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Over a billion years ago, an imposing mountain formed on the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland. Slowly weathered and whittled away by glaciers, the landscape became marked with rocky cliffs, glittering fjords, and cascading waterfalls. Today, it’s home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gros Morne National Park.

Newfoundland’s geological wonder offers a peaceful retreat for those who love to stroll, hike, cruise, and marvel at the natural beauty amid the wilderness. Accompanied by expert local guides, you can uncover the stories of colliding continents, spot moose grazing in the grasslands, and watch the sun disappear behind jagged mountains from your snug waterfront hotel.

When you’re deep within the park, it’s easy to feel like you’ve been placed in remote, untouched lands. However, Gros Morne is easily accessible by car, ferry, and even plane direct from Montréal and Toronto. Then, as soon as you arrive, your immersion in nature begins.

Hiking trails & local moose in Gros Morne National Park

Gros Morne roughly translates to ‘great gloomy one’, an affectionate name for the park’s central mountain. As the gray fog tumbles over the peak’s angular edges, it’s clear how the name came to be. Here, the atmosphere is dramatic and the wildlife abundant, making it ideal for a day’s wandering — or something a little more heart-thumping.

The park offers plenty of guided and independent walking experiences. You can amble along coastal boardwalks, hike through thick forests, scramble across the Earth’s mantle at the Tablelands, and summit Gros Morne for uninterrupted views of the glassy fjords below.

As you explore, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the resident moose — the park is said to have one of the highest densities of them in the world. Watch as these towering creatures munch on foliage and sleep in the sun, their spikey antlers warning you to admire from afar.

As the day draws to a close, you can unwind at one of the park’s rustic hotels and enjoy the rays glinting off the water as the sun sets. The lodgings here are simple, but the views make up for what they lack in luxury — sweeping bays, snowcapped peaks, and swishing grassland. We suggest Neddies Harbour Inn, an eco-conscious hotel complete with a traditional wooden deck overlooking the pristine Bonne Bay.

Boat cruise through Western Brook Pond

Western Brook Pond is just one of the park’s many natural treasures, a glimmering fjord brimming with Atlantic salmon, brook trout, and Arctic char. Joining a boat trip lets you experience the park’s rugged landscapes and water-dwelling wildlife at a leisurely pace.

To reach your boat, you’ll take an unhurried 40-minute guided walk through Canadian black spruce forests and around boggy hollows, the Long Range Mountains an ever-watchful presence in the backdrop.

Once you reach the dock, your boat will take you into the land-locked freshwater fjord, where you’ll cruise past 700 m (2,300 ft) high cliffs and plunging waterfalls. As you go, your on-board guide will share how this weathered landscape came to be, and you’ll hear the calls of cliff-nesting gulls chiming through the air. You can sometimes see caribou grazing along the water’s edge, too.

Since the fjord is landlocked, we also recommend heading out to Bonne Bay during your trip to Gros Morne National Park. It’s here that you have a chance of spotting the local marine life, including minke whales, harbor seals, and lion's mane jellyfish. Make sure to glance up from the water every now and then because you’ll often catch bald eagles soaring in the skies above.

Best time to visit Grose Morne National Park

The best time to visit Gros Morne National Park is during late May to mid-October, when the mountain is more likely to be visible. Just be aware that the mountain’s summit is closed during May and June for habitat protection. While the summer months (June–August) reach a pleasant 61–68°F (16–20°C), we have a soft spot for Gros Morne in September when the landscape is bathed in a golden-red hue from the changing foliage. The trails are much quieter during these cooler months, too.