Newfoundland and Labrador: Landscapes and Cultural Heritage

Newfoundland and Labrador offers a range of nature and cultural experiences to help you plan your trip, including geological features, coastal landscapes, challenging hikes, and historic sites. Each destination offers a different focus—from the Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park to the Norse history of L’Anse aux Meadows.

Geology, Fossils, and Landscapes

The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park are a rare exposure of the Earth’s mantle. The rock was pushed up around half a billion years ago. At Mistaken Point, a 17-kilometre stretch of rugged coastal cliffs runs along the southeastern tip of the island of Newfoundland. More than 100 fossil-bearing bedding surfaces preserve fossils from 580 to 541 million years ago. These sites draw attention to different aspects of Earth’s history: exposed mantle rock and fossils in rock layers.

The Rookery Trail near Mistaken Point leads to high cliffs where nesting seabird colonies and whales can be observed. In Torngat Mountains National Park, rugged peaks, glacier-carved fjords, and iceberg-strewn waters shape the landscape. Polar bears and caribou live there. The park is also the traditional homeland of the Inuit of Labrador and Nunavik.

Hiking and Paddling

For a single challenging hike, Gros Morne Mountain offers a 17-kilometre day loop that leads from lowland terrain to an alpine landscape. Seasonal restrictions may change, so check current conditions before setting out. Terra Nova National Park has an 80-kilometre trail network. These figures represent different scales: a challenging day hike up a mountain and a more extensive network of trails in another national park.

In Terra Nova National Park, you can kayak along sheltered coves and inlets in your own kayak, a rental, or one accompanied by a guide. Check current availability if you plan to rent equipment or take a guided tour. In Gros Morne National Park, visitors can use their own canoes or kayaks on Trout River Pond and Bonne Bay; conditions at launch sites may vary.

Guided sea kayaking tours in Newfoundland and Labrador can also combine a range of experiences: whale and iceberg watching, waterfalls, abandoned fishing villages, and bird colonies. Wildlife encounters vary. Terra Nova National Park is also designated a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Historic and Cultural Sites

Signal Hill was the site of military conflicts and technological breakthroughs. Several hiking trails offer panoramic views and striking scenery. In the summer months, whales, icebergs, and seabirds may be seen in the surrounding waters; sightings are seasonal and variable.

L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site is the only authenticated Norse site in North America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It lies at the end of the Viking Trail, Route 430, at the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland. Check road conditions before driving. At the Viking Encampment, you can try blacksmithing and weaving and talk with performers in Viking roles; the seasonal program may change. Norstead, a recreated Viking trading port, is two kilometres from L’Anse aux Meadows. Activities listed there include a traditional Norse game, axe throwing, yarn spinning, and pottery classes; there is also a replica of the Viking ship Snorri. Individual activities may vary seasonally.

Red Bay was an important Basque whaling port, founded by whalers from Spain and France, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The visitor centre at Red Bay National Historic Site displays an eight-metre chalupa, which whalers used at sea for harpooning, and collected whale bones. The Rooms is Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest public cultural space and houses the province’s largest collection of artifacts, artworks, and archival holdings.

A regional tradition can also be described in concrete terms: a boil-up is a way of preparing freshly brewed drinks over an open campfire. When planning a hotel stay, it is helpful to first decide what matters most to you—such as a challenging hike, geological and fossil landscapes, or historic sites. Then choose your hotel’s location based on the route you actually plan to take.

Discover more destinations: Corner Brook, Division No. 1, Division No. 5, Division No. 7, Red Bay, Division No. 4, Division No. 8, Division No. 6, Division No. 2, St. John's, Division No. 9, Division No. 3, Division No. 10

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