Western Newfoundland Tourist Map

Description:
This map shows cities, towns, Trans-Canada highway, secondary roads, national parks, provincial parks, campgrounds, provincial/national historic sites, airports, local ferries, summer ferries, ski areas, golf courses, and provincial visitor information centres in Western Newfoundland.

Previous version of the map (2016)

Western Newfoundland Attractions

Overview

Western Newfoundland encompasses diverse attractions including Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, the only confirmed Norse settlement in the Americas; dramatic fjord landscapes; and cultural heritage sites. The region extends from Corner Brook northward along the Great Northern Peninsula to St. Anthony and includes the Port au Port Peninsula and southern coastal areas.

Gros Morne National Park

Overview and Designation

Gros Morne National Park, established in 1973 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, protects 1,805 square kilometers of diverse landscapes including coastal lowlands, alpine plateaus, fjords, and geological features of global significance. The park demonstrates exceptional examples of plate tectonics and glaciation. The name derives from Gros Morne Mountain, the second-highest peak in Newfoundland at 806 meters.

Geological Features

The Tablelands represents an exposed section of the Earth's mantle, thrust above sea level through plate tectonic forces. This peridotite rock, typically found deep beneath the ocean floor, creates a barren landscape due to its high metal content and lack of typical soil nutrients. The distinctive rust-orange coloration results from iron oxidation. The Tablelands Trail provides a 4-kilometer return hike across this unique geological feature.

Green Point represents a Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), marking the boundary between the Cambrian and Ordovician geological periods 475 million years ago. Rock layers at Green Point contain fossils documenting this transition. Interpretive displays explain the geological significance and recognition by the International Commission on Stratigraphy.

Western Brook Pond

Western Brook Pond is a landlocked fjord extending 16 kilometers inland from Route 430, surrounded by cliff walls reaching 600 meters in height. Despite its name, Western Brook Pond is a freshwater fjord, not a pond. The feature formed when glaciers carved a deep valley, which was subsequently isolated from the ocean by post-glacial land rebound.

Boat tours operate on Western Brook Pond from late May or June through early October, weather and ice conditions permitting. The tours depart from a dock accessed via a 3-kilometer walk from the Route 430 parking area. The two-hour tour travels the length of the fjord, passing waterfalls and providing views of the cliff walls. Bon Tours operates the concession under Parks Canada authorization.

Hiking and Outdoor Activities

Gros Morne National Park maintains approximately 100 kilometers of hiking trails ranging from short interpretive walks to challenging multi-day backcountry routes. The Gros Morne Mountain Trail, a strenuous 16-kilometer return hike, climbs to the summit plateau, gaining 763 meters of elevation. The trail requires 6-8 hours and appropriate fitness and equipment. Summit conditions can include high winds, low temperatures, and rapid weather changes even in summer.

The Long Range Traverse, a challenging 35-kilometer backcountry route across the Long Range Mountains, requires 3-5 days and advanced navigation skills. The route crosses alpine terrain above treeline with no marked trail. Permits are required for backcountry camping.

Shorter trails include the Green Gardens Trail (9 kilometers return), which descends coastal cliffs to sea level beaches formed from pillow basalt, and the Tablelands Trail (4 kilometers return). The Lookout Hills Trail (5 kilometers return) provides views of Bonne Bay and surrounding terrain. The James Callaghan Trail (1-kilometer loop) offers boardwalk access through bog environment with interpretive signage.

Marine Activities

Sea kayaking on Bonne Bay provides opportunities to explore the fjord from water level. Several outfitters offer guided tours and rentals. Fishing is permitted in designated areas within the park, with appropriate licenses. Bonne Bay supports coldwater marine species and serves as a research site for marine ecology.

Park Services and Facilities

The Gros Morne National Park Visitor Centre in Rocky Harbour operates from May through October and provides interpretive exhibits, orientation information, and park registration services. Discovery Centre in Woody Point presents exhibits on park geology and ecology. Parks Canada staff lead interpretive programs, guided hikes, and evening presentations during summer months.

Camping facilities include frontcountry campgrounds at Berry Hill, Trout River, Lomond, and Green Point. Facilities range from basic unserviced sites to sites with electrical hookups. Backcountry camping is permitted at designated sites with advance reservation. The park contains no hotels or lodges within its boundaries, with commercial accommodations available in adjacent communities including Rocky Harbour, Norris Point, Woody Point, and Trout River.

L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site

Archaeological Significance

L'Anse aux Meadows, located at the northern tip of the Great Northern Peninsula, contains the remains of a Norse settlement dating to approximately 1000 CE. The site, discovered by Helge Ingstad and Anne Stine Ingstad in 1960, provided the first conclusive archaeological evidence of European presence in North America prior to Columbus's voyages. Excavations between 1961 and 1968 revealed eight buildings and various artifacts confirming Norse occupation.

UNESCO designated L'Anse aux Meadows a World Heritage Site in 1978, recognizing it as proof of Norse exploration and the first known contact between European and indigenous American cultures. The site likely served as a base camp for exploration of resources including timber and may have been occupied for a relatively short period.

Site Interpretation and Facilities

Parks Canada maintains L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site with an interpretation center displaying artifacts recovered during excavations and presenting the Norse exploration of North America. Reconstructed sod buildings demonstrate Norse building techniques, and costumed interpreters provide demonstrations of Norse daily activities, crafts, and technologies during summer months.

The archaeological remains visible at the site include building foundations and evidence of iron smelting, one of the key indicators of Norse presence. Walking trails connect the interpretation center to the reconstruction site and actual archaeological remains. Guided tours operated by Parks Canada interpreters provide historical context and explain the archaeological evidence.

Port au Choix National Historic Site

Port au Choix National Historic Site protects archaeological sites documenting over 5,500 years of human occupation by Maritime Archaic, Dorset, and Recent Indian cultures before European contact. Excavations have uncovered burial sites, tools, and artifacts providing evidence of these ancient cultures. The interpretation center displays artifacts and presents exhibits on the archaeology and ancient inhabitants of the area.

The site includes walking trails through the community and to coastal areas where archaeological sites are located. The limestone pavement along the coast contains fossils 450 million years old. Port au Choix also serves as a bird watching location, with numerous species utilizing the coastal habitat during migration.

Corner Brook and Bay of Islands

Corner Brook, Newfoundland's second-largest city with a population of approximately 20,000, serves as a service and business center for western Newfoundland. The city is located at the head of the Bay of Islands and surrounded by mountains. Captain James Cook produced charts of the Bay of Islands in 1767, considered among the finest cartographic work of the era. A monument on a hilltop overlooking the city commemorates Cook's surveying work.

Marble Mountain, located south of Corner Brook, operates as a ski resort from December through April, with 39 trails and vertical drop of 518 meters. Summer activities at Marble Mountain include zipline tours, a mountain coaster, and hiking trails. The Bay of Islands offers sea kayaking, boat tours, and fishing opportunities. The Humber River through Corner Brook provides salmon fishing, subject to seasonal regulations.

Other Attractions and Communities

Stephenville

Stephenville, located on the Port au Port Peninsula, developed around a U.S. Air Force base that operated from 1941 to 1966. The base's 3,048-meter runway, one of the longest in eastern North America, now serves the Stephenville Airport. The former base area contains industrial development and commercial operations. The Stephenville Theatre Festival presents professional theatre productions during summer months.

Port au Port Peninsula French Heritage

The Port au Port Peninsula represents one of the few areas in Newfoundland where French-speaking populations established permanent communities. Acadian and French settlers from Cape Breton, Quebec, and the French islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon created fishing communities on the peninsula during the 19th century. Communities including Cape St. George, Lourdes, and Mainland maintain French language and cultural traditions. Our Lady of Mercy Museum in Port au Port West-Aguathuna-Felix Cove presents the area's French heritage.

Red Rocks

Red Rocks, north of Cape St. George on the Port au Port Peninsula, features distinctive red cliffs formed from Cambrian rock deposits approximately 530 million years old. The site provides beach access and coastal walking. Red Rocks Brook flows across the beach, creating a scenic waterfall as it reaches the ocean.

Wildlife Viewing

Western Newfoundland offers varied wildlife viewing opportunities. Moose are frequently observed throughout the region, particularly at dawn and dusk. Woodland caribou herds exist in the region, though sightings are less predictable than moose encounters. Black bears inhabit forested areas. Marine mammals including humpback whales, minke whales, and harbor porpoises can be observed from coastal areas and boat tours during summer months.

Bird watching opportunities include seabird colonies along the coast, with northern gannets, murres, kittiwakes, puffins, and razorbills nesting on cliffs and islands. The Point Riche area near Port au Choix serves as an important bird migration stopover. Caribou and moose viewing is possible in open areas and along highways, though wildlife should be observed from safe distances.

Accommodations and Services

Lodging

Corner Brook and Deer Lake provide the widest range of accommodations including hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast establishments. Rocky Harbour, Norris Point, and Woody Point near Gros Morne National Park offer hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals. Communities along the Great Northern Peninsula including Cow Head, Port au Choix, St. Anthony, and others provide accommodations, though advance booking is recommended during peak season from July through August.

Camping facilities are available at Gros Morne National Park campgrounds, private campgrounds, and provincial parks including Barachois Pond Provincial Park and Pistolet Bay Provincial Park. Some campgrounds operate only during summer season from June through September.

Dining

Restaurants in Corner Brook, Rocky Harbour, and other service communities offer varied dining options including seafood, traditional Newfoundland cuisine, and international options. Many restaurants emphasize local ingredients including seafood, game, and wild berries. Smaller communities may have limited dining facilities, requiring meal planning for day trips.

Access and Transportation

Deer Lake Regional Airport provides air access to western Newfoundland, with scheduled service to Halifax, Toronto, St. John's, and other Canadian cities, plus seasonal international charter flights. The Trans-Canada Highway and Route 430 provide road access. Personal or rental vehicles are necessary for touring the region, as public transportation is limited. St. Anthony Airport serves the northern Great Northern Peninsula with scheduled regional flights.

Seasonal Considerations

Peak tourism season extends from June through early September. July and August offer the warmest weather and longest daylight hours but also bring peak visitor numbers to Gros Morne and other attractions. June provides longer days and fewer crowds but cooler temperatures. September offers reduced crowds and autumn colors but shorter days and increasing possibility of cool weather.

Many tourist facilities, boat tours, and attractions operate limited hours or close entirely from October through May. Gros Morne National Park remains accessible year-round, but many facilities close outside summer season. Winter visitors can experience cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and winter camping, but must be prepared for severe weather conditions. Spring offers opportunities for viewing icebergs from coastal areas, particularly in May and June. Whale watching is optimal from June through August.

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