Overview

Gros Morne has some of the best coastal and mountain hiking in eastern North America. Guided and unguided day hikes of varying difficulty are available throughout the 1805 square kilometre park. Caribou, arctic hares, whales, seals and moose are often sighted.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival & Orientation

Arrive Deer Lake Airport. You will be met and transferred to Gros Morne National Park, an UNESCO World Heritage Site for an orientation and welcome dinner. Accommodation at Norris Point.

Day 2 | The Tablelands; 14km, Moderate

The Tablelands is an eerie, alien landscape that is a remnant of rock that once lay beneath the ancient Iapetus Ocean. A 4 hour hike along the shores of Trout River Pond Fjord explores this rocky terrain that is so unique from a geological and natural history perspective that it is a key component to Gros Morne National Park's UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.

Mostly treeless because of the toxicity of the soil and the exposed landscape, trees that do survive are stunted and very old. The hiking trail passes through meadows, shrubby forest and then strikes out across the barren Tablelands for a stunning view of Trout River Pond Fjord. Accommodation at Norris Point.

Day 3 | Gros Morne Mountain; 16km, Challenging

Hike to the highest point in the park, Gros Morne Mountain. This rigorous hike leads to the Arctic alpine wilderness of the Long Range Mountains. Rare vegetation clings to this barren landscape and hardy inhabitants like the Woodland Caribou, Moose, and Rock Ptarmigan are often seen. 

Enjoy spectacular views overlooking the glacier-carved fjords of Bonne Bay and Ten Mile Pond. Plan on an 8-9 hour hike with an elevation gain of 806m. Accommodation at Norris Point. 

Day 4 | Sea Kayaking; 5-8km, Easy. Western Brook Pond Fjord; 6km, Easy. 

Extending over 20km inland from the gulf of St. Lawrence is the sheltered fjord of Bonne Bay. Explore this rich marine environment by sea kayak. Minke whales, eagles, terns, mink, mergansers and kingfishers are common sightings on the bay throughout summer. Spectacular views of Gros Morne Mountain and the Tablelands can be enjoyed from the seat of a kayak.

In the afternoon you take the coastal lowland walk across bogs and limestone ridges to Western Brook Pond fjord, a spectacular freshwater lake hemmed in by 650m high rock walls. We join a boat tour to explore its 16km length and to see the spectacular waterfalls that tumble from the alpine plateau. Accommodation at Norris Point.

Day 5 | Green Gardens; 9 or 15km, Moderate/challenging

Today you explore the spectacular Green Gardens coastal trail. You will cross an ancient ocean, traverse an Arctic alpine rock garde, and descend into a boreal forest valley of northern evergreens, songbirds, and moose. At the seacoast wide beaches with shallow rock pools, grassy meadows, rock pillars, ancient volcanic sea-stacks, and rugged cliffs unfold before you.

Enjoy a shore lunch, explore the beach and retrace your route back to the trail head (9km). For avid hikers, continue on the longer looped trail (15km) along the shoreline to the Wallace brook stream crossing and follow the undulating trail ascending 350m to the Trout River Gulch trailhead. Accommodation at Norris Point.

Day 6 | Lookout Hills; 15km, Moderate/challenging

The Lookout Hills hike offers the best panoramic view of Gros Morne National Park. From this vantagepoint you can see the Tablelands, the coastal lowland, the Long Range Mountains, and Bonne Bay's picturesque villages of Norris Point and Woody Point.

This is an off trail hike through forest, across alpine fens, and up rock ridges. Seeing other hikers on this route is a rarity! In addition to spectacular views moose, caribou, and ptarmigan are often see.

You end a great week of adventure with a farewell dinner. Accommodations at Norris Point.

Day 7 | Departure

After breakfast, you will be returned to Deer Lake Airport for your flight home.

Gallery

All images courtesy of © Atlantic Canada