Red Bay: Whaling History and UNESCO World Heritage

Red Bay lies on the north shore of the Strait of Belle Isle and is a stop along the Labrador Coastal Drive. For travelers who want to combine their stay with history, Basque whaling is the main focus: In the mid-16th century, Basque whalers from Spain and France established a major whaling harbour in Red Bay. The sites and visitor experiences highlight different aspects of this history—from archaeological sites on Saddle Island to an exhibit of a reconstructed whaling boat at the Visitor Orientation Centre.

Whaling History and World Heritage

More than 15 years of archaeological research uncovered the remains of about 20 whaling stations along the shores of Red Bay Harbour. The Red Bay Basque Whaling Station has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee since June 22, 2013. The site extends from the reddish cliffs around the harbour to the islands and coastline. Red Bay thus brings together two geographic dimensions: the excavated stations at the harbour and a World Heritage site that also encompasses cliffs, islands, and coastline.

Saddle Island and the Visitor Orientation Centre

Visitors can explore the archaeological sites on Saddle Island with a short ferry ride and accompanied by a Parks Canada guide. The remains of buildings where Basque people worked and lived 400 years ago are located there. Visitors can also see an exhibit featuring a reconstructed whaling boat at the Visitor Orientation Centre in Red Bay. This offers two distinct ways to experience whaling history: on the island, the remains of buildings can be seen at the archaeological site; in the Centre, there is a reconstructed boat. When weighing up what to focus on during your stay, you can distinguish between the guided island visit with its ferry ride and the exhibit at the Visitor Orientation Centre.

Walking Trails and Views

The Tracey Hill Walking Trail is an approximately three-kilometre loop of moderate difficulty. The trail includes a well-maintained boardwalk with 689 steps; the number may vary slightly. From the summit of the hill the trail is named after, you can enjoy views of the town of Red Bay and Iceberg Alley. The details provide different points of reference: the approximate distance and moderate difficulty describe the loop, the step count describes the boardwalk, and the view makes the summit a destination in its own right.

The Boney Shore Walking Trail leads to a beach with whitish-gray whale bones, which are considered the remains of a fishery dating back more than 300 years. The trails therefore offer different highlights: Tracey Hill combines a loop with a stated distance and scenic views, while the whale bones on the beach are the main attraction at the end of the Boney Shore trail. You can make your choice based on whether you are more interested in the view from the hill or this historically interpreted feature on the beach.

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