Gros Morne National Park

Located on Newfoundland's west coast, Gros Morne National Park covers nearly 1,800 square kilometres, making it the second-largest national park in Atlantic Canada. The name Gros Morne comes from French and means "large, solitary mountain," a fitting description of one of the park's most recognizable peaks.

The park was established in 1973 and, in 1987, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the scenery alone is enough to leave a lasting impression, it was the park's remarkable geology that earned it international recognition. Millions of years ago, massive tectonic forces pushed part of the Earth's mantle to the surface here, creating one of the few places in the world where scientists can study rocks that normally lie deep beneath the Earth's crust.

Photo by Timothy Holmes on Unsplash

You don't need to understand geology to appreciate Gros Morne, though. Everywhere you look the landscape is changing. Rugged mountains, dense forests, quiet ponds, rocky coastlines, wetlands, waterfalls, and long stretches of beach are all what you can expect to find in the park. Much of what you see today was carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age, leaving behind dramatic cliffs, deep valleys, and the freshwater fjords that have become some of the park's most iconic features.

Although Gros Morne is known for its spectacular scenery, it's also home to an incredible variety of wildlife. Moose are probably the animals most visitors hope to see, but the park is also home to black bears, woodland caribou, foxes, snowshoe hares, bald eagles, and hundreds of bird species.

For the outdoor enthusiast there is plenty to keep you occupied. With more than 100 kilometres of hiking trails ranging from short walks to challenging backcountry routes, there's something for every level of hiker. Add in kayaking, boating, fishing, camping, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives, and it's easy to see why many visitors spend several days exploring the park.

We spent three days exploring the park. The plan was simple - relax, enjoy our surroundings, do some scenic drives, and hopefully see a moose or two along the way.

One afternoon we stopped at Arches Provincial Park, just north of the park's northern boundary. Although it's a provincial park rather than part of Gros Morne National Park, it's a worthwhile stop if you're travelling through the area.

The beach was quiet the day we visited, and we enjoyed wandering along the shoreline exploring the natural limestone arches that have been sculpted by thousands of years of waves, wind, and winter storms. It's fascinating to think that these impressive rock formations are constantly changing, ever so slowly shaped by the forces of nature.

During our stay we also took the famous Western Brook Pond boat tour and explored Rocky Harbour. Both of these areas deserve their own post, which I will share in the next couple of days.

Three days gave us enough time to appreciate just how diverse Gros Morne really is, but it also left us wanting to see more. Over the next few posts, I'll be sharing some of the experiences that made our time here so memorable, beginning with Western Brook Pond and Rocky Harbour.