9 Best Hikes in Gros Morne National Park

Gros Morne National Park Overview

Gros Morne National Park is located on the western coast of Newfoundland and Canada’s 2nd most easterly national park. In addition to being a Canadian national park, Gros Morne is also a World Heritage Site. The name Gros Morne recalls a time when the French fished along this coast. “Gros” means big, “Morne” is a Creole word for a small, rounded mountain standing alone. The park’s Long Range Mountains form the northernmost section of the Appalachian mountains, stretching along the island’s entire west coast. Many hikers are drawn to the park to backpack the 35km Long Range Traverse. That hike and the other best hikes in Gros Morne National Park are described below. 

LocationNewfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Nearest Metro AreaSt. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Area Size446,025 acre
Established1973
Hiking Trails74 miles


Trailhead Traveler’s Recommended Best Hikes in Gros Morne National Park

Gros Morne Mountain Trail
View from the top of Gros Morne Mountain
View from the top of Gros Morne Mountain, Photo by Natalie Lucier

If time is limited and you can only complete one of the best hikes in Gros Morne National Park, the hike to the summit of Gros Morne Mountain is a must.

Follow the path to Gros Morne National Park’s highest point (806m). Your efforts will be rewarded by breathtaking views of the Long Range Mountains and the Ten Mile Pond gorge. The flat summit is a harsh yet beautiful Arctic-alpine environment, home to arctic hare, rock ptarmigan, and arctic-alpine plants. The first 4.5km of trail winds through forest to a viewing platform at the mountain base. You’ll find frequent stairs and boardwalk—and enjoy views of Bonne Bay, the Tablelands, and Gros Morne Mountain. For a half-day hike, simply return by the same route. The more challenging mountain section of the trail starts at the viewing platform. It’s an 8km loop that takes you up almost 500m to the arctic-alpine plateau, then descends as a rough boulder-strewn path through Ferry Gulch. *The mountain is closed to hikers in May and June.

  • 10.6 miles (17km) out and back
  • 3,280’ (1,000m) elevation gain
  • Strenuous
Long Range Traverse
Western Brook Pond
Western Brook Pond, Photo by Jane Smith

The Long Range Traverse is an unmarked and rugged backcountry route. Of all the best hikes in Gros Morne National park, this is the one that draws the most attention and for good reason. It starts from Western Brook Pond, leads onto the Long Range Mountains and south towards Gros Morne Mountain before descending into Ferry Gulch and returning to highway 430 by way of the Gros Morne Mountain trail. Along the way a series of five campsites provide waypoints that help define the route. The ascent onto the Long Range mountains through Western Brook Pond gorge is the most strenuous and possibly the most spectacular part of the entire route.

  • 21.7 miles (35km) one-way
  • 4,000’ (1,220m) elevation gain
  • Strenuous
Western Brook Pond
Newfoundland Fjord
Newfoundland Fjord, Photo by Matt MacGillivray

Follow the trail to the shores of Western Brook Pond and its impressive backdrop of spectacular cliffs and the Long Range Mountains. Along the way you’ll cross the bogs and forested ridges of the parks’ coastal lowlands. Look for interpretive signs that explain some of the area’s natural features. In addition to the hike, boat tours of Western Brook Pond are popular. On board, behold the spectacular glacier-carved land-locked fjord, waterfalls cascading from 2000 feet that often turn to mist before reaching the pond, billion year-old cliffs, and frequent wildlife sightings.

  • 3.7 miles (6km) out and back
  • 115’ (35m) elevation gain
  • Easy 
Baker’s Brooks Falls Trail
Baker's Brook Falls - Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada
Baker’s Brook Falls, Photo by TravelingOtter

The trail leads you through balsam fir forest to Bakers Brook Falls, a series of cascades over limestone ridges. The forest is in several stages of regeneration, recovering from the natural effects of winds and insects. Heavy moose browsing has limited its regrowth in many places.

  • 5.7 miles (9.2km) out and back
  • 425’ (130m) elevation gain
  • Moderate
Tablelands Trail 
Tablelands at Gros Morne National Park, Photo by Mario Garcia

The main trail follows an old roadbed as it skirts the base of the mountain. You will see unusual plants and rocks as you enjoy broad panoramic views. The trail ends in the glacially carved Winter House Brook Canyon. For a shorter walk, branch off onto the Serpentine Loop, where you will see characteristic plants of the Tablelands alongside a winding path. Geology here marks a time when the continents of Africa and North America collided, pushing these rocks, originally beneath the ocean, to their present position on land. 

  • 2.5 miles (4km) out and back
  • 770’ (235m) elevation gain
  • Moderate
Green Gardens Trail
Green Gardens Trail - Gros Morne National Park - Newfoundland
Green Gardens Trail, Photo by J-A Béland

Follow the trail to a spectacular coastline of cliffs, sea stacks, and the meadows of Green Gardens. You’ll cross serpentine barrens, descend through forest, and reach the shore at Old Man Cove. Continue north along coastal headlands and meadows, or take the stairs to a beach with waterfalls and a sea cave.

  • 5.6 miles (9km) out and back
  • 920’ (280m) elevation gain
  • Moderate
Lookout Hills Trail
Bonne Bay, Gros Morne National Park
Bonne Bay, Gros Morne National Park, Photo by VisitGrosMorne

Follow the trail to one of the best panoramic vistas in the park. You’ll climb steadily through forest, then emerge from the trees onto a highland plateau. From the platform atop Partridgeberry Hill, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of Bonne Bay, Gros Morne Mountain, the Tablelands, and the Lookout Hills. The trailhead starts in the Discovery Centre parking lot located in Woody Point on route 431.

  • 3.1 miles (5km) out and back
  • 1,330’ (405m) elevation gain
  • Moderate
Coastal Trail
Coastal Trail - Gros Morne
Coastal Trail – Gros Morne, Photo by Bernard Poirier

The path once connected two small fishing communities: Bakers Brook and Green Point. It leads you by cobble beaches and through short but dense coastal forests known locally as “tuckamore.” It’s a perfect trail for enjoying coastal landscapes, ocean breezes, and views of the setting sun. Tuckamore is the Newfoundland word for the stunted trees that grow along the coast and in alpine areas. Frost and wind nip back the trees’ exposed branches, giving them their wind-swept profile.

  • 3.7 miles (6km) out and back
  • 33’ (10m) elevation gain
  • Easy
Lobster Cove Head
Lobster Cove Head lighthouse, Gros-Morne NP
Lobster Cove Head lighthouse, Photo by Ik T

Wander the headland and follow the trail through tuckamore forest down to the shore. One of the most popular locations in the park to watch the sunset. The rocky beach with its tidal pools is excellent for exploring at low tide. The lightkeeper’s house is open to visitors from mid May to mid October and contains an exhibit about the history of the area.

  • 1.2 miles (2km) out and back
  • 65’ (20m) elevation gain
  • Easy

Featured Image: National Park Gros Morne Newfoundland, Photo Michel Rathwell

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