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Canada🇨🇦 | national parksGros Morne National ParkTablelands, Western Brook fjord, Gros Morne Mountain, Green Gardens | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Gros Morne
UNESCO World Heritage site
🏆 Top picknational park ranked #4
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Gros Morne has no through-road campground chain and no shuttle, and the famous Tablelands are walkable without a permit, which surprises people expecting a locked-down park. It sits on the west coast of Newfoundland in Canada, about an hour’s drive north of Deer Lake’s airport. The scenery is absurdly varied: orange peridotite barrens, a freshwater fjord, sea stacks, and moose in the roadside spruce. The bad side is plain. Public transit is nearly absent, so a rental car is the sensible fix, booked early because summer fleets sell out. Fog and wind cancel boat tours, so keep a spare day. Backcountry sites need reservations in July and August, and Gros Morne Mountain’s trail closes to hikers in some conditions. What I remember is the hollow thud of a moose crashing through alders beside the Berry Head Pond path, then the sharp resin smell of balsam fir. Day one could go like this: pick up the car, buy groceries in Deer Lake, walk the Tablelands, then watch the sea at Rocky Harbour.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #4 national park in CanadaWhat sets this place apart

Gros Morne National Park suits backpackers who like to plan their own days. The park rewards self-guided travel because the best trails start from roadside lots, with no guide required, and you can stitch a route together from a map and the visitor centre’s daily conditions board. The big draw is variety on foot: you can climb the Gros Morne Mountain plateau one day and walk the barren Tablelands the next, with caribou and ptarmigan possible near the summit. Backcountry camping is the budget play. Sites along the Long Range Traverse and at Western Brook Pond’s far shore give you wilderness nights that cost little compared with lodges. Tours exist, notably the boat trip on the fjord, but they are optional extras rather than the only way in. Rangers answer questions candidly, and the loop of … read more 👉
Gros Morne National Park suits backpackers who like to plan their own days. The park rewards self-guided travel because the best trails start from roadside lots, with no guide required, and you can stitch a route together from a map and the visitor centre’s daily conditions board. The big draw is variety on foot: you can climb the Gros Morne Mountain plateau one day and walk the barren Tablelands the next, with caribou and ptarmigan possible near the summit. Backcountry camping is the budget play. Sites along the Long Range Traverse and at Western Brook Pond’s far shore give you wilderness nights that cost little compared with lodges. Tours exist, notably the boat trip on the fjord, but they are optional extras rather than the only way in. Rangers answer questions candidly, and the loop of small coastal villages makes resupply easy. Expect to be more independent here than in the Rockies, with fewer crowds and fewer rules.

💡 HighlightsPlaces and moments you shouldn't skip

  1. Western Brook Pond Fjord: A landlocked fjord with cliffs rising about 600 meters. You walk a flat, roughly 3 kilometer boardwalk and gravel path to the dock, then take a boat tour through the gorge. Waterfalls spill off the plateau.
  2. Gros Morne Mountain: Newfoundland’s second-highest peak and the park’s highest point, a steep rocky climb to a bare, windy plateau with views over Ten Mile Pond. Caribou sometimes graze up top.
  3. The Tablelands: Mantle rock pushed up from deep in the earth. The pale orange ground is almost bare of plants, and the short trail in gives a strong sense of geology.
  4. Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse: A small red and white lighthouse on a rocky headland near Rocky Harbour, good for sunsets and a look at the coast.
  5. Green Gardens Trail: A coastal path leading to sea stacks, sea caves
… read more 👉
  1. Western Brook Pond Fjord: A landlocked fjord with cliffs rising about 600 meters. You walk a flat, roughly 3 kilometer boardwalk and gravel path to the dock, then take a boat tour through the gorge. Waterfalls spill off the plateau.
  2. Gros Morne Mountain: Newfoundland’s second-highest peak and the park’s highest point, a steep rocky climb to a bare, windy plateau with views over Ten Mile Pond. Caribou sometimes graze up top.
  3. The Tablelands: Mantle rock pushed up from deep in the earth. The pale orange ground is almost bare of plants, and the short trail in gives a strong sense of geology.
  4. Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse: A small red and white lighthouse on a rocky headland near Rocky Harbour, good for sunsets and a look at the coast.
  5. Green Gardens Trail: A coastal path leading to sea stacks, sea caves and grassy meadows above the beach. It drops steeply to the shore and rewards with quiet, rugged shoreline.
  6. Discovery Centre at Woody Point: The best place to understand the park’s geology and plan trail days, with displays on plate tectonics and the park’s World Heritage status.
  7. Trout River Pond: A long, calm freshwater pond at the foot of the Tablelands, reached by a short drive, with a pebble shore for a stroll.
Gros Morne National Park’s Western Brook Pond boat tour needs a ticket, and booking ahead in July and August is wise.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Gros Morne National Park

Tablelands Bonne Bay Catamaran Tour

Tablelands Bonne Bay Catamaran Tour

4.4(13) 2h
From €62
per personViator
Bonne Bay Evening Cruise

Bonne Bay Evening Cruise

5.0(1) 2h
From €62
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

July through September is the window when Gros Morne National Park runs at full capacity, with trails, ferries and campgrounds all open.
  • Summer (July to August): Daytime highs run 18 to 23°C (64 to 73°F), with cool nights near 8 to 11°C (46 to 52°F). Daylight lasts about 15 hours. Crowds and prices peak, and the Western Brook Pond boat tour and campgrounds fill up.
  • Early Fall (September to early October): Highs of 10 to 16°C (50 to 61°F), thinner crowds and blazing foliage on the Tablelands and Gros Morne Mountain. Boat tours wind down by early October.
  • Spring (May to June): Highs of 5 to 14°C (41 to 57°F). Snow lingers on the summit trails, and icebergs and whales appear along the coast. Lodging is cheaper, but services open late.
  • Winter (December to March): Highs of -8 to -1°C (18 to 30°F),
… read more 👉
July through September is the window when Gros Morne National Park runs at full capacity, with trails, ferries and campgrounds all open.
  • Summer (July to August): Daytime highs run 18 to 23°C (64 to 73°F), with cool nights near 8 to 11°C (46 to 52°F). Daylight lasts about 15 hours. Crowds and prices peak, and the Western Brook Pond boat tour and campgrounds fill up.
  • Early Fall (September to early October): Highs of 10 to 16°C (50 to 61°F), thinner crowds and blazing foliage on the Tablelands and Gros Morne Mountain. Boat tours wind down by early October.
  • Spring (May to June): Highs of 5 to 14°C (41 to 57°F). Snow lingers on the summit trails, and icebergs and whales appear along the coast. Lodging is cheaper, but services open late.
  • Winter (December to March): Highs of -8 to -1°C (18 to 30°F), with about 8 hours of daylight. This is the season for backcountry skiing and snowshoeing, with most facilities closed.
Book campsites and the boat tour months ahead for July and August.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
canada-national-park-gros-morne-national-park
© Google | Martin Oliv

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

The best base for most backpackers is Rocky Harbour, a fishing town on the coast that sits right at the park’s center, with hostels, motels, B&Bs, groceries and a few restaurants.
Inside the park, Parks Canada runs frontcountry campgrounds at Berry Hill (near Rocky Harbour), Lomond, Shallow Bay and Trout River. Berry Hill is the most convenient, and Shallow Bay is next to a long sandy beach. Sites can be reserved online and fill quickly in July and August. Backcountry camping needs a permit, and the Gros Morne Mountain and Long Range Traverse routes have designated sites.
Outside Rocky Harbour, … read more 👉
The best base for most backpackers is Rocky Harbour, a fishing town on the coast that sits right at the park’s center, with hostels, motels, B&Bs, groceries and a few restaurants.
Inside the park, Parks Canada runs frontcountry campgrounds at Berry Hill (near Rocky Harbour), Lomond, Shallow Bay and Trout River. Berry Hill is the most convenient, and Shallow Bay is next to a long sandy beach. Sites can be reserved online and fill quickly in July and August. Backcountry camping needs a permit, and the Gros Morne Mountain and Long Range Traverse routes have designated sites.
Outside Rocky Harbour, Norris Point has cottages, inns and a small harbor cafe scene, and it is the departure point for the ferry to Woody Point. Woody Point and Trout River suit you if you plan to hike the Tablelands or Green Gardens, with B&Bs and a handful of cottages. Cow Head, to the north, is quieter and has simple lodging near the Western Brook Pond area. Deer Lake, about an hour away, has the airport, car rentals and larger supermarkets.
Best hostels in Canada


Best quality hotels in Canada

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

Gros Morne National Park costs a backpacker roughly US$81 to 98 a day with camping and self-catering, and the total below uses high season figures.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance feeUS$6 to 8 per dayAdult daily fee is charged in Canadian dollars. Multi-day and annual passes cost less per day, and youth 17 and under enter free.
CampingUS$20 to 30Frontcountry sites run about US$20 to 30 a night. Backcountry sites cost slightly less but need a permit.
Hostel or motelUS$35 to 140Dorm beds are scarce. Motel and B&B rooms in Rocky Harbour usually start around US$100 in July and August.
Local transportUS$0 to 40There is no public bus. Rental cars cost about US$60 to 100 a day, and the Norris Point to Woody Point ferry costs a few dollars.
Food and suppliesUS$20 to 35Groceries in Rocky Harbour
… read more 👉
Gros Morne National Park costs a backpacker roughly US$81 to 98 a day with camping and self-catering, and the total below uses high season figures.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance feeUS$6 to 8 per dayAdult daily fee is charged in Canadian dollars. Multi-day and annual passes cost less per day, and youth 17 and under enter free.
CampingUS$20 to 30Frontcountry sites run about US$20 to 30 a night. Backcountry sites cost slightly less but need a permit.
Hostel or motelUS$35 to 140Dorm beds are scarce. Motel and B&B rooms in Rocky Harbour usually start around US$100 in July and August.
Local transportUS$0 to 40There is no public bus. Rental cars cost about US$60 to 100 a day, and the Norris Point to Woody Point ferry costs a few dollars.
Food and suppliesUS$20 to 35Groceries in Rocky Harbour are pricey. A restaurant meal costs US$15 to 30, and fresh seafood is the splurge worth making.
ActivitiesUS$0 to 50Most hikes are free. The Western Brook Pond boat tour costs about US$55 to 65.
Total Daily BudgetUS$81 to 98 (camping, high season)Splitting a rental car with others lowers the per-person cost substantially.


source: parks.canada.ca
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsScenic routes and wildlife spotting in Gros Morne

Gros Morne National Park has trails for short strolls and for multi-day treks, mostly on rocky, exposed, sometimes boggy ground.
  • Gros Morne Mountain Trail: About 16 kilometers loop, 6 to 8 hours, hard. Steep switchbacks, a boulder-strewn gully and a windy summit plateau. Caribou and ptarmigan are possible.
  • Tablelands Trail: About 4 kilometers return, 1 to 2 hours, easy. Flat gravel through barren orange rock.
  • Green Gardens Trail: Around 9 kilometers one way as an out-and-back or loop options, 3 to 5 hours, moderate to hard. A steep climb and descent through forest to sea stacks and meadows.
  • Western
… read more 👉
Gros Morne National Park has trails for short strolls and for multi-day treks, mostly on rocky, exposed, sometimes boggy ground.
  • Gros Morne Mountain Trail: About 16 kilometers loop, 6 to 8 hours, hard. Steep switchbacks, a boulder-strewn gully and a windy summit plateau. Caribou and ptarmigan are possible.
  • Tablelands Trail: About 4 kilometers return, 1 to 2 hours, easy. Flat gravel through barren orange rock.
  • Green Gardens Trail: Around 9 kilometers one way as an out-and-back or loop options, 3 to 5 hours, moderate to hard. A steep climb and descent through forest to sea stacks and meadows.
  • Western Brook Pond Trail: About 3 kilometers each way, 1.5 to 2 hours return, easy. Boardwalk and gravel across bog, ending at the boat dock.
  • Long Range Traverse: About 35 kilometers, 3 to 4 days, very hard. Unmarked, remote, route-finding required, with permits and registration.
Wildlife includes moose, black bear, caribou, and plenty of seabirds along the coast. Keep food sealed and make noise on trails.
Public transport is very limited, so most visitors arrive by rental car from Deer Lake. Trails near villages see steady summer crowds, while the backcountry stays quiet. A park pass is required for visitors, paid in Canadian dollars, with daily rates around US$6 to 9 for adults.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Gros Morne National Park is well managed, and most problems come from weather and underestimating the terrain.
Coastal weather shifts fast. Fog, wind and cold rain can arrive within an hour, even in July, so carry a waterproof shell and warm layers. Gros Morne Mountain is a steep 16 km (10 mile) day with a rocky, exposed summit and a loose scree descent. Start early, bring plenty of water and skip it in poor visibility. The Long Range Traverse has no marked trail, so you need map and compass or GPS skills and must register with Parks Canada.
Moose are common on roads and trails. Keep at least 20 meters (65 feet) away and never get between a cow and her calf. Black bears are present, so store food properly and carry bear spray in the backcountry. Tablelands rules prohibit camping and require … read more 👉
Gros Morne National Park is well managed, and most problems come from weather and underestimating the terrain.
Coastal weather shifts fast. Fog, wind and cold rain can arrive within an hour, even in July, so carry a waterproof shell and warm layers. Gros Morne Mountain is a steep 16 km (10 mile) day with a rocky, exposed summit and a loose scree descent. Start early, bring plenty of water and skip it in poor visibility. The Long Range Traverse has no marked trail, so you need map and compass or GPS skills and must register with Parks Canada.
Moose are common on roads and trails. Keep at least 20 meters (65 feet) away and never get between a cow and her calf. Black bears are present, so store food properly and carry bear spray in the backcountry. Tablelands rules prohibit camping and require staying on the trail. Mosquitoes and blackflies are heavy in early summer, so pack repellent and a head net.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan on 3 to 4 days for Gros Morne National Park. That gives you one day for Gros Morne Mountain (about 6 to 8 hours), one for the Tablelands and Green Gardens near Woody Point, and one for the Western Brook Pond boat tour. The Long Range Traverse needs 3 to 4 additional days.
Visiting Gros Morne National Park without a car is hard, because there is no public transit between the towns and the sights are spread along roughly 100 km (60 miles) of coast. Most people fly or bus to Deer Lake, about an hour away, then rent a car there for US$60 to 100 a day. Some Rocky Harbour operators run shuttles and tours, and Rocky Harbour itself is walkable, but trailheads like Gros Morne Mountain are several kilometers out.
Yes, Gros Morne National Park charges a daily fee of roughly US$6 to 8 for adults, with discounted multi-day and annual passes, and visitors 17 and under enter free. Backcountry camping requires a permit and a reservation, costing about US$10 to 20 per person per night. Long Range Traverse hikers must also register and attend a safety orientation.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Canadian national parks near Gros Morne

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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on exploring Gros Morne

Gros Morne National Park is best in September, when the bugs are gone, the barrens turn rust and gold, and trail lots empty out. Go midweek, start hiking early, and bring a windproof shell. Weather turns fast on the plateau, so keep a spare day for fog.

✈️ When did I visit Canada?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Canada in 2016.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Canada, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

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