Get off the highway to explore.
Get off the highway to explore two routes that will take you to discover experiences on a grand scale: Green Bay (Routes 390, 391 & 392) and Green Bay South/Beothuk Trail (Routes 380, 381 & 382) – so named because this was an area of Newfoundland once occupied by the Beothuk.
The entire Green Bay area plays host to a parade of southward-bound 10,000-year-old icebergs, carved from the giant glaciers of Greenland. These castles of ice can be viewed from the shoreline throughout these coastal communities, or by boat tour. Whales are no strangers to Green Bay either, and there are plenty of opportunities for whale watching in the area – sometimes even just from a dockside restaurant.
Take Route 390 to Springdale, where hiking the Indian River Walking Trail will lead you on your exploration of the river estuary. Be sure to bring your binoculars for bird sightings and your camera to capture some of these fantastic views, not the least of which is the waterfall and adjoining salmon ladder at trails end.
Go for guided hikes and picnics or hop onboard a boat and tour all of Green Bay’s nooks and crannies.
Join local tour operators for guided hikes and picnics around the area, and try your hand at curing smoked salmon or learning the basics of wilderness cooking. Hop onboard a boat and tour all of Green Bay’s nooks and crannies where you’ll look for icebergs and whales, and visit abandoned fishing settlements. Top it all off with a boil up on the beach.
Back on the trail, take Route 391 to King’s Point. Local artisans King’s Point Pottery Craft Gallery and Studio have been creating their art here since 1992, and their work reflects the inspiration of the area. Nearby, the King’s Point Whale Pavilion is an interpretive site featuring interactive information on anything you'd like to know about these incredible sea creatures. The King’s Point Heritage House is also worth checking out. The museum itself was the project of the local heritage society and lives in a 100-year-old house.
An avid hiker can’t leave King’s Point without hiking the Alexander Murray Hiking Trail. It climbs more than 300 metres and provides an unsurpassed view of Green Bay and any icebergs that might pass by. Further north on Route 391, the Ocean View Walking Trail in Jackson’s Cove is the perfect 5-kilometre trek to see whales, along with other wildlife like eagles and seals.
When it’s time to explore Green Bay South/Beothuk Trail, backtrack along Routes 391 and 390, and then take 380 to Robert’s Arm. Start with the Hazelnut Hiking and Adventure Trail. The hills are particularly luminous in the fall, but the trek is beautiful year-round. Further north on Route 380, scenic Pilley’s Island has flawless waterfront views and a friendly spirit. For a dose of history, head to the Pilley’s Island Heritage Museum. Top off a busy day of hiking and adventuring with a tall pint and a wood-fired pizza at the Bumblebee Bight Inn & Brewery, the first craft brewery in the area. There are several rotating beers on tap here, including sour beers brewed with local berries.
Take a guided tour of the Triton Sperm Whale Pavilion and see the 13-meter Sperm Whale skeleton.
Continue on Route 380 to Triton. Take a guided tour of the Triton Sperm Whale Pavilion and see the 13-meter Sperm Whale skeleton, and learn about the 12-foot giant squid that once washed up onshore in Badger Bay. Take to the sea with a local tour operator. See icebergs, whales, waterfalls, shipwrecks, mussel farms and a sea cave called Nanny's Hole.
Don’t have your sea legs yet? Hit the Maple Ridge Hiking Trail. Five kilometres of coastal terrain awaits, but tack on some extra time to enjoy the outdoor pool, boat launch, and public pier area. Get even further off the beaten trail by taking a short ferry ride - passengers and limited amount of vehicles - from Pilley’s Island to Long Island, where you’ll have coastal trails and lookouts all to yourself.
Road Trip Tips:
Please check exact directions and road conditions before you start each road trip. Visit www.511nl.ca for current road conditions.
This road trip includes a community(s) accessible by ferry. Please visit www.tw.gov.nl.ca/ferryservices/schedules for routes and rates. Some ferries do permit vehicles, with a set limit for vehicle capacity; other ferries are passengers only (no vehicles accepted) so plan accordingly.
Distances are estimates and for guidance only. Routes can be taken as is, or in reverse order.
