Gros Morne National Park

A World Heritage national park on Newfoundland's west coast, with fjord cruises on Western Brook Pond, the exposed mantle rock of the Tablelands and hikes up Gros Morne Mountain.

Gros Morne National Park lies on the west coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at the southern end of the Long Range Mountains, and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1987. It is a textbook example of plate tectonics: in the Tablelands, peridotite pushed up from deep in the Earth's mantle lies exposed, forming barren ochre hills that contrast sharply with the dark green forests around them; the coast at Green Point is the global stratotype section for the Cambrian–Ordovician boundary; and glaciers carved inland fjords such as Western Brook Pond, flanked by cliffs up to 600 m high. Rocky Harbour, on the north shore of Bonne Bay, is the largest community in the park, with hotels, restaurants and the visitor centre, making it a good base. The park divides into three areas: the northern route along Route 430 past Lobster Cove Head lighthouse, Baker's Brook Falls, Western Brook Pond and Broom Point to Cow Head and The Arches; the southern route around Bonne Bay via Woody Point to the Tablelands and Trout River; and in the centre, the climb up Gros Morne Mountain. The best season is June–September; fjord boat tours usually run from June to early October and should be booked ahead in peak season. Autumn colours are lovely in late September, and in winter you can go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Expect lots of mosquitoes and flies in summer and changeable weather, so bring windproof layers and insect repellent. Getting there: fly to Deer Lake Airport (about 70 km away) and rent a car, as there is almost no public transport in the park. A Parks Canada day pass or annual pass is required for entry. Plan to spend 3–4 days.

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