Newfoundland: Gros Morne and the Bay of Islands

Small Group Adventure | Local Expert Guide – Life Changing Experience

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Adventuredesk Community Adventures are more than just trips.
They are transformative experiences.

Explore Gros Morne National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Adventure

A 9-Day Group Hiking Adventure and Island Hospitality in Newfoundland

Step into one of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth.

Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where 500-million-year-old mantle rock breaks through the surface, glacier-carved fjords cut deep into the coastline, and the Long Range Mountains rise straight out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Over 9 unforgettable days, you’ll hike through boreal forest, alpine tablelands, and coastal meadows, cruise a landlocked fjord by boat, explore the Bay of Islands by Zodiac, and summit the legendary Gros Morne Mountain — all guided by expert local hiking guides who know this rugged paradise inside and out.

This is a small group adventure built for hikers who want more than a checklist of sights: real trail miles, real local culture, and real connection with a like-minded community of adventurers. If you’re seeking close contact with nature, geological wonders found almost nowhere else on the planet, and the kind of trip that changes how you see the world, Western Newfoundland is calling.

PRIMARY AIRPORT

Deer Lake, Newfoundland

START / FINISH CITY

Deer Lake

OPERATING SEASON

June to September

MAX HIKING DISTANCE

17 Kilometres / 10 Miles

ACCOMMODATIONS

8 Nights Locally Owned Hotels with Private Bathroom

TREKKING

5 Days of Guided Hikes

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What People Are Saying...

  • Adventuredesk has been my go-to partner for all our adventure travel trips. They have helped us with two amazing trips and we have four more on the calendar for 2024. Matt has helped us from brainstorming and planning sessions, building out the trips to sales support to our community. One of the things I value most is his communication and quick response time. He is easy to get a hold of to answer questions and provide us with whatever we need. Matt and Adventuredesk will be planning all our trips moving forward!! Thank you, Matt!!

    Ann Chisholm Avatar Ann
    December 15, 2023

    The team at Adventuredesk helped me to organise a trip to Qubec for a Spartan Race for myself and clients at the gym. Their service was quick and efficient, organising both accomodation and additional activities around the race such as whitewater rafting and a Scandinavian Spa day. Assistance was provided whenever needed also. Overall I cannot recommend Adventuredesk enough for any of your travel needs.

    Tom Richardson Avatar Tom
    July 15, 2024

    We had a great experience working with Adventuredesk to help plan our dream wedding trip to Tanzania. From the Mt. Kilimanjaro hike, going on safari, and having a small ceremony in Zanzibar - we cannot thank Adventuredesk enough for their planning, listening to what we wanted, putting together an itinerary that was both adventurous and relaxing, connecting us with guides who were knowledgable, kind, and have since become friends, always being willing to answer questions and very responsive. Special thanks to Matt Kinch who we worked with directly.

    Mackie McDonald Avatar Mackie
    August 15, 2024

  • I’ve had the best experience with AdventureDesk! Prior to working with them I was planning all the logistics for our trips and I’m glad to have this off my plate and in the capable hands of Matt and his team. Excellent service, follow through and communication. They went above and beyond to make sure my group had an unforgettable experience!

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    Kyle Depiesse Avatar Kyle
    April 15, 2024

    I had the most amazing experience of my life recently on the Camino de Santiago. Matt at Adventure Desk curated the perfect vacation and literally thought of everything. This was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life thanks to Matt. I will be using Adventure Desk for ALL my future vacations! Thanks again Matt… you are the best!

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    Bradley Horner Avatar Bradley
    October 8, 2024

    Matt is an excellent, detailed and caring agent through Adventuredesk! He helped me out with planning a trip to Morocco through Intrepid Travel in April 2023. He provided great suggestions and advice regarding flights and how to be cost effective and save. I would definitely recommend Matt for my next vacation and trip!

    Husayn Hirji Avatar Husayn
    November 15, 2023

  • Costa Rica was an amazing experience and it was all because Matt at Adventuredesk made sure everything was what it needed to be. From the Rio Pacuaro to La Fortuna and ending in Tamarindo we enjoyed the adventures, the food, the culture and the people. Matt was so nice and easy to work with, and I truly feel we left this trip as friends. thanks Matt for everything! It was, as I said, Mucho Mucho!!

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    Daniel Byrne Avatar Daniel
    December 15, 2023

    Overall a great trip, however there were some excursions that could have been omitted and the itinerary was too jam packed, there was no downtime for people to rest and do their own thing. Also there was some minsformation communicated before the trip. It was indicated that there would be banks/atms and places would accept credit/debit but it turned out 95% of the places only took cash and if you did not bring enough cash, it would've been difficult to buy food/tip and purchase other goods. Very few atm's took canadian debit cards. The spa was a waste of a day, more time could've been spent in Quito.

    Viren Parmar Avatar Viren
    September 15, 2024

    The trip to Andalucia was great. Christina was a wonderful guide. Knowledgeable and calm, clear instructions. Knowledge of nice places to eat and visit. Good leader. Susan was a fabulous hike leader and took us to a good restaurant. Knowledge of floral and fauna and customs. Thanks to Matt for staying on top of things. Hotel rooms and recording flights etc. The hotels were great. One hotel has hard beds Seville I think. Otherwise comfortable. Good trip

    Laura Smales Avatar Laura
    November 15, 2023

Trip Highlights

  • UNESCO World Heritage Hiking– Trek through Gros Morne National Park, one of the only places on Earth where you can walk across exposed mantle rock and witness 500 million years of geological history underfoot.
  • Western Brook Pond Fjord Boat Tour – Cruise a glacier-carved, landlocked fjord flanked by towering cliffs — consistently rated one of the top experiences in the park.
  • Summit Gros Morne Mountain – Tackle the park’s signature full-day hike, climbing through boreal forest and a steep alpine gully to a summit plateau with panoramic views of the Long Range Mountains and Ten Mile Pond fjord.
  • Hike the Tablelands Mountains – Walk across rare exposed peridotite rock from the Earth’s mantle, then take in sweeping views of Bonne Bay from the iconic Parks Canada red chairs.
  • Local Island Culture and Cuisine – Enjoy custom-made packed lunches featuring local Gros Morne Farms produce, visit a still-active lighthouse, and explore the heritage of Corner Brook’s railway history.
  • Run By Local Experts – Every hike, boat tour, and transfer is led by experienced local guides who bring the geology, history, and culture of Western Newfoundland to life.
  • Stress-Free Logistics, All-Inclusive Experience – Daily Hike Options, Meal add-ons and more to make your experience worry free.

Ready for Your Own Newfoundland Adventure?

Whether you’re bringing a group of friends, planning a corporate retreat, or simply want to be first in line for our next departure, we’d love to help you get there.

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Have 6 or more people? We can run this exact itinerary — or customize it — as a private departure for your group, club, or company on dates that work for you.

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Curious about the hiking difficulty, what to pack, or anything else about this adventure? Send us a message — we’re here to help you feel confident and excited before you commit.

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Itinerary Overview

Day 1 - Arrive Deer Lake

Your adventure begins with arrival into Deer Lake, where you'll be met and transported to your accommodation in Gros Morne National Park. Settle in and get to know your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner as the trip ahead comes into focus.

Day 2 - Western Brook pond

Start the day with a scenic water taxi ride across Bonne Bay to Norris Point, then visit the Green Point Geological Site — one of the reasons Gros Morne holds UNESCO World Heritage status, with a visual timeline of Earth's evolution dating back 500 million years. From there, a 3 km walk brings you to Western Brook Pond, where a two-hour guided boat tour through this glacier-carved, landlocked fjord delivers one of the park's most iconic experiences. Enjoy a made-to-order packed lunch featuring local produce before an afternoon visit to Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse, including a guided walking tour of the surrounding trails and a look inside the still-active lighthouse. Hiking distance: 6 km.

Day 3 - Green Gardens Hike

One of the most diverse hikes in the park awaits. The Green Gardens trail descends from the Tablelands' Earth-mantle terrain through Arctic alpine rock gardens and boreal forest, opening onto lush coastal meadows, towering rock pillars, ancient volcanic sea stacks, and rugged cliffs. Discover hidden waterfalls and sea caves, savor a gourmet packed lunch at one of several stunning viewpoints, then wind down in Woody Point with ice cream and a stroll along its charming main street. hiking distance: 10 km (+300m elevation).

Day 4: Little Lookout & Tablelands

The Little Lookout Trail offers marvelous views of Woody Point, Bonne Bay, and the Tablelands — with a well-earned rest at the top in a pair of iconic Parks Canada red chairs. Then it's on to the Tablelands themselves: a rare spectacle of 500-million-year-old mantle rock and one of the few places on Earth where you can walk across it. Follow the trail past a waterfall to the bowl of the Tablelands, where you can sit perched on the edge and take in the beauty of the park below. Hiking distance: 5 km (Little Lookout) + 4 km (Tablelands).

Day 5: Summit Gros Morne Mountain

he signature hike of the entire trip. This full-day, roughly 17 km round-trip trek climbs 806m through boreal forest to the mountain's base, then tackles a strenuous, steep rocky gully up to an exposed arctic-alpine summit plateau with panoramic views over the Long Range Mountains, Bonne Bay, and Ten Mile Pond fjord. Expect 7–9 hours on trail depending on pace and conditions — a genuine highlight for fit hikers, with a shorter option to the base available for those seeking a milder day. Hiking distance: 14 km (+300m elevation)

Day 6: Corner Brook and the Bay of Islands

Travel to Corner Brook, dropping luggage at the hotel before exploring the city: a photo stop at the iconic Corner Brook sign, a visit to the Railway Museum and its famous "Newfie Bullet" locomotive, a look at the legendary "Man in the Mountain" rock formation, and sweeping coastal views from the Captain James Cook National Historic Site. The evening is yours to rest and explore the town at your leisure.

Day 7: Corner Brook: Woods Island

A full day of exploration by Zodiac. After a short safety briefing, board a boat to Woods Island for 5–6 hours of hiking and discovery with a knowledgeable local guide, with food included along the way. Return to Corner Brook by late afternoon before heading out for a special group dinner. Estimated hiking time: approx. 2.5 hours.

Day 8: Corner Brook: Hiking the Blow Me Down Mountains

Set out on a 4–5 hour guided hike through the stunning landscapes surrounding Corner Brook on the Blow Me Down trail. In the evening, celebrate with a traditional Newfoundland lobster boil at a restaurant overlooking the bay — the perfect farewell dinner to close out an unforgettable trip. Hiking distance: 4 km (+300m elevation).

Day 9: Depart

Transfer back to Deer Lake Airport for your flight home, with new friendships, sore legs, and stories that will last a lifetime.

Meet Your Host

Rob is behind every Newfoundland Adventure with Adventuredesk whether it's guiding or behind the scenes logistics, rob is jack of all trades and a well connected local giving our travellers an inside look at the rock.

Rob - Newfoundland Local Expert and Adventuredesk Partner

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Rob leading a Group of Travellers by Zodiac in Woods Island.

Trip Extensions and Add-Ons

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