoods.

In the 1950s and 60s, the newly-formed provincial government of Newfoundland started a resettlement scheme to consolidate far-flung water-access-only fishing villages into larger towns with more reliable road transportation and better community services. The Fogo Islanders developed a collaborative community consultation program called the Fogo Process to decide whether to accept resettlement. In the end, the islanders decided to stay.

When the cod moratorium came into effect in 1992, the economy of Fogo Island was devastated. In 2006 Zita Cobb, a tech millionaire who grew up on Fogo, started the Shorefast Foundation. It’s a social enterprise designed to revitalize Fogo Island’s economy through tourism and the arts. The famous Fogo Island Inn is part of Shorefast.

Today Fogo Island has about 2,100 residents. While locals still fish, today the economy revolves more around tourism, much of which comes in the form of wealthy guests staying at the Fogo Island Inn. However, the island’s isolation means that it doesn’t feel touristy or busy.

Fogo Island Map

To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Fogo Island for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post.

Best Things To Do on Fogo Island

Take a Tour of Fogo Island Inn

The Fogo Island Inn is a luxury hotel catering to wealthy guests who often fly in from all over the world. They have a three-night minimum stay and in the summer rooms start at about $3000 per night. It’s all-inclusive, so that price includes gourmet meals and activities like yoga, hiking, and boat tours.

If, like me, the Fogo Island Inn is not in your budget, it’s worth visiting on a tour. It’s an iconic building with stunning architecture and so much attention to detail. The only way for non-guests is to call ahead and arrange for a tour. There are usually two tours and day and they are free. There isn’t any info on their website about tours but if you call them, the front desk can help you out.

We had a great tour with a local woman who grew up on Fogo in the 1960s and told us all about what Fogo was like when it was an isolated fishing community. She also did a great job of showing us all the ways that the hotel is designed to reflect the local Newfoundland and Fogo Island culture, right down to the designs of the wallpaper and the furniture.

Since the inn relies on such an upscale clientele (and uses that business model to bring maximum economic benefit to the community), I will say that the tour had a bit of a strange vibe. As tour participants, we weren’t allowed into any area where guests were and the whole thing had a weird, “don’t-make-eye-contact-with-the-rich-people” atomosphere. But the inn was beautiful and the tour was free so I’m glad I went.

Learn About Irish History in Tilting

The village of Tilting at the east end of Fogo Island is one of the oldest Irish settlements in Newfoundland, first settled in the 1780s. Today it is a Newfoundland Registered Heritage District and National Historic Site of Canada with lots of historic buildings.

The locals are proud of their history and it seems like every fifth building has a historical plaque out front with info about its history. Several of the buildings, including the Dwyer Premises and Lane House, are museums with exhibits inside. However, they are only open in July and August so I wasn’t able to see them on my June visit.

I’ve also heard great things about Al’s Walking Tours in Tilting. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to take his tour because it conflicted with the time of our Fogo Island Inn tour. Next time!

Find the Artists’ Studios

Fogo Island Arts supports an artists’ residency program on Fogo Island where artists can come to work at one of four custom-built studios. Stumbling across these studios was one of my favourite parts of my visit to Fogo Island. Each one is strangely beautiful and interplays with the landscape.

The only way to access them is to walk the island’s easy hiking trails. Most studios are a 5 to 15-minute walk from a road. The studios are closed to the public unless the artist invites you inside.

They are off-the-grid structures and each one has a unique architectural style, influenced by the local landscape and Newfoundland culture. Each one was designed by Newfoundland-born architect Todd Saunders.

You can see some of the art produced at the studios if you visit the Fogo Island Gallery at the Fogo Island Inn. It is only accessible as part of a tour of the Inn.

I managed to visit three of the four studios on my visit. The studios are:

• Bridge Studio in Deep Bay
• Squish Studio in Tilting
• Long Studio in Joe Batt’s Arm
• Tower Studio in Shoal Bay

Visit the Towns

There are nine distinct towns spread out along the coastline of Fogo Island, each one with its own charm. Some have more to offer tourists than others, but I still recommend visiting as many as you can since they are all quite picturesque. I’ve got details on each one below.

Stag Harbour

Stag Harbour is just a few minutes from the ferry dock. The Fogo Island Visitor Centre is located at the entrance to Stag Harbour, but it was closed on my early June visit. This sleepy community is spread out along the edges of the long harbour. It’s a good spot for photos, but there aren’t any distinct points of interest here.

Seldom

The towns of Seldom and Little Seldom are located a few coves apart on the southern side of Fogo Island. In the Newfoundland tradition of whimsical town names, Seldom used to be called Seldom-Come-By. There are a few beautiful historic buildings here, including the Fogo Island Marine Interpretation Centre. (More on that in the museums section below.)

Deep Bay

Find Deep Bay on the west side of Fogo Island. The little community hugs the jagged coastline and rocky bluffs tower above. It was foggy when I visited, but that gave the whole area a unique moody vibe. You can follow the Deep Bay Trail, also called the Courting Trail, up to a lookout above the town. You’ll also find an artist’s studio at the end of this trail.

Island Harbour

The small community of Island Harbour sits at the end of a dead-end road. It has a good view of the Channel Islands and the ferry traffic. There isn’t much to see here besides picturesque fishing shacks.

Fogo

The town of Fogo straddles a narrow channel between the main part of Fogo Island and Fogo Head. It’s by bar the largest community on the island and is where you’ll find most (but not all) of the shops, restaurants, and other services. It’s worth wandering around to look at churches, museums, and other historic buildings.

Be sure to venture over to Back Cove and Brimstone Head for great views. The lookout at the Fogo Battery the start of the Fogo Head Hiking Trail at the end of North Shore Road is also worth a visit. It has a great view of the harbour entrance.

Shoal Bay

Shoal Bay is situated in the middle of the north shore of Fogo Island. It’s also the location of the only large grocery store, Food Land, on Fogo Island. The large bay has lots of rocky islets near the southern end, which you can see from the Shoal Bay Trail. This boardwalk path meanders through a marshy area and has an artist’s studio at the coastline.

Barr’d Islands

The tiny community of Barr’d Islands seems to blend into the nearby town of Joe Batt’s Arm. However, before the road was built, it would have been quite isolated. Most of the town sits on tiny islands, connected with causeways. It’s the oldest settlement on Fogo and has some beautiful historic buildings.

Joe Batt’s Arm

Joe Batt was a sailor on Captain Cook’s ship. He jumped ship and settled on Fogo Island, giving the bay his name. Today the town is home to the Fogo Island Inn, as well as several museums and art studios. It’s also the starting point for the Joe Batt’s Point Trail which leads to a viewpoint at the Great Auk sculpture and has an artist’s studio part way along.

Tilting

As I said above, Tilting is known for its Irish history. In addition to the historical sites and museums, it also has a few hiking trails and a beautiful beach called Sandy Cove.

Hike Up Brimstone Head

This short 1.2 km round-trip hike takes less than an hour but it goes to a spectacular viewpoint on the top of Brimstone Head near the town of Fogo. After doing lots of hikes on Fogo, I thought it had the best effort-to-reward ratio and put it on my list of best hikes in Newfoundland.

The trail follows stairs and boardwalks to the top of a bluff where there is a great view of the ocean and the town of Fogo. You’ll gain 70 m as you climb to the top.

But Brimstone Head has another claim to fame – it is one of the four corners of the Earth according to the Canadian Flat Earth Society. (The society is mostly a joke meant to point out how even in the age of technology, people accept theories without using critical thought.)

Other Hikes on Fogo Island

Even though I only spent two days on Fogo, I was still able to fit in lots of hikes. For the most point, the trails here are short, easy to moderate, and have great views. You can’t miss the hike up Brimstone Head (above), but I also recommend a few other hikes:

Deep Bay Lookout/Courting Trail

This short trail starts with lots of stairs as it leads up to a viewing platform overlooking the village. Keep going up the stairs and through the heath to a bluff 60 m above sea level. The Bridge Studio sits near a pond near the top. The hike is 1.6 km round-trip.

Shoal Bay Trail

The flat Shoal Bay Trail is almost entirely on a narrow boardwalk as it makes its way through a boggy area towards the coast and the Tower Studio. The hike is 1.2 km round-trip.

Joe Batt’s Point

This trail winds along the east coast of Joe Batt’s Arm out to Joe Batt’s Point. I didn’t have time to hike the whole thing, but I’ve heard there is a huge sculpture of a great auk at the end. Great auks are penguin-like seabirds that were hunted to extinction in 1852. The early part of the trail passes the Long Studio and has a great view of the Fogo Island Inn across the bay. It is a 5 km round-trip hike.

More Hikes

I wish I had more time to hike on Fogo. Here are a few hikes that I didn’t get a chance to try:

Fogo Head: A 2.1 km point-to-point head across the top of 103-metre-high Fogo Head. You can also make it into a 3.7 km loop by walking back to the start along North Shore Road. It has great views of the town of Fogo as well as Brimstone Head. There are lots of stairs and steep climbs on this one.

Lion’s Den: This 6.3 km loop trail on the east side of Fogo Harbour includes several viewpoints and interpretive signs about former communities. The trail climbs up to the top of a bluff, rambles along the coastline, and travels through marshes on boardwalks.

Turpin’s Trail: There are two parts to this trail – a 9.2 km round-trip eastern section and a 3.1 km round-trip western section. The trail starts in Tilting and leads along the coast past Squish Studio.

Oliver’s Cove: A 4.5 km loop trail in the southern part of Tilting. The trail leads along the coast and to a viewing platform.

Visit the Museums

When I visited Fogo Island in early June, most of the museums were not open for the season or were running on reduced hours, so I wasn’t able to visit any of them. (And if we’re being honest, I was too busy hiking anyway.) Most of these museums are open during the summer but hours can be erratic – just show up and see if they are open.

However, from my research, it looks like there are quite a few museums on the island that could be worth a visit. I’ve already mentioned some of the museums and historical sites in Tilting, but here are a few others:

Fogo Marine Interpretation Centre: This museum in Seldom tells the story of Fogo’s fishing past. It includes exhibits about fishing, the cod liver oil factory, and the unique history of fishing unions on Fogo.

Marconi Wireless Interpretation Centre: Find this museum in the northeastern part of the town of Fogo. It explains the important role of Fogo as a telegraph station.

Old School House Museum: This school house in the town of Fogo dates back to 1888 and has exhibits about Fogo’s history.

Experience Fogo: A museum in the western part of the town of Fogo with collections of old tools and other artifacts that demonstrate traditional life in Fogo.

Brett House Museum: A historical house in Joe Batt’s Arm that preserves a traditional house from the 1870s.

Bleak House Museum: A historical house on North Shore Road in the town of Fogo, Bleak House was the home of the region’s powerful merchants.

Browse the Galleries

Fogo has a thriving artist community. You can visit several galleries and workshops across the island. Most were not open on my visit and some are open by appointment only. The only one I managed to visit was the Fogo Island Gallery inside the Fogo Island Inn.

Other galleries and artisan workshops include Fogo Island Metalworks and Herring Cove Art Gallery, both in Shoal Bay; Young Studios and Mona’s Quilts in Joe Batts Arm; and Fogo Island Saltfire Pottery in Barr’d Islands.

Where to Eat on Fogo Island

For a small community, Fogo Island has a surprising number of restaurants and cafes. And many of them are really good!

Bangbelly Bistro: Run by ex-chefs from the Fogo Island Inn, this restaurant in the town of Fogo was by far the best restaurant I ate at in Newfoundland. I liked it so much, that I ate there twice. They serve unique, modern takes on traditional Newfoundland food. (The restaurant is named after a classic Newfoundland dessert that includes salt pork. Trust me – it’s delicious despite the inclusion of meat!)

Punch Buggy: Owned by the same people as Bangbelly, this take-out spot in the town of Fogo has great coffee and breakfast sandwiches. They also make pizza.

Growler’s Ice Cream: This ice cream parlour in Joe Batt’s Arm has a line out of the door on sunny days. It’s run by the Shorefast Foundation.

Rock Bridge Cafe: A cute cafe in Tilting with baked goods, coffee, and soup. They also have lots of historical memorabilia on the walls.

The Storehouse: A restaurant in Joe Batt’s Arm specializing in locally sourced ingredients, run by the Shorefast Foundation. I didn’t have time to eat here, but I’ve heard good things.

Kwang Tung: Proof that hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurants are in every small town in North America, although this is perhaps the most remote example. I didn’t eat here, but I did enjoy the chapter about this restaurant in Chop Suey Nation, Ann Hui’s excellent book about Chinese-Canadian restaurants.

Where to Stay on Fogo Island

From camping to all-inclusive luxury, the accommodation options on Fogo Island run the gamut. The number of lodging options is increasing, but there still aren’t that many choices. Reserve before you come.

Fogo Island Inn: If you want to splurge, this is the place. Impeccable service, incredible architecture, all-inclusive activities – it’s got it all. Check rates.

Old Salt Boxes: There are a few traditional Newfoundland fishermen’s houses that have been converted to vacation rentals. Mary’s Place in Fogo and the Family Cottage in Joe Batt’s Arm are good options. Check rates.

Peg’s Place: This cozy guesthouse in the town of Fogo is a popular choice. Check rates.

Brimstone Head RV Park: Waterfront campground next to Brimstone Head. We stayed here in our tent and loved the views. Check rates.

Final Thoughts

Fogo Island is one of my favourite places in Newfoundland and, to be honest, one of the most unique places I have ever visited. I wish I had spent more time there! While it may be a bit of a pain to get to, I think that’s what helps it feel so special.

If you’re planning a trip to Fogo and have questions, let me know in the comments – I’d love to help.

READ NEXT:

• 20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland
• 12 Things To Do in Trinity, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Bonavista, Newfoundland
• 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park
• 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland

The post Things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Along with Trinity and Bonavista, Twillingate is one of the most popular old fishing towns to visit in Newfoundland. However, unlike the former two, Twillingate has a different feel. I think geography plays a big part in that – the town sits at the edge of an archipelago of tiny islands that was dotted with tiny water-access-only fishing villages before roads were built in the 1950s and 60s.

The landscape is also more rugged and windswept in Twillingate. There are fewer trees and more areas of barren open coast. I find so much beauty in the jagged landscape. It’s also easy to explore since there are so many hiking trails here. I actually spent most of my last visit to Twillingate hiking!

This guide to things to do in Twillingate, Newfoundland includes:

• Twillingate Basics: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go? What’s the weather like? And lots more.
• Map of Twillingate that includes all the places I mention in this post.
• Best things to do in Twillingate: An iconic lighthouse, icebergs, hikes, historic buildings, and lots more.
• Where to stay in Twillingate: My picks for the best hotels and B&Bs.

Planning a trip to Newfoundland? I’ve got a big list of the best things to do Newfoundland plus lots of travel tips for the province.

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: 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

Twillingate Basics

How to Get to Twillingate

Twillingate is located right in the middle of Newfoundland’s north coast. The town is split between North and South Twillingate Islands, which themselves are part of a larger group of islands separated by winding channels and connected by bridges and causeways.

If you’re flying in, Gander is the closest airport at 1.5 hours away by car. St. John’s is a 5-hour drive and Corner Brook is a 4.5 drive. Since it is right in the middle, Twillingate is a great stop on a Newfoundland road trip.

There is no public transportation to Twillingate so you will need to rent a car in Gander, St. John’s, or Corner Brook. You will also want to have a car to get around in Twillingate since most attractions are not within walking distance.

How Long to Spend in Twillingate

I recommend spending at least one day in Twillingate. Since it is a long drive to get there, it makes the most sense to stay overnight. If you are a keen hiker, I would recommend an extra day since Twillingate has some of the best hikes in Newfoundland.

Twillingate is also a great place to stop for the day if you are planning to visit nearby Fogo Island, one of my favourite places in Newfoundland.

Best Time to Go to Twillingate

Summer is the best time to visit Newfoundland, so I recommend going to Twillingate between May and late September. The weather is the warmest and dries at this time of year. It’s also a great time to see whales. If you want to see icebergs, plan your visit for May and June (although icebergs are possible later in the summer too).

If you plan to visit in May, June, or September, check the opening hours of businesses. Most places will be open but may be running at reduced hours until the summer rush in July and August. We visited in early June and a few places were just opening up for summer.

Twillingate Weather

While the summer months are the warmest and sunniest, this is still Newfoundland. Prepare for rain and fog at any time. Pack a rain jacket and a warm jacket like a fleece or lightweight puffy jacket, just in case.

Typical summer temperatures in June, July, and August are between 10 and 20°C (50 to 68°F). Since Twillingate is in the north along the ocean, it also is often very windy, so it can feel colder than it actually is.

History of Twillingate

Twillingate is the traditional territory of the Beothuk and Mi’kma’ki. English fishermen first settled in the area in the 17th century. Twillingate’s location was an important trading centre for the northern shore and Labrador cod fisheries, so the town prospered.

When the cod fishing moratorium came into effect in 1992, the economy of Twillingate suffered, just like almost every other fishing town in Newfoundland. Over the years, Twillingate has pivoted to focus on tourism, capitalizing on its reputation as the iceberg capital of the world.

Twillingate Map

To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Twillingate for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post.

Best Things To Do in Twillingate

Explore the Town

The Twillingate area is quite spread out since it includes several small fishing villages in tiny coves. But the main part of the town is clustered around the bridge over Shoal Tickle that separates North Twillingate Island from South Twillingate Island. There are great views from the bridge as well as various places along the waterfront.

It’s worth wandering along Main Street on North Twillingate to check out some of the local shops. Artisan Market near the bridge was my favourite. It has tons of local quilts, art, books, jewelry, and housewares. They also sell Twillingate Rockcut Trails merch, and as avid hikers, we had to get a hat.

Other good galleries include the Ted Stuckless Driftwood Gallery, Scot’s Pencil Art, and the Twillingate Museum and Craft Shop. They are all on Main Street. Scot’s Pencil Art also has a giant lobster trap you can climb inside for a fun photo op.

Unlike Trinity or Bonavista, Twillingate has only a couple of notable historic buildings. The Masonic Hall on the south side of the bridge and Saint Peter’s Anglican Church are both worth a look. But otherwise, I found that the most interesting part about Twillingate was not the history, but the present.

In some other tourist-focused Newfoundland towns things felt too carefully restored and sanitized (I’m looking at you Trinity), but in Twillingate, things felt more real. People actually live and work here. It was interesting to see the subtle ways that Newfoundland culture is different than the rest of Canada.

One stand-out in Newfoundland culture is the root cellars, dug into the sides of hills to store perishables before refrigeration. While Elliston near Bonavista may call itself the root cellar capital, Twillingate is not far behind, with over 230 root cellars dotting the community.

Long Point Lighthouse

The historic Long Point Lighthouse sits on the northern tip of North Twillingate Island 10 minutes drive from the town of Twilingate. It’s a prominent landmark that you can see from kilometres away – we spotted it from Fogo Island in the east and Brighton in the west.

Built in 1876, the lighthouse still has one lighthouse keeper to manage the light, horns, and associated instruments. The lighthouse still provides guidance for the local fishing fleet. There are exhibits inside about the history of Twillingate and you can also take a tour. The gift shop near the parking lot has the usual souvenirs, but they also sell fudge.

The views from the lookout platform next to the parking area are spectacular. You can look 300 feet down the rocky shoreline below, west along the craggy coastline and north to the open Atlantic Ocean. If you’re lucky (I wasn’t) you can also spot icebergs and whales.

Be sure to stop at the Crow’s Nest Cafe for coffee and a snack on the way back. It is located in the village of Crow Head on the drive to or from the lighthouse.

Nanny’s Hole Hike

Long Point Lighthouse is also the start of several great hiking trails. If you want a short hike, try the hike to Nanny’s Hole – it’s one of my picks for the best hikes in Newfoundland. The trail starts at the Long Point Lighthouse Parking lot.

The path takes you along the top of a rocky bluff with several viewpoints and then steeply down the slope with the help of sets of wooden stairs. At the bottom, you can stroll through meadows and along the headland out to the coast to Nanny’s Hole, a roiling cauldron of seawater trapped between narrow fingers of rock.

If you want to venture further, you can follow the trail south to Sleepy Cove and then to the village of Crow Head.

Look for Icebergs

Twillingate is known as the iceberg capital of the world. You can often see icebergs from land (especially at Long Point Lighthouse), but the best way to see them up close is to take an iceberg boat tour.

For the best chances of seeing an iceberg, visit in May and June. But it is still possible to see bergs later in the season. Even if there are no icebergs around, you can usually see whales and sea birds from the boat tours.

Tragically, there were no icebergs in Twillingate on either of my visits. The first time it was late August and they were gone for the season. The second time it was early June but it was a weird year and there were no icebergs in Twilingate. Despite my bad luck, Twillingate is still the best place to see icebergs in Newfoundland… just not for me. (I did see an iceberg in the tiny town of Brighton though! It’s in the photo below.)

Smith’s Lookout

We stumbled on Smith’s Lookout by accident and I haven’t seen it recommended anywhere else. But we loved this viewpoint. It’s a short (but steep) 15-minute walk up a gravel path from Smith’s Lookout Road at the north end of Twillingate village.

At the top, there is a fishermen’s memorial and incredible views of the town and Twillingate Harbour. A maze of ATV trails leads away from the summit. We had fun exploring and making our own way back to town. There are no trees in this area, so you can always see where you are going. However, I will caution that there are cliffs and steep slopes, so you have to be careful.

Eat Seafood

Twillingate is a great place to eat fresh seafood. We had an amazing dinner at Annie’s Harbour Restaurant. Their airy dining room has a great view of the harbour. (Which shouldn’t be a surprise with a name like that.)

We had the cod tongues as an appetizer and I loved them. They are a bit like calamari – chewy and deep-fried. The cod and scallops we had for dinner were perfectly cooked. And the Newfoundland-shaped shortbread for dessert was fun too.

If you are looking to splurge on a lobster dinner, I’ve heard good things about Doyle Sansome and Sons a 15-minute drive away on New World Island. The restaurant is part of the local lobster pool, which is a holding tank for live lobster, so you know what you eat will be really fresh. They also have a gorgeous deck right on the ocean.

The Rockcut Trails

The Rockcut Trails are a set of community-maintained hiking trails on the east side of South Twillingate Island. The network of paths leads out to the coast from several trailheads and there are even some opportunities for backcountry camping.

We loved the hike out to French Head – it made my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland. The trail starts near the village of Durrell on South Twillingate Island at French Beach. From there, it heads out to a series of beautiful viewpoints on a headland. If you want to hike further, you can continue on to Spiller’s Cove or Codjack’s Cove.

The Rockcut Trails organization also maintains several other good trails in the area, including the Top of Twillingate Trail, which goes to a great viewpoint on South Twillingate Island.

Great Auk Winery

You probably don’t think of wine when you think of Newfoundland, and I didn’t either. It certainly doesn’t have a prime grape-growing climate! But the wines at Great Auk Winery are made with local fruits and berries. They also have cheeky names like “Kiss Me Arse” and “Moose Joose”. The winery is near Durrell, which is a 5-minute drive from Twillingate on South Twillingate Island.

Museums

I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t visit any museums when I was in Twillingate. In my defence, the weather was incredible, so I wanted to spend as much time as possible outside on the hiking trails. But Twillingate does have a few museums that sound worthwhile… especially if the weather is less than awesome.

The Isles Wooden Boat Museum has exhibits about the hand-built wooden boats that were once the lifeblood of Newfoundland’s coastal communities. They also have interactive boat-building demonstrations.

Located on the tip of South Twillingate Island, Prime Berth Twillingate Fishery and Heritage Centre is one-part museum and one-part unabashed tourist trap. Owned and operated by local fisherman David Boyd, it includes all kinds of fishing artifacts and memorabilia, whale skeletons, an underwater camera, a gift and snack shop, and tours that focus on fishing or iceberg spotting.

The Beothuk Interpretation Centre is a Provincial Historic Site that has exhibits and displays about the Beothuk, and Indigenous group that died out sometime between the 1800s and early 1900s due to pressures of European settlers and the introduction of infectious diseases. The museum protects a Beothuk village site from 300 years ago. It is located in Boyd’s Cove, about 35 minutes from Twillingate, so I recommend visiting on your way in our out of town.

Fogo Island

If you’re in the Twillingate area, make time to visit Fogo Island. It takes a while to get to via car and then ferry, but I promise you it’s worth it. Fogo is my favourite place in Newfoundland.

The isolated island is an incredible mix of rugged coastal scenery, old fishing villages, hiking trails, and new-school social-enterprise businesses and artist residences. It’s like nowhere else I’ve ever been and I highly encourage you to visit. I’ve got a whole guide to the best things to do on Fogo Island for you to read through.

Where to Stay in Twillingate

We are outdoorsy people and wanted to save some money, so we camped at Dildo Run Provincial Park on our visit to Twillingate. It’s a 20-minute drive from town, has ocean-front campsites, and costs just $27 a night. The suggestively hilarious name is a great bonus. (For context, a dildo is a wooden oar peg and a run is a stretch of water between islands.)

But if you don’t want to sleep in a tent, Twillingate has lots of hotels and vacation rentals. The Toulinguet Inn sits right on the water in South Twillingate. It has private rooms and a great pebble beach.

Or stay at the Anchor Inn right in Twillingate. It has great views from the rooms and the restaurant since it is across the street from the harbour.

There are also tons of renovated old fishermen’s homes to rent. Gertie’s Place in South Twillingate has an old-school Newfoundland outside with a modern and renovated inside.

Final Thoughts

Twillingate doesn’t have the quaint step-back-in-time atmosphere of Trinity or the deep history of Bonavista, but I think its worth a visit to experience the unique island life of central Newfoundland. And of course, the incredible hiking and the chance to see icebergs are great too.

READ NEXT:

• 20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland
• Things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland
• 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Bonavista, Newfoundland
• 12 Things To Do in Trinity, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park
• 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland

The post 10 Things To Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

The town sits in a protected harbour at the end of a narrow peninsula. Geography constricts the town and keeps it tiny – you are never more than a few hundred meters from anything else. Most of the town’s buildings have been restored and painted in bright colours, making it very picturesque.

After spending a few days in Trinity and nearby Bonavista, I can see why so many people love it so much.

This guide to things to do in Trinity, Newfoundland includes:

• Trinity Basics: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go? What’s the weather like? And lots more.
• Map of Trinity that includes all the places I mention in this post.
• Best things to do in Trinity: Historic sites, theatre, hikes, restaurants, kayaking, whales, and more.
• Where to stay in Trinity: My picks for the best hotels and B&Bs.

Planning a trip to Newfoundland? I’ve got a big list of the best things to do Newfoundland plus lots of travel tips for the province.

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: 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

Trinity Basics

How to Get to Trinity

Trinity is about 2/3 of the way down the Bonavista Peninsula. It’s a 3-hour drive from St. John’s via the Trans Canada Highway and Route 320. You will need to rent a car in St. John’s and drive yourself since there is no public transportation.

How Long to Spend in Trinity

Trinity is not very big, so you can see all the sites in one day. However, I think that eating at the Twine Loft and/or attending a show at the Rising Tide Theatre are must-dos. Since those are evening attractions, it makes sense to spend at least one night in Trinity – I don’t recommend doing a day trip from St. John’s.

Since nearby Bonavista also requires a day or two, I recommend spending two or three nights on the Bonavista Peninsula, splitting your time between Bonavista and Trinity.

Best Time to Go to Trinity

Just like the rest of Newfoundland, mid-June to late September is tourist season in Trinity. The weather is the nicest at this time of year and all of the hotels, restaurants, tour companies and historic sites are open. It’s also the best time to see whales.

When I visited at the beginning of June, some places weren’t open for the season yet. If you visit in May, June, or September, check the opening hours of anywhere you want to visit.

Trinity Weather

Summer weather in Trinity is warmer and drier than the rest of the year. The average temperatures are between 10 and 20°C. June, July, and August get the least rain. However, it can be rainy, foggy, or chilly at any time – the whole time I was in Trinity it was foggy or rainy! Pack a rain jacket and a warm jacket like a fleece or lightweight puffy jacket, just in case.

History of Trinity

Indigenous people have lived in what is now Newfoundland since time immemorial. It is the traditional territory of the Beothuk and Mi’kma’ki. The town got its name because Gaspar Corte-Real, a Portuguese explorer arrived in the bay on Trinity Sunday (the first Sunday after Pentecost) around 1500.

Like most places in Newfoundland, the town of Trinity began as a seasonal fishing station. English fishermen lived here in the summer to be close to the cod fishing grounds just offshore. The first permanent European settlers arrived in the 18th century.

The town quickly prospered and became one of the main merchant fishing towns in Newfoundland, at times exporting up to 30% of the cod caught in the province. But by the mid-19th century, the fishing industry changed. Exports through St. John’s rather than directly from Trinity became more common so the town’s importance declined.

Trinity Map

To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Trinity for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post.

Best Things To Do in Trinity

Explore the Town

The town of Trinity is just is at the top of the must-see list for many visitors to Newfoundland. This picturesque historical fishing town has a huge number of heritage buildings. And unlike many small towns in Newfoundland, most of the town’s buildings are restored.

Trinity is undeniably one of the prettiest places in Newfoundland. It’s also small enough that you can wander through most of the streets in an hour or so, gawking at the adorable and colourful houses. If you want a local to show you around, book the historical walking tour.

While the restored buildings are gorgeous, it also has a bit of Disney Land feel because most of the old houses are now inns, B&Bs, and summer places for wealthy St. John’sers. (That’s what you call someone from St. John’s. Apparently, St. John’san is also correct!) Very few people actually live in Trinity, so it feels much more like a tourist attraction than a town.

However, Trinity is still gorgeous and worth a visit. In addition to the restored houses, don’t miss the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Parish Hall, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, the Courthouse (now a gift shop), and the Lester-Garland Premises. You can go inside the latter two and look at exhibits since they are managed by the Trinity Historical Society.

Climb Gun Hill

Also known as Rider Hill or Ryder Hill, Gun Hill is the prominent hill behind the town. Its name comes from the cannons (guns) placed partway up to protect the town. A trail goes all the way to the peak and also circles the hill. It’s a 3 km loop that takes about an hour.

But you only have to go a short way up to a viewing platform just above the cemetery to get a great view of the town. In my opinion, it is the BEST view in Trinity. It’s a stiff climb, but it only takes a few minutes.

You can access the trail from Courthouse Road or Victoria Lane. A quick note: while both of these look like gravel roads, don’t drive on them. They are trails for ATVs and hikers. (Embarrassingly, we found this out through trial and error. Thankfully, our rental car was fine!)

Rising Tide Theatre

The Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity puts on several Newfoundland-themed plays each year at their indoor theatre. They also offer a popular walking tour/theatre combo called the Trinity Pageant where you follow a route through town, meeting various characters along the way. I really wanted to attend the pageant, but it wasn’t offered on the night we were in town.

Go Kayaking

Trinity is a great place to go kayaking since the town sits on a huge sheltered bay. Trinity Eco-Tours offers guided kayak tours in Trinity Bight. Whale and puffin sightings are also possible. I wanted to go kayaking, but it was pretty rainy on the day that I visited.

Take a Whale-Watching and Iceberg Tour

Trinity Eco-Tours also offers whale-watching and iceberg tours on fun and fast zodiacs. You can see whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, and lots of seabirds. And if you visit earlier in the season you also have a great chance of spotting icebergs.

Eat at the Twine Loft

The Twine Loft has a reputation as one of the best restaurants in Newfoundland, or at least one of the best outside of St. John’s. It’s a fine-dining three-course set menu experience. Reservations are required and I recommend booking at least one or two weeks in advance.

The setting is gorgeous, in an old fishing building (a twine loft in fact!) right on the water. On our visit, the service and ambiance were great. The food was good, but not outstanding. I’m not sure if we caught them on an off-night or if the restaurant was hyped up too much and our expectations were too high. In any case, I still recommend eating here if you’re in the area.

Enjoy the Views at the Dock Marina

If you’re looking for a more casual meal, head to the Dock Marina, where they specialize in fish and chips, burgers, and more. They have a great patio that overlooks the dock for Trinity Eco-Tours.

Get a Sweet Treat

Trinity is the home of both Sweet Rock Ice Cream and Aunt Sarah’s Chocolate – they have the same owners. While they have a storefront on Water Street in St. John’s, the artisanal chocolate and ice cream are all made right here in Trinity. They make some fabulous only-in-Newfoundland flavours like partridgeberry.

Trinity Lighthouse at Fort Point

The lighthouse at Fort Point sits on a narrow finger of land that juts out into Trinity Bight. The lighthouse and fort are a historic site with info boards. But the main reason to visit is the view. You can look across to the Skerwink Trail, back to Trinity inside the bay, and out to the wild Atlantic Ocean.

Explore Port Rexton

Port Rexton is the next town over from Trinity and unlike Trinity, people actually live there. It’s not as pretty as Trinity, but it is much more real. There isn’t much going for tourists but Port Rexton Brewing is worth a visit if you like craft beer. Two Whales Coffee Shop in Port Rexton also has great coffee and a lovely lunch menu. I had a great bowl of vegetable soup to warm me up after our soggy Skerwink Trail hike.

Hike the Skerwink Trail

The Skerwink Trail is a spectacular loop hike that follows sea cliffs around a headland in Port Rexton, a town next to Trinity. Lots of people say it is the best hike in Newfoundland and it made my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland.

However, the day that I hiked, it was pouring rain so I didn’t love it as much as I could have. However, the coastal views were incredible, despite the rain and fog. Hike Discovery have put a lot of work into maintaining the path. But you’ll still need to watch out for muddy bits.

Visit Bonavista

The town of Bonavista is 45 minutes away at the end of the Bonavista Peninsula. It’s a much bigger town than Trinity, and it also has lots of fascinating historical buildings and an iconic lighthouse. But my favourite reason to visit Bonavista is because nearby Elliston is the best place to see puffins on land in Newfoundland. If you stand still, they will waddle right up to you!

Where to Stay in Trinity and Port Rexton

I have to be honest and say that we were on a budget during this part of our trip so we camped at Lockston Path Provincial Park. It has a quiet riverside campground in the forest and it’s an easy 20-minute drive to Trinity via the gravel Stock Cove Road. Campsites are just $27 per night.

However, there are lots of great hotels and B&Bs in Trinity. The Artisan Inn has rooms in several historic properties in Trinity, including at the Twine Loft. The Eriksen Premises offers B&B rooms in a heritage building that used to be a general store.

There are also tons of Airbnb-style vacation rentals in Trinity and Port Rexton. This brightly-painted cottage is right in the heart of Trinity. Or get a great ocean view at this three-bedroom cottage.

Final Thoughts

No matter whether you think that Trinity is quaint and charming or a sanitized Newfoundland-style Disney Land, there is no arguing with the fact that Trinity is gorgeous. It’s worth a visit to stroll the streets and step back in time. And of course, you can’t leave the area without visiting Bonavista!

Do you have questions about the best things to do in Trinity? Leave me a comment so I can help out.

READ NEXT:

• 20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Bonavista, Newfoundland
• 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland
• Things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park
• 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland

The post 12 Things To Do in Trinity, Newfoundland appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

While other towns in Newfoundland like Trinity or Twillingate are tourist favourites thanks to their picturesque settings, Bonavista has my heart. It’s my favourite town in the province since it just feels… real.

It’s a mix of newly restored and falling down buildings. It has tons of history. While it has lots of shops, restaurants, hotels, and attractions for tourists, it also feels like a real town where about 3000 Newfoundlanders live and work.

The other big reason you will love Bonavista is the puffins! There are three different places to see puffins from land near the town, including by far the best puffin colony in Newfoundland. I love these cute and clumsy little birds and could watch them for hours.

This guide to things to do in Bonavista, Newfoundland includes:

• Bonavista Basics: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go? What’s the weather like? And lots more.
• Map of Bonavista that includes all the places I mention in this post.
• Best things to do in Bonavista: Historic sites, a lighthouse, hikes, shops, puffins, and more.
• Where to eat in Bonavista: Restaurants that I recommend.
• Where to stay in Bonavista: My picks for the best hotels and B&Bs.

Planning a trip to Newfoundland? I’ve got a big list of the best things to do Newfoundland plus lots of travel tips for the province.

Hey there: 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

Bonavista Basics

How to Get to Bonavista

The town of Bonavista is at the end of the Bonavista Peninsula. It’s a 3.5-hour drive from St. John’s via the Trans Canada Highway and Newfoundland Route 230. There is no public transportation in this area so you will need to rent a car in St. John’s and drive yourself.

The Trans Canada Highway is smooth and easy to drive, but Route 230 has lots of potholes and bumps. Go slow and enjoy the drive! The main attractions on the Peninsula are clustered together near the end between Trinity and Bonavista, which are 45 minutes apart.

How Long to Spend in Bonavista

I recommend spending at least one night in Bonavista. And in general you’ll want to spend at least two or three nights on the Bonavista Peninsula so you can visit both Bonavista and and nearby Trinity, plus take some short hikes or a boat tour.

You can see a few of the major sites in a single day, but you will be very rushed and spend a lot of time driving.

Best Time to Go to Bonavista

The main tourist season in Bonavista is from mid-June to late September. That is when the weather is the nicest and all of the hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and historic sites are open. It’s also when the puffins are nesting.

I visited at the beginning of June and a few places weren’t open yet for the year, or had just opened. If you plan to visit in May, June, or September, check the opening hours of key attractions before you go.

Bonavista Weather

Summer in Bonavista has great weather… by Newfoundland standards. The average temperatures are between 10 and 20°C. June, July, and August get the least rain. However, it can be rainy, foggy, or chilly at any time. Pack a rain jacket and a warm jacket like a fleece or lightweight puffy jacket, just in case.

History of Bonavista

Bonavista is an important place because it is the site of one of the earliest known European exploratory voyages to North America. John Cabot (or Giovanni Caboto), an Italian explorer sailing for England, landed here in 1497. He was so happy to see land that he allegedly said “O buon vista”, which translates to “Oh, happy sight”.

Side note: If I’m going to talk about European explorers and their voyages of so-called “discovery”, I need to point out that Indigenous people have lived here since time immemorial. Newfoundland is the traditional territory of the Beothuk and Mi’kma’ki.

In the decades that followed Cabot’s visit, Bonavista became an important fishing town since it is close to the offshore fishing grounds. The town boomed and busted along with the success of the fishery. At one time it was one of the biggest cities in Newfoundland with about 20,000 residents.

Today it is mostly a tourist town with about 3,000 inhabitants, but the fishing legacy lives on in the form of many historic sites and buildings.

Bonavista Map

To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Bonavista for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post.

Best Things To Do in Bonavista

Cape Bonavista Lighthouse

The Cape Bonavista Lighthouse is an easy 10-minute drive north of Bonavista. It is one of Newfoundland’s most iconic buildings, with its distinctive red and white stripes. We saw several houses on the Bonavista Peninsula with mini Cape Bonavista Lighthouse-shaped mailboxes!

The lighthouse is a provincial historic site and you can visit the exhibits inside for $6 per person. But exploring the grounds is free. On my last visit, it was really foggy, which meant that I didn’t get the classic shot of the gorgeous lighthouse.

But it did make for some really beautiful moody vibes when we walked over to the nearby coast on the northeast side of the lighthouse. We could see the waves breaking against the rocks. And the little island just offshore is a puffin colony, so we could see puffins flapping away through the fog.

The foghorn was also blaring at the lighthouse – a great reminder that this is still a working building! A family of foxes was living in the rocks on the west side of the lighthouse and watching the fox kits play was adorable! They didn’t seem to mind the foghorn: I guess it’s all they know!

Admire the Adorable Buildings

The historic centre of Bonavista is a great place to go for a wander. The streets seem to wind and crisscross each other in unexpected ways, so you never know where you will end up. (But don’t worry – there is a cell service so you can always count on Google Maps to put you back on track.)

My favourite area was around Church Street and along the waterfront. We loved looking at all the historic buildings and brightly painted houses. In the last few years, many of the old buildings have been restored as tourist rental accommodation, but there are still lots of old buildings in various states of beautiful decay.

A few buildings you might want to gawk at include the Garrick Theatre, Memorial United Church, Alexander Chapel of All Souls, and the Loyal Orange Lodge.

Go Shopping

Bonavista has a few cute boutiques that are worth a look. Most of them are on Church Street. Artistry on Church has lots of unique artisanal crafts, books, art, and more.

East Coast Glow makes incredible soaps, shampoos, and skincare from foraged sustainable ingredients. A few of the hotels we stayed in across Newfoundland (including the Russelltown Inn in Bonavista) had East Coast Glow products in their bathrooms. I loved their mint and rosemary iceberg-infused shampoo!

Aunt Sarah’s Chocolate Shop makes incredible hand-crafted chocolates in nearby Trinity, but they also have a location (and ice cream shop) in Bonavista.

Walk the Old Day’s Pond Boardwalk

If you want a quick leg-stretcher, walk the one-kilometre boardwalk around Old Day’s Pond. It has great views of some of the colourful buildings. If you want to walk a little further, you can follow the path along the creek out to the ocean near the Mockbeggar Plantation.

Visit a Historic Site

Since it dates back to 1497, it’s no surprise that Bonavista has quite a few historic sites. The most popular one is the Ryan Premises National Historic Site of Canada. I visited this site on my first trip to Bonavista and learned a lot. It has extensive exhibits about the 500-year history of fishing in Newfoundland, housed in 19th-century buildings.

The Mockbeggar Plantation is a provincial historic site that was an important part of Bonavista’s history. Today you can visit several buildings including a fish store, carpentry shop, cod-liver-oil factory and a historic home, restored to the 1939 Confederation question era. Guided tours are available. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit on my last visit to Bonavista.

The Matthew Legacy is a full-scale reproduction of John Cabot’s ship, the Matthew, that landed here in 1497. Built in 1997 to commemorate 500 years since Cabot’s arrival, the ship floats in its own boat bay in the harbour. You can take a guided tour of the ship that explains what life was like for sailors in the late 1400s.

Dungeon Provincial Park

Dungeon Provincial Park is located a few minutes northeast of Bonavista. You can get there via Dungeon Road (also known as Lance Cove Road) from Bonavista in the south or Bonavista Lighthouse in the North. The road is gravel, but it is fine for all cars.

The small park includes a spectacular crater and sea caves. From the viewing platform, you can look down into the crater as the ocean rushes in through two sinuous sea caves. Informal walking paths through the grass take you to clifftop viewpoints. But be careful near the edges!

On my first trip we didn’t know about Dungeon Provincial Park and I can’t believe we missed it. This spot was much more spectacular than I expected.

Town of Elliston Root Cellars

Elliston is a tiny fishing village 10 minutes from Bonavista on Route 238. Like most small fishing towns in Newfoundland, it is pretty cute. However, it is nicknamed the root cellar capital of the world with over 100 root cellars dug into hillsides throughout the town.

In the days before refrigeration, locals kept food cold year-round in underground root cellars. You are welcome to explore any unlocked root cellar in the town. Once you see what the root cellars look like, you’ll be spotting them in communities all over the Bonavista Peninsula. My husband and I made a game of it in the car, racing to see who could spot old root cellars in people’s yards as we drove past.

If you want coffee or a snack, visit The Puffin Cafe on Maberly Road. We stopped in to warm up on a cold day. Their partridgeberry tart was delicious! And the puffin-shaped chairs are adorable.

Elliston Puffin Viewing Site

The main reason to visit Elliston is to go to the puffin viewing site – it’s by far the best place to see puffins on land in Newfoundland. There are puffin tours to islands near St. John’s but those are boat tours where you can’t go ashore. In Elliston, you can see puffins up close… like sometimes they land right next you close!

The puffins nest on a rock islet just offshore between May and September. To find the viewing site, drive a few minutes down Maberly Road from Elliston. You’ll see the entrance to the site on your left – there is a parking lot one minute further on your right.

To see the puffins, follow the sometimes muddy path through the grass for five minutes to the end of the peninsula. You can look across the narrow channel to the puffins nesting on the island. And if you’re patient, some of them will land on the peninsula right in front of you!

Give the puffins lots of space to waddle around wherever they want. Resist the urge to get too close – you’ll scare them away. Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens are a good idea, but I was able to get some good photos with just my phone!

Visiting the puffin site is free, but donations are appreciated. You can leave them in a box near the site entrance.

Hike The Chimney/Klondike Trail in Spillar’s Cove

If you’re looking for a short and easy hike with a great payoff, try the path to the Chimney on the Klondike Trail – it made my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland. It starts in Spillar’s Cove, about 5 minutes from Bonavista via Route 235.

The Klondike Trail is actually an old horse and cart route between Spillar’s Cove and Elliston. You can hike the entire 6.5 km length in about 2 hours. The Klondike Trail is part of the Hike Discovery trail system that includes nine trails along the Bonavista Peninsula.

But if you want a shorter and easier walk, stop at the first view of the coast where you can marvel at The Chimney, an impressive rock spire. The hike to the Chimney is just 2 km round-trip and takes about 45 minutes.

There is also a puffin colony on an islet just offshore here. The puffins aren’t quite as close as at Elliston, but you might have them all to yourself.

Visit the Town of Trinity

The cute historic town of Trinity is 45 minutes south of Bonavista via Route 230 and Route 239. It is famous for its huge number of historic buildings, and unlike Bonavista, most of them are restored. It’s worth a visit to wander through the town, go to the Rising Tide Theatre, and hike the Skerwink Trail, another one of my picks for the best hikes in Newfoundland.

Where to Eat in Bonavista

Bonavista is a small place so there aren’t that many restaurants to choose from. Thankfully, there are a few gems.

We had a great meal at Ragged Rocks Gastropub on Church Street. Their seafood chowder was one of the best I’ve ever had – such huge scallops! My husband also enjoyed the moose burger.

Dinner at Mifflin’s Tea Room was also great. It has an old-school, grandma’s front room kind of vibe… probably because it is located in the front of an old house. This is the place to go if you want to try traditional Newfoundland food. I had some great fishcakes and my husband had a huge plate of fisherman’s brewis, which is cooked hard bread with cod and scrunchions. It has a mashed potatoes with bacon feel… but with cod too.

There are a few other restaurants in Bonavista that we didn’t have time to try. The Boreal Diner gets good reviews for its casual fine-dining menu, but it was closed the night we visited. The Quintal Cafe also sounds yummy.

Where to Stay in Bonavista

We stayed at the Russelltown Inn, which was amazing. The inn is actually spread out over several historic homes that have been lovingly restored and modernized. It has a great location just around the corner from all the shops and restaurants on Church Street.

Our room had the most adorable wallpaper. I found out later that the print is called Bonavista Houses and the artist lives in Bonavista.

I’ve also heard good things about the Harbour Quarters Inn, which is next door to the Ryan Premises. The inn is a historic building on the waterfront that was restored in 2004.

The Bird Island B&B in Elliston gets great reviews. It’s one block from the Puffin Cafe and a short walk or drive to the puffin viewing site.

Final Thoughts

Bonavista is my favourite town in Newfoundland and I hope you’ll love it as much as I do. I don’t work for the tourist office, but if I did, I would say that Bonavista’s motto should be “Come for the puffins, stay for the historical ambiance.” And of course, if you’re going to visit Bonavista, you have to visit Trinity too!

If you have questions about things to do in Bonavista, leave them in the comments. I’d love to help.

READ NEXT:

• 20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland
• 12 Things To Do in Trinity, Newfoundland
• 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland
• Things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park
• 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland

The post 10 Things To Do in Bonavista, Newfoundland appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Even though a quarter of Newfoundlanders live in St. John’s, it’s not a huge city. It has a population of just 113,000. But thanks to its history as a British colony (it didn’t join Canada until 1949) and its geographic isolation from Canada, Newfoundland has a unique culture that really shines through in St. John’s.

The city has a compact downtown that is easy to explore on foot and feels like history is around every corner – many of the places I recommend in this post are National or Provincial historic sites! Between the historic stone buildings and brightly painted Victorian townhouses, St. John’s is one of the cutest cities I’ve visited.

This guide to things to do in St. John’s, Newfoundland includes:

• St. John’s Basics: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go? What’s the weather like? And lots more.
• Map of St. John’s that includes all the places I mention in this post.
• Best things to do in St. John’s: Museums, cute fishing villages, historic sites, viewpoints, hikes, and more.
• Where to stay in St. John’s: My picks for the best hotels and B&Bs.

Planning a trip to Newfoundland? I’ve got a big list of the best things to do Newfoundland plus lots of travel tips for the province.

Hey there: Thanks so much to Destination St. John’s for hosting a few of my activities during my second trip to St. John’s. All opinions in this post are my own. 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

St. John’s Basics

How to Get to St. John’s

St. John’s is located on the East Coast of Newfoundland. Most visitors fly into St. John’s International Airport, a 15-minute drive from downtown.

You can also get to Newfoundland via Marine Atlantic ferry from Nova Scotia. The ferry terminal is in Argentia, a 1.5-hour drive from St. John’s.

Getting Around in St. John’s

Downtown St. John’s is very compact and walkable, as long as you are okay with hills and stairs. Parking downtown can be hard to find, so it’s best to walk. You can also take a taxi or an Uber.

Depending on your capacity for walking, some of the landmarks close to downtown are also easy to reach on foot. Quidi Vidi, Signal Hill, and the Johnson Geo Centre are 45 minutes to 1 hour walk from downtown. If you’re venturing further out to Cape Spear, Petty Harbour, and Bay Bulls for a whale and puffin tour, you will need a car or to go with a tour.

On my most recent trip, I did a city tour with McCarthy’s Party Tours that included Cape Spear, Petty Harbour, Signal Hill, and Quidi Vidi. The driver shared all kinds of fun facts with us and I think its the best way to see the main sights if you have limited time.

You can also book tours to Bay Bulls for whale and puffin watching that include transportation from St. John’s.

How Long to Spend in St. John’s

After visiting St. John’s twice, I would recommend you spend at least two or three days in the city. That’s enough time to visit the key sights and museums. If you want to visit some of the attractions outside of the city, such as Cape Spear or whale and puffin tours in Bay Bulls, allow yourself an extra day.

Best Time to Go to St. John’s

Summer in St. John’s is roughly mid-June to early September and is the best time to visit because the weather is the nicest and you’ll be able to see puffins and whales. However, as long as you are prepared for rough weather, you can visit St. John’s at any time of year.

St. John’s Weather

The weather in St. John’s can be all over the place, even in summer. Average summer temperatures are between 10 and 20°C. Temperatures the rest of the year are usually between -9 and 16°C. June, July and August are the driest months.

Although it is often gorgeously sunny here, it also rains frequently, especially in the spring, fall, and winter. Fog and wind are also common, making it feel much cooler than it is. Pack a rain jacket and a warm jacket like a fleece or lightweight puffy jacket, just in case.

Newfoundland Time Zone

You might be surprised to hear that Newfoundland has its own time zone. And you might not believe me if I tell you that is 30 minutes ahead of Atlantic time (1.5 hours ahead of Eastern time), but it’s true!

When time zones were established, Newfoundland was its own Dominion (it hadn’t joined Canada yet), so they got to choose, and that’s what they picked.

St. John’s Map

To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of St. John’s for you. It includes every single place I mention in this post.

Best Things To Do in St. John’s

St. John’s is a small city, so it’s easy to see it in a few days. I’ve listed my picks for the best things to do below starting with things in the downtown core and branching out from there. Most things are with walking distance and the farthest attration is a 30 minute drive away.

Admire the Houses on Jelly Bean Row

Jelly Bean Row refers to the brightly coloured Victorian row houses in St. John’s. An urban legend says that the houses were painted rainbow colours to make it easier for fishermen to find them in the fog.

However, that’s not true – before the 1960s and 70s, most houses in St. John’s were painted white because that was the cheapest colour! It seems that the bright colours were part of a downtown revitalization scheme. In any case, they are gorgeous.

There is no specific Jelly Bean Row street – instead, you’ll need to wander around downtown admiring the houses. However, you can find some of the best ones on any of the streets uphill from Duckworth Street. In particular, I recommend checking out Gower Street, Bannerman Street, Colonial Street, Kings Road and Victoria Street.

Stroll Down Water Street

Water Street is the heart of St. John’s. Part of the street is a National Historic Site of Canada to recognize the city’s mercantile history in the mid-19th century. Today you can stroll down Water Street and admire the historic buildings alongside modern structures.

Water Street is also the best place to shop for cheesy souvenirs or browse boutiques selling local and artisanal goods. I recommend Newfoundland Weavery for handmade goods, and The Bee’s Knees for sustainable products.

You will also find most of St. John’s restaurants along Water Street. For laid-back vibes, I recommend Yellowbelly Brewery, a microbrewery with good pub food. If you want coffee and a sandwich, Rocket Bakery is excellent. Adelaide Oyster House has a hip atmosphere, fresh oysters, and great fusion small plates. And while I didn’t have time to visit, my friend raved about the foodie-focused fine dining at Terre.

Get Screeched in on George Street

George Street is the center of St. John’s nightlife. It’s tiny, at just two blocks long, but it’s dense – every single business is a bar and as the night wears on, the revelry overflows onto the street.

Getting “screeched in” is a Newfoundland tradition meant to welcome non-Newfoundlanders, known as “Come From Aways” in Newfoundland English. The best place to get screeched in is the bars of George Street. Christian’s Pub is particularly popular.

Screech is the Newfoundland name for high-alcohol spirits, usually dark rum. The “screeching in” process has several steps. Fist, you kiss a codfish (it’s usually frozen), and then take a shot of screech. There’s also a short recitation about loving Newfoundland. In some places, you finish by eating a cube of bologna, nicknamed Newfoundland steak. When you’re finished, you’ll get a souvenir certificate.

It’s a silly tradition and is mostly for tourists, but it’s still lots of fun. I got screeched in on my first trip to Newfoundland and I have to say that kissing the cod isn’t as gross as the Sourtoe Cocktail, which I did in Dawson City Yukon, a few years later.

Walk Along the Harbour

St. John’s is a port city. Most of the island’s goods are shipped through here and it’s also a hub for ships supplying the offshore oil and gas industry. It’s worth a walk along the harbourfront to check out the action. If you’re curious about where the ships are going, you can look them up on Vessel Finder.

Due to security, you can’t get up close to the ships. But you can walk along Harbour Drive and check out the huge ships through the railing. Or head to Harbourside Park on Water Street. It’s the only place you get all the way down to the water and is my favourite place to look out at the harbour. It also has great statues of a Newfoundland dog and a Labrador retriever dog.

Admire the Historic Architecture

St. Johns is one of the oldest settler-founded cities in North America. It was seasonally settled in 1497 and formally established in 1583. While most of the city’s buildings aren’t quite that old, there are lots of notable historic structures.

Finished in 1855, Basilica of St. John the Baptist sits on a hill high above the city on Military Road near The Rooms Museum. It is a National Historic Site of Canada and is built in the Romanesque style. It is the second-largest church in Canada.

The Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is also worth a visit. Located on Gower Street, it dates back to 1850 and has Gothic Revival architecture.

The St. John’s Courthouse on Water Street is also a National Historic Site of Canada. Finished in 1904, the stone building was designed in the Romanesque Revival style

You can also stroll around Government House, which sits in the middle of sprawling grounds and gardens on Military Road. It is the home of the Lieutenant Government of Newfoundland.

Visit the Newman Wine Vaults

The Newman Wine Vaults is a provincial historic site that’s worth a visit. The legend is that a Portuguese ship loaded with port ended up overwintering in St. John’s in the late 1600s. The port tasted better after aging in Newfoundland, so Newman and Company of England built stone wine vaults and aged their port in Newfoundland for nearly 300 years.

My husband visited the wine vaults during our last trip to Newfoundland while I was at a conference. He said the guided tour was really interesting and he loved the free sample of port at the end.

Learn About Newfoundland’s History at the Colonial Building

Dating back to 1850, the Colonial Building housed the colonial government before Newfoundland joined Canada. Today, it is a provincial historic site that you can visit on a guided tour. A recent renovation has restored some of the rooms to their 1880s finishes including some elaborate ceiling frescos.

This is another spot that my husband visited without me while I was at a conference. He came back with all kinds of facts about the history of Newfoundland that I didn’t know. As Canadians, our education about Newfoundland starts in 1949 when it voted to join Canada. But they have a long and interesting history as a British Colony and then as a Dominion that you can learn about here.

Enjoy Dinner and a Show at Spirit of Newfoundland

I’m not usually a dinner-and-a-show kind of gal when I’m travelling. But on my most recent visit to St. John’s, I attended a conference where Spirit of Newfoundland provided the entertainment on two of the nights and it was great.

Music is such a huge part of Newfoundland’s culture, and this is a great way to experience it. Spirit of Newfoundland has several different productions, each with a live band, skits, singers, and a three-course dinner. You’ll learn a bit about Newfoundland and laugh a lot.

Wander Through The Rooms Museum

The Rooms is the largest museum and art gallery in Newfoundland. The building is designed to look like a giant version of the fishing shacks that traditionally dotted Newfoundland’s shoreline. These shacks were known as fishing rooms, which explains the museum’s name.

I made time to visit The Rooms on both of my visits to Newfoundland, and I really enjoyed it. The exhibits about Newfoundland’s history are well done. As I mentioned, as a Western Canadian, I don’t know that much about Newfoundland and it was fascinating to discover the way their colonial and fishing history has shaped their culture.

The museum also has several art galleries showcasing the works of Newfoundland artists. I enjoyed these spaces way more than I thought. Altocumulus by Max Streicher was particularly cool – it’s a billowing sculpture of clouds that you can walk under.

One of the best reasons to visit The Rooms is the incredible view from the terraces on the fourth floor. Be sure to visit both the north and south terraces since they have different perspectives on the city.

Explore the Battery Neighbourhood

The Battery is one of St. John’s most interesting neighbourhoods. (In Newfoundland English it’s pronounced “batt-ree” not “bat-ter-ee”.) The entire neighbourhood clings to the side of Signal Hill on the side of a cliff.

Historically this area was an important part of the city’s defense. There were gun emplacements here and at one time, a defensive chain stretched 174 meters across the harbour’s mouth.

I loved wandering between the colourful houses, taking photos, and enjoying the view of the harbour below. It’s also the start of the North Head Trail to Signal Hill. (More on that hike below.) Stop at The Battery Cafe for coffee and a muffin. They also have live music a few nights a week.

Enjoy the View at Signal Hill

Signal Hill stands out from most places in St. John’s. The 167-meter-tall hill has a commanding view of downtown St. John’s, the harbour, the narrows, and the wild Atlantic Ocean beyond. Historically it was strategically important for the defense of the city.

Most of the hill is a Canadian National Historic Site and there are info boards along the various paths that explain the history of the hill. The stone Cabot Tower on top of the Hill also has some good interpretive displays. Until 1958, the flag poles on the top of the tower were used to communicate with ships offshore by raising and lowering different coded flags.

While the history of Signal Hill is interesting, the reason most people visit is the incredible view. Be sure to walk the paths around the summit and down to the Queen’s Battery – they all have different views.

Hike the North Head Trail

The North Head Trail takes you up and around Signal Hill. The hike starts right from downtown St. John’s, in the Battery neighbourhood. From there, you hike through the narrows and then start your ascent of Signal Hill on several sets of wooden stairs.

There are lots of incredible viewpoints along the way and even a set of iconic Parks Canada red chairs to take a break at. I loved this trail and it made my list of the best hikes in Newfoundland.

The North Head Trail is actually part of two much longer trail systems. It sits roughly in the middle of the 270-kilometre-long East Coast Trail that follows the East Coast of the Avalon Peninsula. The North Head Trail is also part of the Trans Canada Trail, which meanders 28,000 km across Canada.

Go Underground at the Johnson Geo Centre

On my first visit to Newfoundland, we visited the Johnson Geo Centre. Most the building is underground, carved into the rocks of Signal Hill. The exhibits explain Newfoundland’s geology (including why it is nicknamed “The Rock”) along with info about the solar system, the formation of the earth, and Newfoundland’s oil and gas industry.

Visit Quidi Vidi Village

Pronounced “kiddy viddy” in Newfoundland English, Quidi Vidi is an old fishing village right next to downtown St. John’s. It’s an easy 45-minute walk along Quidi Vidi Lake to get there. You can also take a taxi or bus route 15 or visit as part of a city tour. There isn’t much parking, so it’s best to go car-free.

Stroll along the water to admire the picturesque old fishing shacks, many of which are now summer cottages. Go for a beer at Quidi Vidi Brewery, a craft brewery inside a former fish plant. Shop at the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios. Or go for a high-end dinner at The Mallard Cottage, a historic home that is now one of Canada’s best restaurants.

Stand on the Eastern-Most Point in Canada at Cape Spear

Cape Spear is the easternmost point in Canada and North America (excluding Greenland). It’s a 20-minute drive from downtown St. John’s. There is no public transport so you’ll need to drive yourself or take a tour to get there.

There are several viewpoints where you can look out at the ocean or down the rocky coast. It’s also worth following the footpaths around the site to see the view from different angles.

The lighthouse at Cape Spear is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Canada and is a National Historic Site of Canada. You can take a guided tour to learn about what life for the lighthouse keepers would have been like. As well, it was an important defensive gun battery during World War II and you can still walk through the underground bunkers.

The viewpoint at Cape Spear.

Explore an Old Fishing Village at Petty Harbour

The tiny (and adorable) village of Petty Harbour is just down the road from Cape Spear, so it makes sense to visit both at once. Spend a few minutes wandering along the waterfront where you can watch lobster fishermen unload their catch.

Get a meal at Chafe’s Landing restaurant. It’s one of the best places to eat freshly caught seafood (especially fish and chips or lobster rolls) in the St. John’s area.

Take a Whale and Puffin Tour in Bay Bulls

Bay Bulls is an easy 30-minute drive south of downtown. It’s the closest place to St. John’s to take boat tours in Witless Bay Ecological Reserve where you can spot whales, puffins, and lots of other seabirds.

Boat tours run several times a day between May and September and some include transportation from St. John’s. We did this tour on our first trip to Newfoundland and that’s when I fell in love with puffins. (It was my first time seeing them.)

You will see puffins or other seabirds on all tours. But of course, but whale sightings aren’t guaranteed. The best time to see whales is July and August. And if you visit in the spring and early summer, you might also see icebergs.

Pro tip: If you’re prone to motion sickness, bring some Dramamine (sold under the brand name Gravol in Canada).

Eat Seafood

Newfoundland exists because of the cod fishery. Cod (and to a lesser extent lobster) are king here, and you’ll be missing out if you don’t try some. You can get cod any time of year, but lobster is only in season between April and July.

Many Newfoundlanders don’t really like fish that much, and aren’t into lobster since historically it was a lower-class food. But they do love fish and chips. There is a fierce debate about where to get the best fish and chips in St. John’s. But most people will agree that either the Duke of Duckworth, Ches’ Famous Fish and Chips or Leo’s Restaurant is the best.

If you’re looking for a classic poached lobster dinner, head to the St. John’s Fish Exchange Kitchen and Wet Bar or Saltwater Restaurant, both on Water Street.

It’s a bit out of town, but Chafe’s Landing restaurant is known for their lobster rolls. (That’s a lobster salad sandwich served on a dinner roll.)

You’ll also find great seafood on the menu at pretty much any restaurant in the city. Locally grown mussels and scallops are great, either on their own, in pasta, or in seafood chowder. If you’re feeling a little bit adventurous, try the deep-fried cod tongues. They have a bit of a calamari vibe.

Where to Stay in St. John’s

St. John’s has tons of accommodation options from huge international chains to boutique hotels to quaint vacation rentals. Here are a few places I recommend:

Alt Hotel: With modern rooms (many with great views) and a great location on Water Street, Alt Hotel is the coolest hotel in St. John’s. Check rates.

Murray Premises: Set inside a collection of historic mercantile buildings in the heart of downtown, some rooms at the Murray Premises have original details like exposed brick and wooden beams. Check rates.

Jellybean Row Townhouse: Many of the colourful townhouses on Jellybean Row are Airbnb vacation rental apartments with full kitchens and hang-out spaces. Check rates.

Final Thoughts

If you’re visiting Newfoundland, devote a few days to St. John’s. It’s a small city, but it has so much history. I don’t always love spending time in cities when I travel, but I love this one. (Perhaps it’s because you can hike right from downtown?)

If you’ve got questions about the best things to do in St. John’s ask in the comments. I’d love to help.

READ NEXT:

• 20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland
• 12 Things To Do in Trinity, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Bonavista, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland
• Things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park
• 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland

The post 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I’ve hiked all over the province. While I haven’t been everywhere in Newfoundland (yet!), I have been to most places. And on my most recent two trips, I hiked every day, sometimes on two or three different trails a day! (Honesty check: I didn’t hike a few of the days I was attending a conference in St. John’s, but that was out of my control.)

Most of the hikes in this post are easy or moderate, but there are a few tough options, especially in Western Newfoundland. I’ve also got tips for hiking in Newfoundland at the end of the post. This list of the best hikes in Newfoundland includes:

• Quick picks: My top 5 best hikes in Newfoundland
• Newfoundland hiking map that shows the location of every trailhead
• Hikes on the Avalon Peninsula near St. John’s
• Hikes in Eastern Newfoundland near Bonavista and Trinity
• Hikes in Central Newfoundland in Terra Nova National Park and near Twillingate
• Hikes in Western Newfoundland in Gros Morne National Park and near Corner Brook
• Newfoundland hiking tips including fees, weather, gear, and more

Planning a trip to Newfoundland? I’ve got a big list of the best things to do Newfoundland plus lots of travel tips for the province.

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 part of my trip to Newfoundland. All opinions in this post are my own. 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

Best Hikes in Newfoundland Quick Picks

Best Easy Hike: French Head, Twillingate

Best Moderate Hike: Green Gardens, Gros Morne National Park

Best Challenging Hike: Tablelands, Gros Morne National Park

Best Hike Close to St. John’s: North Head (Signal Hill)

Best Hike Close to Corner Brook: South Head Lighthouse

Newfoundland Hiking Map

Most of the hikes on this list are easy to follow. But sometimes the trailheads can be hard to find or there are lots of confusing unmarked trails that can lead you astray. As well, cell service can be spotty. I recommend using a hiking app like AllTrails+ to stay on track.

I also made a custom Google Map for you that shows you the locations of the trailheads for all of my picks for the best hikes in Newfoundland. But DON’T use Google Maps once you are on the trails. There is often no cell service and Google doesn’t show the trails correctly (or at all in some cases).

Best Hikes on the Avalon Peninsula

North Head Trail (Signal Hill), St. John’s

Difficulty: Moderate

Time Needed: 1 to 1.5 hours

Distance: 3.5 km loop

Elevation Gain: 160 m

You can hike to the top of Signal Hill right from downtown St. John’s. It’s one of the best urban hikes I’ve ever done and is on my list of the best things to do in St. John’s. I actually started my hike right from the front door of my hotel – I dipped out for a sneaky hike between sessions at a conference!

The loop is 3.5 km long, but if you hike from downtown, that adds another 1 to 2 km. You can start the loop hike from Battery Road, from the Signal Hill Visitor Centre part way up, or from the top of the hill. I went counter-clockwise, but either direction is fine.

Since I started from downtown, I walked through the colourful cliffside houses in The Battery neighbourhood first. (It’s pronounced batt-ree in Newfinese, not batt-er-ee.) The trail begins at the end of North Battery Road and curls around North Head. There is one narrow section with a chain, but it’s not really needed.

From there, you’ll arrive at a set of Parks Canada red chairs, since this is a National Historic Site. Enjoy the view and take a rest before beginning the big climb up lots of stairs to the top of Signal Hill. The view of downtown St. John’s from the top is incredible.

There are a few ways to descend. I followed the Queen’s Battery Trail downhill, then took an informal trail towards Deadman’s Pond. I used an informal trail back down to Battery Road to close the loop.

If you’re walking back to downtown St. John’s, stop at The Battery Cafe on your way back. Their iced coffee really hit the spot at the end of my hike!

Bay Bulls Lighthouse/Spout Path, Bay Bulls

Difficulty: Moderate or Challenging

Time Needed: 3 or 8 to 10 hours

Distance: 7.2 or 22 km round-trip

Elevation Gain: 320 or 1040 m

While I have hiked the West Coast Trail and North Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, I haven’t hiked Newfoundland’s iconic East Coast Trail yet. It follows the rugged Atlantic Coast for 270 km on the Avalon Peninsula. (The North Head Trail, above, is actually part of the ECT!)

If you’re looking to get a taste of the ECT on a day hike, try the Spout Path in Bay Bulls. My friend Gemma hiked this section as part of her multi-day trip along the East Coast Trail.

She hiked the Spouth Path from end to end (16.2 km total), but she says “most day hikers start at the Bay Bulls trailhead and turn around at the Spout (11km one way). It makes for a long but rewarding day for experienced hikers.” The Spout is the highlight of the trip. It’s an impressive wave and river-powered geyser.

If you don’t have time to go all the way to the Spout, Gemma recommends stopping at Bay Bulls Lighthouse about 3.6 km from the trailhead. “The exposed trail offers sweeping views of the ocean and intricate coves,” Gemma explains. She also says that people often see whales!

If you are in Bay Bulls, don’t miss taking a puffin and whale watch trip. I did this tour on my first trip to Newfoundland and it was so fun. You’ll cruise through the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. For me, the highlight was spotting puffins and lots of other seabirds. But whales are also common, and sometimes you can see icebergs too!

Mistaken Point, Portugal Cove South

Difficulty: Easy

Time Needed: 4 hours

Distance: 6 km round-trip

Elevation Gain: 65 m

Mistaken Point UNESCO World Heritage Site is a special place. Located at the southern end of the Avalon Peninsula, it protects a huge collection of ancient marine fossils, preserved in the prehistoric ocean floor for over 565 million years.

Since the fossils are so important, the only way to see them is on a guided hike, which is fairly easy but lasts for four hours since you make so many stops to look at fossils. I haven’t made it out to Mistaken Point yet, but my friend Stephanie who runs The World as I See It just came back from a visit.

“I highly recommend booking the guided hike,” Stephanie says. “The knowledgeable guide shared interesting details about this unique environment as we hiked along the scenic coastline. At Mistaken Point we took our shoes off to walk out on the rocks that hold the fossils which made this hike a truly unique experience.” Sounds super cool! I can’t wait to see the fossils on my next trip to Newfoundland.

Chance Cove Coastal Trail, Chance Cove

Difficulty: Moderate

Time Needed: 1.5 to 2 hours

Distance: 4 km loop

Elevation Gain: 150 m

This gorgeous coastal trail is located on the edge of the Avalon Peninsula and has incredible views of some sea stacks and islets. It starts in the small community of Chance Cove and immediately heads up a big hill into the forest. The path can be muddy, so wear waterproof boots.

About 15 minutes from the start, the path heads back down to sea level to a viewpoint on the edge of Chance Cove Point. Next the trail forks. Take the left path which follows the coast out to a headland. There are several cliffside viewpoints along the way.

Once you round the headland, a stairway leads down to a small beach. Back on the main trail, you can follow two spur trails to more viewpoints atop Green Head. Just past the spur trails a steep trail with a rope leads down to another beach if you are up for a challenging scramble. After the rope, the trail goes inland and up and over a small hill to rejoin the main trail. Turn left and follow the trail back to the start.

Best Hikes in Eastern Newfoundland

Skerwink Trail, Port Rexton

Difficulty: Moderate

Time Needed: 1.5 to 2 hours

Distance: 5 km loop

Elevation Gain: 150 m

Several online sources call the Skerwink Trail the best hike in Newfoundland. The day I hiked it was foggy with sideways rain, so I can’t say I agree. But despite the weather, it was pretty spectacular. The trail starts in Port Rexton near Trinity and makes a loop around Skerwink Head.

In places, the trail sticks close to the cliff edge with lots of views of the coastline and Trinity Harbour. But in other places it heads inland through thick forest and bog, using boardwalks and stairs to carry you over the more challenging terrain. The two ends of the loop are on old gravel roads, which make for easier walking than the rest of the trail.

After your hike, get beers at Port Rexton Brewing. Or grab coffee and a sandwich at Two Whales Coffee Shop. I was happy for their delicious veggie soup to warm me up after our soggy Skerwink experience. If you want to support the organization that maintains the trail, you can buy Hike Discovery merch and trail maps online or at local shops.

The Chimney/Klondike Trail, Bonavista

Difficulty: Easy

Time Needed: 45 min to 2 hours

Distance: 2 to 6.5 km round-trip

Elevation Gain: Up to 100 m

Maintained by Hike Discovery, this trail near Bonavista is actually an old horse and cart route between the communities of Spillar’s Cove and Elliston. You can walk the entire route through the forest and wetlands between the two towns. But if you’re short on time, I think the section from Spillar’s Cove to The Chimney is the best part. We hiked it on a foggy day and it was still gorgeous.

It’s an easy walk on an old gravel road out to the coast. From there, you’ll have a great view of The Chimney, an incredible sea stack off to the left. You can follow faint paths off to the left to get closer to the sea stack, but the view doesn’t get any better.

There is also a small islet in the centre of the cove with a puffin colony! The views of puffins aren’t quite as good as at the nearby Elliston Puffin Viewing site, but it’s still pretty awesome to watch them hopping and flapping about.

After your hike, head to Ragged Rocks Gastropub in Bonavista. I had the best seafood chowder of my life there. Such huge scallops! It’s on my list of the best things to do in Bonavista.

Best Hikes in Central Newfoundland

Coastal Trail, Terra Nova National Park

Difficulty: Easy

Time Needed: 3 to 4 hours

Distance: 9.5 km round-trip

Elevation Gain: 80 m

This trail leads along the shoreline of Newman Sound in Terra Nova National Park. There are trailheads at the visitor centre and at the day-use area in the Newman Sound Campground so you can start at either end. We were staying at the campground so we started from that end.

The trail parallels the coastline, periodically dipping down to small beaches or viewpoints between the trees. It’s a great place to watch for birds in the mud flats or eagles overhead. You might even see moose along the trail… although might only spot their tracks and poop. About halfway along a side trail leads to Pissamere Falls.

Don’t miss the displays at the Visitor Centre either before or after your hike. They have great displays about the flora and fauna of the park, including touch tanks where you can interact with marine life. But my favourite part was the huge bale of sticks that was a great visual representation of how many twigs moose eat every day – about 40 to 60 pounds worth!

Nanny’s Hole, Twillingate

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Time Needed: 1 to 1.5 hours

Distance: 2.5 km round-trip

Elevation Gain: 100 m

This short trail starts at the Long Point Lighthouse near Twillingate. From the viewing platform near the parking lot, you can look down to a rugged and rocky peninsula sticking out into the ocean. If you look carefully, you’ll see tiny hikers walking along an undulating trail – that’s the Nanny’s Hole Trail.

To start the hike, follow the path downhill from the parking area. There are a couple great viewpoints from the top of the bluff, but soon you begin descending on sets of wooden stairs. At the bottom, follow the trail across the grassy meadow to the coast. Then, turn right and hike along the path out to Nanny’s Hole. The trail ends at a great viewpoint on the edge of the headland.

When you are done, retrace your steps back up the stairs to the parking lot. If you hike here, consider donating to the Rockcut Twillingate Trails, which maintains the paths in this area.

After our hike, we went for dinner at Annie’s in Twillingate. They have a great view of the harbour and lots of great seafood on the menu. Try the cod tongues as an appetizer. They are a bit chewy, kind of like calamari, but really tasty.

French Head (Rock Cut Trails), Twillingate

Difficulty: Easy

Time Needed: 1 hour

Distance: 2.5 km loop

Elevation Gain: 100 m

In the last few years, the town of Twillingate has created an incredible trail system on the east side of Twillingate Island called the Rockcut Trails. Please donate to support their work if you are able. I only had time to hike a short part of the network so I chose the quick, but beautiful French Head section.

From the trailhead, you walk a short distance to French Beach, which is so beautiful. From there, the trail loops up and over several small hills out to the end of French Head and then back to the beach.

The views of the coastline are incredible: To the east, you can see Spillers Point with Fogo Island in the far distance. To the west, you can see Carter Head, Burnt Island, and Twillingate Lighthouse, which you can visit at the start of the Nanny’s Hole hike (above). We actually did both Nanny’s Hole and French Beach on the same day since they were both short and easy.

The Rockcut Trails actually include a few backcountry campgrounds, so that’s on my list for my next visit. But if you’re looking for drive-in camping, I recommend Dildo Run Provincial Park. It’s an easy 20-minute drive from Twillingate, has oceanfront campsites and showers… and a hilarious name.

Brimstone Head, Fogo Island

Difficulty: Moderate

Time Needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Distance: 2 km round-trip

Elevation Gain: 90 m

Fogo Island was one of my favourite places in Newfoundland. The stark landscapes were otherworldly. Thanks to investment from a local girl turned tech millionaire, Fogo Island has a unique social enterprise and arts community. For hikers, one of the benefits is the great hiking trails all over the island.

Brimstone Head provides the best effort-to-reward ratio of all of Fogo’s hikes. It’s a short but steep climb with the help of stairs to the top of Brimstone Head. There is a great view from the top of the town of Fogo.

Brimstone Head is also considered to be one of the four corners of the Earth by the Canadian Flat Earth Society, so don’t fall off since you’ll never be seen again! On the way down, be sure to take the detour onto the “scenic route” to loop around to a viewpoint overlooking Back Cove and the Brimstone Head RV Park. We spent the night in our tent here and were treated to an incredible sunset.

There are lots of other great short hikes on Fogo, and I honestly had trouble picking just one to include in this guide. I also recommend the Joe Batts Arm Trail and Shoal Bay Trails. They both have an artsy surprise!

Best Hikes in Western Newfoundland

Green Gardens, Gros Morne National Park

Difficulty: Moderate

Time Needed: 3.5 to 4.5 hours

Distance: 9 km round-trip

Elevation Gain: 350 m

Green Gardens is one of the best hikes in Gros Morne National Park in western Newfoundland. It starts in the open barrens of the Tablelands before descending through the trees to the coastline. As the trail works its way downhill the vegetation changes and becomes more and more lush thanks to the fertile volcanic soil – a real contrast to the desolate rocks of the Tablelands.

The trail ends at a backcountry campground a bluff above Old Man’s Cove. The tops of the cliff have dense meadows of grasses and wildflowers. You can follow a rough staircase downhill to the beach. The normally frigid Atlantic is tempered by a warm current here, so you might even want to swim. (Sticking my feet in was enough for me.)

You can also continue down the beach to a waterfall tucked into a small canyon. Save your energy for the hike back to the trailhead – it’s all uphill.

After your hike, be sure to make the short drive to the village of Trout River to have a delicious cod dinner at the Seaside Restaurant, which has been in the same family since 1981. Time your visit for sunset – it’s spectacular.

Tablelands, Gros Morne National Park

Difficulty: Easy or Challenging

Time Needed: 1 or 5 hours

Distance: 4 or 7.5 km round-trip

Elevation Gain: 90 to 530 m

The Tablelands are one of the most interesting parts of Gros Morne National Park. The barren moonscape rocks here is actually part of the Earth’s mantle – the middle layer of the planet below the crust.

There are two ways to do this hike. The first is the easy Tablelands Trail. It’s a gentle 4 km hike on an old road bed that skirts around the base of the mountain. It has great views of the Tablelands and ends at glacier-carved Winter House Brook Canyon.

The other option, (and the one that I did) is an off-trail hike to the top of the Tablelands. This hike follows the main trail for the first 0.7 km then veers uphill and off trail to a viewpoint overlooking Winter House Brook Canyon.

There is no trail or established route so you need to be comfortable with route finding, loose rock, and steep slopes. You can pick your own path, but the rough track on Gaia GPS or AllTrails+ is a good starting point. (You don’t have to do the full loop on there – just go to the top of the canyon, and head back down.)

I did this hike with guides from Wild Gros Morne and they were great at explaining the unique geology. They also pointed out some really cool plants, including carnivorous pitcher plants and sundews. Before the hike, they took us out on a Zodiac tour in Bonne Bay so we could see the Tablelands from the water. Oh, and the best part: the packed lunch included the most delicious lobster roll sandwich I’ve ever had!

Gros Morne Mountain, Gros Morne National Park

Difficulty: Very Challenging

Time Needed: 7 to 9 hours

Distance: 17 km loop

Elevation Gain: 868 m

When I hiked to the summit of Gros Morne Mountain on my first trip to Newfoundland I thought it was the tallest mountain in Newfoundland. But on a more recent trip, I learned that it is actually the second tallest mountain! Gros Morne tops out at 806 m, but The Cabox a few kilometres away is 812 m tall. I’ll have to do that one next time!

Despite being number two, Gros Morne Mountain is a great hike, albeit a long and challenging one. The first half of the trail is a steady climb through the forest to the base of the peak. From there, you head up a steep and rocky gully full of boulders to the summit. The summit has a strangely flat and rocky summit. But it has incredible views of 10 Mile Pond and the ocean. I actually spotted caribou from the top too!

To descend, you follow stairs down the backside of the mountain and then loop back around, passing the backcountry campsite at Ferry Gulch, which is the end of the Long Range Traverse.

There is a seasonal closure each May and June to protect wildlife and prevent erosion. As well, it’s not a great place for dogs due to the fragile ecosystem, the likelihood of stressing wildlife, and the rocky terrain that can cut dog’s paws.

Long Range Traverse, Gros Morne National Park

Difficulty: Very Challenging

Time Needed: 3 to 5 days

Distance: ~35 km one-way

Elevation Gain: 1270 m

The first time I went to Newfoundland we planned our trip specifically to hike the Long Range Traverse. It’s a spectacular multi-day backpacking trip through the Long Range Mountains in Gros Morne National Park.

There is no official trail – instead, you have to use a map and compass or GPS to navigate. The route starts with the tourist boat across Western Brook Pond. From there, you bash your way through a thickly vegetated valley and up a steep glaciated headwall. The next few days see you finding your own route through bogs, around lakes, and across tundra. The traverse ends on the Gros Morne Mountain Trail, which makes a logical add-on to the trip.

My Long Range Traverse trip was spectacular. We had days of gorgeous sun and thick fog. We saw moose, caribou, and a bear. I stepped into a mud puddle that was up over my knees. And I came away with so many fond memories.

I didn’t have time to do the Long Traverse on my most recent trip to Newfoundland, but I know if I go back it will be at the top of my to-do list since it is the most epic backpacking trip in Newfoundland.

Bottle Cove/South Head Lighthouse Trail, Lark Harbour

Difficulty: Easy or Challenging

Time Needed: 30 minutes or 4 to 5 hours

Distance: 1 km or 8 km round-trip

Elevation Gain: 30 m or 500m

The Bay of Islands region outside of Corner Brook was an area I hadn’t heard about until my most recent trip to Newfoundland. It’s a gorgeous area with little fishing towns in sheltered coves, windswept headlands, and big views. The trails starting at Bottle Cove were some of my favourites in Western Newfoundland.

From the trailhead, you can hike the short and easy trail to the lookout above Bottle Cove. It has a great view of the rocky headland and sea cave across the cove.

But I suggest continuing onward (and upward) on the steep South Head Lighthouse Trail. At the top, there are incredible views of the islands at the mouth of the Bay of Islands. You can also look down at the location of the former South Head Lighthouse, which must have been a very inhospitable place to live so exposed to the weather.

Keep in mind that this trail is in the Blow Me Down Mountains, and they live up to their name. I was nearly blown off my feet on the top!

Volunteers from Outer Bay of Islands Enhancement Committee have built and maintained several trails in the area including the Bottle Cove and South Head Lighthouse Trails. Please consider making a donation if you hike here.

Be sure to stop at the Saltbox Restaurant in Benoit’s Cove for great seafood on their waterfront patio. The restaurant is the home of Everoutdoor Adventures, a hiking and guiding company, as well as an interpretive centre for the Cabox Aspiring Geopark, a proposed UNESCO Geopark. They have lots of great maps and info boards about the local geology and history.

Man in the Mountain (Humber Valley Trail), Corner Brook

Difficulty: Challenging

Time Needed: 2.5 to 3.5 hours

Distance: 5 km round-trip

Elevation Gain: 360 m

If you’re driving Highway 1 just east of Corner Brook, look up and see if you can spot the face in the rocks, known as Man in the Mountain. If you’re a hardy hiker, you can also hike to the top of the man’s face for a great view of Corner Brook and the Humber Valley.

The Man in the Mountain viewpoint is actually part of the 14.5 km-long Humber Valley Trail, which itself is part of the International Appalachian Trail Newfoundland and Labrador. So you can just do the short hike up to the Man in the Mountain viewpoint… or you can continue for days.

I did a short loop using the steep Bear Head Trail and part of the Humber Valley Trail to visit Arne’s Lookout with Glen from Everoutdoor Adventures. You can also continue to the top of Man in the Mountain (a face in the rocks you can see from the Highway below).

Newfoundland Hiking Tips

National Park Entry Fees

You need to pay park entry fees to hike in Terra Nova and Gros Morne National Parks. All other hikes in Newfoundland are free. Here’s the fee breakdown for the National Parks:

Terra Nova National Park: $6.50/adult/day

Gros Morne National Park: $11/adult day

Parks Canada Discovery Pass: $75.25/adult or $151.25 for a group of up to 7 people in the same car. Valid for one year. This is the best deal if you plan to spend more than a few days in the parks.

Weather in Newfoundland

Newfoundland has a temperate marine climate which means it is never too hot but is often wet and chilly. The best time of year to hike in Newfoundland is between mid-June and early October when the weather is warmest and there is less rain. The snow in the mountains will all be melted by then too.

I think the best time to hike is in the fall. I spent 10 days hiking in Gros Morne and Western Newfoundland in fall. I was treated to mostly sunny weather and gorgeous fall colours.

Wet weather is a reality in Newfoundland. Read my tips for hiking in the rain to get ready.

Watch the forecast carefully when you are in Newfoundland. Even if it is calling for rain, it often will only rain for a few hours out of the day, leaving the rest of the day open for dry hiking!

Cell Phone Service in Newfoundland

Cell phone service can be spotty or non-existent in parts of Newfoundland. You’ll probably have at least some signal near towns, but away from towns, you often won’t have any service. Look up all the info you will need for your hike while you still have service. I like the use the Gaia GPS app or AllTrails+ to download offline maps of the trails before I go.

Also, keep in mind that without cell service you won’t be able to call for help in an emergency. We brought our Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite messenger as a just-in-case backup.

What to Bring Hiking in Newfoundland

Just like on any hike anywhere in the world, you need to be prepared. Don’t forget the 10 Essentials, a list of key items you should bring on every hike.

You’ll also want moisture-wicking and quick-drying synthetic hiking clothes. Skip the cotton – it doesn’t dry and will make you cold and uncomfortable.

Bring a good rain jacket. On this trip, I wore my MEC Flashcloud, but it is discontinued. I also love my Mountain Hardwear Minimizer because it is super light and compact but still breathable. For a budget option, I recommend the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket.

Make sure that your jacket has a fresh waterproof treatment to stop it from wetting out. (Read my guide to why rain jackets wet out for more info.)

On most hikes in Newfoundland I usually also pack my rain pants, just in case. I’ve gotten caught out in unexpected rain a few times and was glad I had them. I use the basic MEC Hydrofoil Stretch pants and they’ve held up well, including on my incredibly wet Skerwink Trail hike.

You’ll also want waterproof footwear because even if it isn’t raining, a lot of the trails have lots of mud and deep puddles. I wore my Salomon XA Pro Goretex Trail runners and they were great – lightweight, lots of traction, and waterproof.

If your backpack came with a rain cover, that’s great. But if not, you can buy one separately. I like the MEC silicone rain cover since it packs down so small. Or use a dry bag to protect gear inside your pack. I use Sea to Summit Lightweight dry bags.

It can also be chilly in Newfoundland so a fleece or synthetic insulated jacket is a great idea. Skip down jackets since they don’t provide any warmth when wet. I brought my Arc’teryx Proton insulated jacket and Outdoor Research Trail Mix Fleece and wore them both a lot.

Leave No Trace

Learn the Leave No Trace principles before you hike in Newfoundland. This is a sensitive ecosystem with a short growing season. Pack out all your trash. Use toilets at trailheads or villages before you hike. If you have to go on the trail, dig a cat hole or bring a WAG bag to pack our your poop.

Guided Hikes

If you’d rather have a local show you around, there are lots of guided hiking tour operators in Newfoundland. Going with a guide can be a great way to learn more about the local plants, animals, geology, and history. Guides can often show you off-the-beaten path hikes you wouldn’t otherwise have heard about – that’s how I heard about the South Head Lighthouse Trail.

In Western Newfoundland, I recommend Gros Morne Adventures, Tour Gros Morne, Wild Gros Morne, and EverOutdoor Adventures. I did a hike with each of these companies thanks to Go Western Newfoundland.

In Eastern Newfoundland, I’ve heard good things about Great Canadian Trails guided trips on the East Coast Trail. You can find more regional tour operators through Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism.

Give Back to Trailhead Communities

Many hikes in Newfoundland are located in small towns and villages that depend on tourism for their livelihood and have spent lots of money and time on building trails to attract tourists. Often hikers visit a community, hike a free trail, and then leave.

Where possible, be sure to give back to trailhead communities by shopping at local stores, eating at local restaurants, and staying at local hotels or campgrounds. You can also make donations to local trail maintenance groups.

Indigenous Context

Newfoundland is the traditional territory of the Beothuk and Mi’kma’ki. It is important to be respectful of this land.

Final Thoughts

So that’s my big list of the best hikes in Newfoundland. I’m already dreaming of going back to Newfoundland someday to hike more! Do you have questions about Newfoundland? Ask me in the comments.

READ NEXT:

• 20 Incredible Things to Do in Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park
• 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
• 12 Things To Do in Trinity, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Bonavista, Newfoundland
• 10 Things To Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland
• Things to do on Fogo Island, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
• The 10 Essentials: Things You Should Bring on Every Hike
• 40+ Tips for Hiking in the Rain
• Why Do Rain Jackets Wet Out?

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