Gros Morne National Park Itinerary- Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park in 3 Days

On my first trip to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, I had the opportunity to visit Gros Morne National Park. Wild, beautiful, vibrant, and welcoming, Gros Morne was the perfect introduction to the unique culture and exquisite landscapes that the island of Newfoundland has to offer.

I spent three days in Gros Morne National Park enjoying hikes, boat tours, wildlife sightings, Indigenous culture, museums, and local music. I was so impressed with all the things to do in Gros Morne National Park, that I could have easily spent another two or three days there.

Here’s a day-by-day look at my Gros Morne National Park itinerary, followed by some tips for visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Gros Morne National Park Itinerary- Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park in 3 Days

My Gros Morne National Park itinerary primarily focused on outdoor activities and exploring the park’s natural beauty, but it also had some hands-on cultural and educational experiences.

Even though the park is quite large, I managed to visit several different areas during my trip including Bonne Bay, the Tablelands, the coast along the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Western Brook Pond.

Day 1: Hiking Green Gardens Trail and Tablelands Trail

My first day in Gros Morne National Park was spent hiking two beautiful trails. Even though the trails are only 8 km apart, they showcase a vastly different landscape. I also had time to check out the Parks Canada Discovery Centre near the community of Woody Point. I stayed overnight in Woody Point and watched whales swimming in Bonne Bay from the comfort of my bed.

Green Gardens Trail

Hiking Green Gardens Trail is one of the best things to do in Gros Morne National Park because you get to experience a variety of scenery, most notably the park’s beautiful coastline. 

Starting out rocky and barren, the trail soon crosses a meadow offering views of green hills and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The path then descends through an open forest towards the cliffs where there are wonderful views of the beach and some sea stacks. Continuing along the clifftop, the trail then arrives at a pair of Parks Canada’s iconic red chairs and a staircase leading down to the beach. 

I loved the terrain of this hike, but my favourite moments were admiring the coast from the cliffs and seeing a whale swim and breach in the distance. 

For the round trip, I recorded a distance of 8.4 km. The hike took me 3 hours at a relaxed pace, including a lunch break at the beach.

Tablelands Trail

One place that should be included on any Gros More National Park itinerary is the Tablelands, the most unique and geologically significant location in the park. 

This large slab of rust-coloured rock was formed below the Earth’s crust, in the mantle, 485 million years ago. When the Earth’s tectonic plates collided the mantle was pushed up, forming mountains that slowly eroded over millions of years to expose the peridotite rock seen here today.

The best way to discover the Tablelands is by walking Tablelands Trail with a Parks Canada guide. I not only learned about the area’s history and geology, but my guide pointed out interesting rocks and plants that I might not have noticed otherwise.

Tablelands Trail is an easy walk that ends at a viewing platform at the edge of a glacially carved cirque. Expect to walk about 4 km round trip and if you do the guided tour plan for about 2 hours.

Day 2: Zodiac Tour at Bonne Bay, Indigenous Experience at Norris Cove

Today I did a zodiac tour of Bonne Bay then took the Bonne Bay water shuttle across to Norris Point where I participated in some Indigenous experiences with Gros Morne Adventures. I then drove to Rocky Harbour where I had dinner, took in some local entertainment, and spent the night. 

Bonne Bay Zodiac Tour

Getting out on the water is a fun way to experience Bonne Bay and get a different view of the surrounding scenery. Bonne Bay isn’t a typical, rounded bay- it’s a fjord with two arms, an east arm and a south arm, that were formed by glaciers. 

During my zodiac tour with Wild Gros Morne, I saw the main points of interest along the south arm of Bonne Bay. We floated past forested hills, small communities, the historic Woody Point Lighthouse, secluded beaches, and a small waterfall.

I was enamoured by all the scenery, but especially enjoyed seeing how the Tablelands contrast with the rest of the area.

Indigenous Cultural Experience

At Norris Point, my original plan was to do the Discover Mekapisk tour with Gros Morne Adventures. However, the weather wasn’t great for boating and a nature walk, so the guide arranged some hands-on Indigenous experiences instead.

The first activity I got to try was making a moose call out of tree bark. Securing the bark into a cone was a little tricky, and it didn’t look pretty, but was functional. 

Next, the cone was turned into a fire starter by stuffing it with dry moss and small pieces of wood for tinder. Once that was done, I headed outside to build a fire using only a ferro rod to create sparks and ignite my tinder. It was definitely challenging, but I succeeded in being the first in the group to get a flame going!

Anchors Away Show

In Rocky Harbour, I ended my day by attending the popular Anchors Away show. This group of musicians were fantastically entertaining, filling their show with local songs and Newfoundland humour. I laughed, clapped, danced, and had such a great time that I would go see the band again. 

Day 3: Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse and Western Brook Pond

Today I stopped to visit a lighthouse on the way to Western Brook Pond where I did a scenic boat cruise through a fjord. I spent the night in Norris Point.

Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse

The Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse was built in 1898 to safely guide ships in and out of Bonne Bay, a busy port before roads were built here. It is now home to a museum, forested walking trails, and viewpoints looking out over Bonne Bay and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The exhibits inside the lightkeeper’s former home show what life was like for the keepers and their families. I saw family photos, old furniture, and even homemade musical instruments. The museum also has information about the lighthouse and local area. Parks Canada guides are on-site to answer questions and share more stories about the lighthouse.

After visiting the museum, I walked the short Lighthouse Loop trail which had a couple of viewpoints overlooking the shoreline. On a different trail, I got to see some unique trees locally known as tuckamore because of their stunted, sideways growth caused by strong winds coming off the ocean.

Western Brook Pond Boat Cruise

My Gros Morne National Park itinerary saved the park’s most iconic experience for last- a boat cruise between the towering cliffs of Western Brook Pond. 

Western Brook Pond is a land-locked, freshwater fjord that was carved by glaciers 10,000- 25,000 years ago. Rising 600 m above Western Brook Pond are billion-year-old granite and gneiss cliffs, the oldest rocks on the island of Newfoundland.

Even on a rainy, misty day, the scenery of this fjord did not disappoint. As the live-narrated boat cruise sailed beside the Long Range Mountains, I was in awe of the tall cliffs and waterfalls cascading down them. There were even some interesting rock formations, one of which looked like the face of a lion to me.

The tour travelled the full 16 km to the end of the fjord then turned around and headed back to the dock, giving us about 2 hours to enjoy the views from both inside the boat and out on the deck.

More Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park

Here are a few more things to do in Gros Morne National Park that I couldn’t fit into my itinerary, but hope to experience one day:

• Hike Gros Morne Mountain Trail
• See the layered rocks at Green Point 
• Do a guided day hike to a viewpoint at the end of Western Brook Pond
• Kayak in Bonne Bay and Trout River Pond

Final Thoughts About My Trip to Gros Morne National Park

Fascinating and beautiful, Gros Morne National Park is an unmissable destination in Newfoundland. From the unique geology and stunning landscapes to the small communities and friendly fun vibes, there was plenty that captured my attention and made me not want to leave.

Three days in Gros Morne National Park was just enough to experience the main highlights, but not enough to take in all that this large park has to offer. I would have liked to do more hikes, go kayaking, explore more geological sites, and see more caribou and whales. If I’m ever back in Newfoundland, I’ll definitely try to visit Gros Morne National Park again!

More Pictures of Gros Morne National Park

Gros Morne National Park is very photogenic so I ended up taking a lot of photos! Here are a few more pictures I like from my trip.

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