National park · Canada
Gros Morne National ParkParc national du Gros-Morne
Give the park two full days by car: Western Brook Pond boat and the Tablelands on day one, Gros Morne Mountain or a coastal walk on day two; base in Rocky Harbour, book the boat and lodging ahead for July–August, and skip it as a day trip from Deer Lake.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,805 km² (697 sq mi)697 sq mi (1,805 km²)
approximate
Established
1973
Best months
Jun–Sep
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Area
- 1,805 km² (697 sq mi)697 sq mi (1,805 km²)
- Established as a reserve in 1973; became a national park on 1 October 2005.
- Established
- 1973
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Gros Morne protects 1,805 km² of the Long Range Mountains on Newfoundland's west coast, plus the Tablelands — mantle rock pushed up in a plate collision and toxic to most plants, which is why it looks like bare desert. UNESCO listed the park in 1987 for that geology. The park road (Route 430) runs through it, so you sleep in the villages inside or beside the park and drive between trailheads. The operating season is mid-May to mid-October; winter keeps the road open but most services close.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1987Listed for the Tablelands and other exposed oceanic crust and mantle rock.
Size and age
1,805 km² (697 sq mi)697 sq mi (1,805 km²) · national park since 1973
Established as a reserve in 1973; became a national park on 1 October 2005.
Why go
- The Tablelands: rust-coloured peridotite from the Earth's mantle, bare because the rock starves plants.
- Western Brook Pond, a 16 km (9.9 mi) landlocked fjord reached by a 3 km (1.9 mi) walk and a boat.Western Brook Pond, a 9.9 mi (16 km) landlocked fjord reached by a 1.9 mi (3 km) walk and a boat.
- The 16 km (9.9 mi) Gros Morne Mountain trail, the hardest day hike in the park.The 9.9 mi (16 km) Gros Morne Mountain trail, the hardest day hike in the park.
- Villages inside the park — Rocky Harbour, Woody Point, Trout River — with B&Bs, seafood and summer music festivals.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanDeep snow; services closed; road open but storms close sections
- FebColdest; snowshoe and ski only
- MarStill winter; few facilities
- AprThaw and mud; most services shut
- MaySeason opens mid-May; boat trips depend on demand; snow patches on high trails
- JunBoat trips start daily; capelin and whales in the inlets; fewer people than July
- JulEverything open; warmest; book lodging and the boat early
- AugFull service and festivals; busiest month
- SepFewer people, boat trips thin out after early September; good walking
- OctSeason ends mid-October; autumn colour; some services closed
- NovMost facilities closed; wet and windy
- DecWinter; only the road and a few businesses stay open
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moose (on roads, especially at dawn and dusk)All year · Introduced around 1900; an adult can weigh over a tonne and collisions are often fatal. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Whales (minke, humpback, fin) and capelin in the inletsJun–Aug · Best during the capelin run in early summer. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Caribou on the high plateauJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Black bearsMay–Oct · Store food properly and make noise on trails. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Harbour seals in St. Pauls InletMay–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Deer Lake (YDF airport)
Rent a car at the airport and drive Route 430 north to the park visitor centre and Rocky Harbour.
1 h
From Port aux Basques (ferry from North Sydney)
Marine Atlantic ferry, then drive Route 1 and Route 430 north; reservations essential.
4 h drive after a 6 h crossing
From Corner Brook
Drive Route 1 east then Route 430 north into the park.
1.5 h
From St. John's
Fly to Deer Lake or drive the Trans-Canada Highway across the island.
8–9 h drive
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Harbour and the coastal strip | Visitor centre, most lodging and restaurants, Lobster Cove Head lighthouse, easy coastal walks. | Open; drive and park. |
| Western Brook Pond | The fjord, the 3 km (1.9 mi) access walk and the boat dock.The fjord, the 1.9 mi (3 km) access walk and the boat dock. | Open; boat ticket needed for the water. |
| Tablelands | Bare peridotite plateau above Trout River and Woody Point, with the Tablelands Trail at its base. | Open; stay on the trail — the rock is toxic to plants and slippery when wet. |
| Gros Morne Mountain and the interior | The mountain trail and the pathless Long Range Traverse. | Mountain trail open in season; traverse by permit only. |
Sketch map
- 1Gros Morne visitor centre · Headquarters≈49.572, -57.875Map ↗
- 2Rocky Harbour · Town≈49.590, -57.916Map ↗
- 3Western Brook Pond trailhead · Trail≈49.783, -57.833Map ↗
- 4Gros Morne Mountain trailhead · Trail≈49.610, -57.790Map ↗
- 5Tablelands trailhead · Trail≈49.475, -58.055Map ↗
- 6Woody Point · Village≈49.500, -57.930Map ↗
- 7Trout River · Village≈49.471, -58.118Map ↗
- 8Deer Lake Regional Airport · Ranger station≈49.213, -57.394Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along Route 430 and the south shore, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry, adult (day) | CAD 12–13 (≈ US$9–10) | person | 2026 estimate; Parks Canada day rate, higher in the summer season than the shoulder (check). |
| Park entry, family/group (day) | CAD 24–26 (≈ US$18–19) | vehicle | 2026 estimate; covers up to seven people in one vehicle (check). |
| Parks Canada Discovery Pass, adult (annual) | CAD 75–80 (≈ US$55–60) | person | 2026 estimate; pays off if you visit two or more national parks or historic sites in a year. |
| Western Brook Pond boat tour, adult | CAD 58–67 (≈ US$45–50) | person | Operator price; youth and child rates lower. Book ahead for July–August. |
| Bonne Bay boat tour, adult | CAD 45 (≈ US$35) | person | Two-hour fjord tour; the 'screech in' ceremony costs about $10 extra. |
| Parks Canada campsite, unserviced | CAD 28–29 (≈ US$25) | night | 2026 estimate; serviced sites with power cost more, oTENTik glamping and rustic cabins much more (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Western Brook Pond boat permit or guide
Long Range Traverse and backcountry camping permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- C$12–13≈ US$9–10
- C$24–26≈ US$18–19
- C$75–80≈ US$55–60
- C$58–67≈ US$45–50
- C$45≈ US$35
- C$28–29≈ US$25
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Parks Canada — Gros Morne National Park before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on the Tablelands trail
- Peridotite is toxic to most plants and the surface is easily damaged; walking off-trail leaves scars that last decades.
- Food storage
- Keep food in a vehicle or a bear-proof container, never in a tent, and clean up at camp kitchens.
- Drones
- Not allowed without a Parks Canada permit (check).check
- Camping
- Only in designated campgrounds or with a backcountry permit; no random camping along the road.
- Fires
- Only in provided fire pits; check for fire bans before lighting anything.
Where to stay
In the park
Rocky Harbour
The park's main village: hotels, motels, B&Bs and restaurants, 3 km (1.9 mi) from the visitor centre.The park's main village: hotels, motels, B&Bs and restaurants, 1.9 mi (3 km) from the visitor centre.
In the park
Woody Point and Trout River
Smaller south-shore villages with B&Bs and a handful of restaurants, closer to the Tablelands.
In the park
Parks Canada campgrounds
Five campgrounds from unserviced tent sites to oTENTik glamping; reserve early for July and August.
Near the park
Deer Lake
Airport town an hour away; a fallback if the park is full.
Safety
Moose on the road at dawn and dusk high
Weather turning on the mountain medium
Bears and other large animals medium
Cold water and cliffs on the coast medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The visitor centre, Lobster Cove Head paths and the Tablelands trailhead are reachable by car with short, level walks.
- Gros Morne Mountain, Green Gardens and the Western Brook Pond access walk are rough or long; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Buy the Discovery Pass and use it across Parks Canada sites instead of paying day rates repeatedly.
- Stay on marked trails on the Tablelands and alpine sections; the ground recovers very slowly.
- Eat and sleep in the villages inside the park so the money stays in the communities.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Gros Morne National Park?
A Parks Canada day pass costs roughly $12–13 per adult or $24–26 per vehicle (2026 estimate), and a Discovery Pass at about $75–80 per adult covers entry for a year at Gros Morne and other Parks Canada sites. Camping, boat tours and backcountry permits are extra.
What are the best hikes in Gros Morne National Park?
For most people: the Tablelands Trail (about 4 km return, easy), Green Gardens (9 km return, moderate) and the Western Brook Pond access walk to the boat dock. The 16 km Gros Morne Mountain loop is the hard one — 800 m of climbing, loose rock and fast weather changes.
When is the best time to visit Gros Morne National Park?
Late June to early September. The operating season runs mid-May to mid-October, with full services and daily boat trips in July and August. June and September are quieter and still good for walking; winter keeps the road open but most facilities close.
Do I need a car in Gros Morne?
Yes, in practice. The park is 1,805 km² and the villages, trailheads and boat dock are far apart, with no useful public transport between them. Rent at Deer Lake airport, about an hour away.
Can I see the Tablelands without a guide?
Yes. The Tablelands Trail starts from the road between Woody Point and Trout River and is signed. Stay on the trail: the peridotite is toxic to most plants and the surface scars easily.
Is one day enough for Gros Morne?
No. One day covers either the Western Brook Pond boat or the Tablelands, not both comfortably. Two full days is the realistic minimum; three lets you add the mountain or Green Gardens.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go