Provincial Parks & Reserves
Perhaps the best thing about the many parks and reserves found all over Newfoundland and Labrador is the diversity of the experience you can have. From unspoiled, rugged, natural landscapes to tidier, cultivated family-friendly areas – all will give you a taste of the richness of our environment.
Nature viewing, birdwatching, hiking, kayaking, swimming, relaxing, boating, camping, cross-country skiing and many other enjoyable activities take place in our parks. They are ideal places to escape urban life and roast marshmallows or gaze at the stars at the end of a full day.
Day-Use Provincial Parks
These are smaller – but just as scenically beautiful – parks best defined by their particular environmental features. Both Deadman's Bay and Gooseberry Cove are famous for their lovely sandy beaches; Cataracts has a deep river gorge with two cascading waterfalls; Chance Cove offers an ocean trail perfect for viewing whales, icebergs and birds; Codroy Valley has beautiful views over a river and estuary; Arches, a massive sea-carved rock formation, and Dungeon is so called because of its mysterious collapsed sea cave.
Ecological Reserves
Many of our unique wilderness and ecological reserves are also open to the public and offer the kind of astonishing brush with nature you might never expect to stumble upon. From ancient awe-inspiring fossil collections found at Mistaken Point, Fortune Head, and Table Point, to the botanical wonders of Watt's Point, Burnt Cape, and Hawke Hill. As well as offering stunning scenery, Cape St. Mary's and Witless Bay Seabird Ecological Reserves will get you closer than your ever thought possible to a range of fascinating bird species.
Parks Offering Camping
There are 13 provincial parks throughout Newfoundland and Labrador that offer camping. Many have fully-serviced lots. Others can only accommodate RVs with a space for parking. Most of the provincial parks open in late spring and close in early fall.
Locations of Parks and Reserves
Location data provided by the operator. Please confirm location
before departure. Also see offshore area disclaimer.
The offshore lines appearing in the map above which purport to delimit the offshore area of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador have no legal effect. Apart from the boundaries established pursuant to the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act, which include the line established pursuant to the 2002 award of the arbitration tribunal concerning the delimitation of portions of the offshore areas between Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia, there are no agreed boundaries between the offshore areas of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada, the Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island or Quebec or the Nunavut Territory, and no such boundaries have been established under statute, regulation or agreement. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has made these facts known to Google.
Directions
Driving distances and calculations derived using Google Maps. Actual driving times may vary. GPS coordinates have been provided by tourism operators. Please confirm location with operator before departure.
Helpful Links
Government of Newfoundland & Labrador - Wilderness and Ecological Reserves
Government of Newfoundland & Labrador - Map of Wilderness and Ecological Reserves (PDF)
Government of Newfoundland & Labrador - Provincial Parks website
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Portland CreekA natural rock archway created by tidal action. Parking and picnic area provided. Camping is not permitted.
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Chance CoveThis park's 2,068 hectares stretch from the highways edge to the coast. There are no designated campsites, but you are permitted to camp on the parking lot in the picnic area. Pit toilets. A trail leads to the coast where you can see whales, seabirds, and seals.
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Lockston Path Provincial ParkComprising 733 hectares, this park with its sheltered campsites and freshwater beach provides a good base camp for visits to the nearby historic communities.
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Virgin ArmThis park provides visitors with an ideal central and convenient location for viewing all of the New World Island
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Barachois Pond Provincial ParkThe largest provincial park in western Newfoundland has 3,500 hectares of balsam fir forest, freshwater swimming beaches, bird watching, mountain streams, and hiking trails with panoramic views. A park interpreter provides guided walks, environmental games and campfire sing-alongs.
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LumsdenThis beach of fine beige sand provides a fantastic view of icebergs in early summer. Picnic sites and pit toilets. Look for shorebirds.
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Port aux BasquesEstablished in 1997 this park stretches almost 900-km from Port Aux Basques to St. John's.
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Pistolet Bay Provincial ParkLocated 12-km off route 430 on the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula. The park encompasses 897 hectares of delightfully varied vegetation.
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Cataracts Provincial ParkA deep river gorge with two cascading waterfalls provides a scenic setting for photographs. Stairs and walkways enable the visitor to descend the gorge and cross the river. Thirty-five percent of the known mosses and liverworts in Newfoundland have been identified in the park. Camping is not permitted.
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Frenchman's Cove Provincial ParkLocated on the west side of the Burin Peninsula, the park comprises 51 hectares of varied habitat. Pebble beach, quiet barachois, marsh and stream, bird watching, 9-hole golf course, 25 minutes to St. Pierre ferry.
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CormackSituated on the scenic Humber River and is a popular place for salmon angling. The park is named in honour of Sir Richard Squires the Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1919 to 1923 and 1928 to1932.
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Sop's Arm152-km waterway park protects boreal forest and threatened Newfoundland Marten, opportunities for paddling, angling and wilderness camping.
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BonavistaNatural scenic attraction park, camping is not permitted. A collapsed sea cave with a natural archway carved by the sea.
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Butter Pot Provincial ParkThe park covers an area of 2833 hectares of varied terrain and vegetation, forest, bogs, heaths and ponds. Hiking trails take you through forests and over barren to a remarkable scenic view point.
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Gooseberry Cove, Placentia BayThis attractive sandy beach with a grassy back shore is ideal for picnicking. High wave action restricts swimming. Camping is not permitted.
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Blow Me Down Provincial ParkSituated on a peninsula between Lark and York Harbours, the park offers magnificent views of the Blow Me Down Mountains and the Bay of Islands.
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SearstonThis scenic beach is located at the mouth of the Grand Codroy River. Natural Scenic Attraction Park.
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La Manche Provincial ParkThis park was established because of the scenic La Manche valley, interesting and varied habitat and vegetation, as well as the diverse bird life. The park includes Rowsells Hill Pond, La Manche Ponds, a selection of the La Manche River, and the abandoned fishing village of La Manche.
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BurgeoThe park is named for its undulating sand dunes and long expanses of flat, sandy beaches which are some of the most magnificent on the island portion of this province. Inland, the park is characterized by spruce-fir forest and barrens typical of the south coast of Newfoundland.
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J. T. Cheeseman Provincial ParkThis natural environmental park on the Cape Ray barrens features bogs, rolling forested hills, floral species such as yellow clintonia, violet bog aster, bunchberry, pearly everlasting, sheep laurel, and pitcher plant, evergreens, larch and mountain ash, White Admiral and Atlantis Fritillary butterflies, mink, rabbits, moose, birds such as common loon, murre, pine grosbeak, sparrow, and Canada goose.
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PinwareThe park borders on the estuary of a good salmon and trout river.
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CormackAngling, photography, watching the salmon leaping the water falls, boreal forest, bird watching. Large but quiet park.
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Notre Dame JunctionA suitable stopover along the Trans-Canada Highway, this park has many attractions including swimming, angling and boating.
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La Manche Provincial ParkLocated in the scenic La Manche Valley this park is a paradise for birdwatch with over 50 species identified. A great place for walking, canoeing or swimming. Enjoy waterfalls, ponds, and streams. A trail and suspension bridge lead to the abandoned village of La Manche.
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Virgin ArmLocated in the area of Iceberg Alley, the parks sea coast features growlers, bergy bits and whales.
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RaleighNear L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site and Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve.
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Buchans JunctionA beautiful area on Red Indian Lake where the wilderness, wildlife and friendliness is outstanding.+1 (709) 672 3348
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Lockston Path Provincial ParkSheltered campsites and freshwater beach. A good base camp for visits to the nearby historic communities
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J. T. Cheeseman Provincial ParkLocated 10-kms from Port aux Basques. Users of the Marine Atlantic ferry find this park a convenient first and last stop on the island. Spectacular beach. Exercise caution when near endangered Piping Plover breeding habitat.
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Lark HarbourSmall, scenic park situated in a peninsula jutting into the Bay of Islands.
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Butter Pot Provincial ParkWalk to see the great view from Lookout or Butter Pot Hills. Guided walks, campfire programs. Two unsupervised swimming areas.
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Frenchman's Cove, Fortune BayPebble beach, quiet Barachois, marsh and stream, bird watching, 9 hole golf course, 25 minutes to St. Pierre Ferry.
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Sandbanks Provincial ParkSome of the most magnificent beaches on the island portion of this province. The Endangered Piping Plover nests here, please exercise caution.
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Barachois Pond Provincial ParkThe largest and one of the most popular provincial parks. Large lake for swimming, boating, angling, water skiing. Hike up the Erin Mountain Trail for a panoramic view of the west coasts land and sea.
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Bay de VerdeEleven seabird species breed on this island, including over 3,000,000 pairs of Leach's Storm Petrel, the largest colony in the world. Visit the Baccalieu Island exhibit in the Bay de Verde Heritage Premises. Access to view the seabirds can be done only by boat.
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Salmonier LineHawke Hill Ecological Reserve protects a variety of arctic-alpine plants that are rarely encountered in North America this far east and south. The area can, in fact, be called the most easterly alpine barrens in North America.
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King George IV Ecological ReserveA rich delta, part of the Lloyd's River System. One of the largest undisturbed river delta sites on the island. An important migratory stop for birds.
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Funk Island Ecological ReserveFunk Island Ecological Reserve, is home to more than one million common murres, numbers that make it the largest colony of common murre in the western North Atlantic.
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BellburnsThis unique limestone fossil locality of international imporance contains examples of middle ordovician fossila approximately 470 million years old.
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Avalon Wilderness ReserveThis 1,070-sq km reserve comprises one of North America's most southerly, unspoiled barrens. It is a sanctuary for a medley of wildlife and plant species. The caribou herd is Canada's most southerly, containing some of the world's largest caribou.
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GlovertownWheelchair accessible walking trails surrounding Southwest Steady. Panoramic views of the community. Four bridges along the way. Rest stops. Wetland park where wildlife can be observed.
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Eddies CoveThese calcareous barrens are unique, supporting many species of plants not found elsewhere in Newfoundland. Many of the plant species are rare and endangered. Requires a hike from access road.
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Bay du Nord Wilderness ReserveRoadless 2,895 sq km wilderness in south-eastern Newfoundland. Wildlife populations and plant communities thrive with little or no disturbances from humans. Access via hiking trails and canoe route.
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Witless BayComprised of four small islands, this reserve is one of nature's greatest wonders anywhere on earth. In summer it is home to millions of seabirds that come to shore to nest and raise their young on the four islands. Whales swim here, especially humpback and minkes. Best seen from a tour boat operating from nearby communities.
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SpringdaleThis 10.74 sq km Red Pine site is situated at the headwaters of West Brook. Red Pine is presently the rarest indigenous coniferous tree species in Newfoundland.
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Labrador CityThe only known natural stands of jack pine in the province, and the most easterly occurrence of this tree species in North America.
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RaleighUnique and rare flora along a coastline with fantastic limestone karst topography. The only known location in the world for the Burnt Cape Cinquefoil. Guided tours available daily.
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RoundaboutProtects breeding seabirds on three islands, only breeding colony of Manx Shearwater in North America.
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Portugal Cove SouthThe reserve contains the oldest and largest known fossils of complex, multicellular organisms from 579-560 million years ago.
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FortuneThe rocks in the superbly exposed low cliffs represent the geological boundary between the Precambrian and Cambrian geological eras. Additionally, the fossils here represent the first development of skeletal creatures approximately 540 million years ago.
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Cape St. Mary's Ecological ReserveThe most accessible seabird colony in North America. The vantage point overlooks a magnificent sea stack and offers an opportunity to photograph the seabirds, including the second largest nesting colony of gannets in Newfoundland, and the third largest in North America. Interpretation Centre, guided & interpretive hikes.
Watch Chris explain the word duckish. Here’s a hint: it has nothing to do with ducks. Or maybe it does?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YN0u8DjBIk&feature=youtu.be
