A person stands on a cliff edge, looking at a dramatic sunset over the ocean. The sky is filled with dark clouds, but the setting sun casts a warm glow on the surrounding landscape and cliffs.

The Best Time of the Year to Visit Gros Morne

By Newfoundland & Labrador

Gros Morne is one of the most uniquely beautiful places in Canada. Nestled on the edge of western Newfoundland, Gros Morne National Park exhibits amazing experiences all year round, one of the most unique times of year to visit is the fall. The blazing red, yellow and orange hues that are painted throughout the park illuminate the already majestic landscape. Exploring this landscape on the trails, paths, and tours becomes even more magical when you feel like you are the only one here. September and October are much quieter than summer; this grants you the space to enjoy the park peacefully and at your own pace. Visiting Gros Morne during this time is an enchanting experience and every hike and trail is vibrant, beautiful and serene, but these four hikes are at their best when experienced in the fall:

Gros Morne Mountain

This is not for the faint of heart or the unsure of foot. However, if charging up a rock face gets your heart racing, hiking Gros Morne Mountain in the fall is nothing short of spectacular. You’ll marvel, at the changing forest colours, the unobstructed views of a monumental fjord, and the solace in knowing that no one else is on the trail but you. One of the most popular hikes in the park, when you venture out in the fall you will feel as if you have, not only the mountain, but the entire park to yourself.

Look Out Trail

Hiking to the top you will travel through forests of changing colours that intermittently tease you with small clearings, as well as peeks of the view you will experience from the top. The reward for your climb is getting to sit in the red chairs - the coveted seat at the top of the world.

Tablelands

A 1000 foot rock formation of the Earth's mantle that had been thrust to the surface millions of years ago during a tectonic plate collision. It has no clear paths or marked routes, you have to navigate the path of least resistance. Fall is the best time for this epic hike as you are able to see all of Gros Morne from the top; the rolling hills falling into the dark blue sea, dusted with autumn colours. The barren valley below contrasted against the deep fall blue sky and lush white clouds. There may even be snow at the top this time of year, allowing you to be one of the few people on the planet to have a snowball fight on the earth’s mantle — an experience you won’t likely forget any time soon.

Green Gardens

An enchanting hike that doesn't offer the same scenery for long, with coastal trail views of sea stacks, volcanic rocky paths, hidden waterfalls, and colourful forest passages. Exploring this hike in the fall gives you a feel of what the land was like before man arrived. Perch yourself on a welcoming rock as you watch the waterfall perform, seemingly just for you, making you feel like you are the only person on the planet.
Visiting Gros Morne at any time of year will be an incredible experience, but to truly appreciate the tremendous raw beauty of the park, fall is the ideal time go — just as the magic of nature is transforming its colours, and a tranquil energy flows through the park – and through those who visit.