Aerial view of a coastline with a winding road parallel to the ocean. Waves gently crash onto the sandy beach, bordered by grassy terrain on the other side. The sky is clear and blue, stretching towards the horizon.

5 Things to do in Port au Choix

By Newfoundland & Labrador

Port au Choix, a scenic fishing village, located just off the Viking Trail on route 430-28 West on Newfoundland’s Northern Peninsula, has a rich and vibrant history spanning 6,000 years. Here, you’ll experience the historic intersection of Indigenous and European cultures, while enjoying some of the best ocean and coastal views in the province.
 Here are 5 things to do when you visit.

Discover one of North America’s most fascinating archaeological finds

Long before the Europeans arrived, the sea and her bounty brought the Maritime Archaic, Dorset, Groswater and Beothuk to the region. At the Parks Canada Port au Choix National Historic Site, tour the interactive exhibits and get engrossed in the domestic, hunting, and ritual practices of these cultures, and see original artifacts, from stone-and-bone tools to exquisite carvings. There's also a replication of a life-size Dorset dwelling.

Two people stand near art installations shaped like sails on a grassy landscape by the sea. The sculptures are metallic with cut-out designs. The sky is partly cloudy, and the horizon is visible beyond the water.
A wire sculpture depicting two children playing, one holding a balloon, stands on grassy terrain by the ocean. A cloudy sky provides a serene backdrop to the art piece.
Two people walk along rocky cliffs covered with orange lichen, overlooking a calm sea under a partly cloudy sky. The landscape is rugged and open, with grassy patches in the distance.

Parks Canada Port au Choix National Historic Site

While here, you can also take a guided tour to explore the area's fascinating limestone barrens, where you'll find ancient shoreline fossils and rare Arctic plants—some are not found anywhere else in the world. 

Enjoy fresh baked bread smothered in local jam at the French bread oven

Visit the French Rooms Cultural Centre to learn about the French fishermen who fished in this region. Then, head over to the reconstructed French bread oven...your nose will lead the way. Dressed in period costumes, local guides will demonstrate the firing up of a reconstructed French bread oven, and you’ll get to delight in freshly baked bread with local jams. 

A person dressed in historical attire stands outdoors, holding a tray of freshly baked bread in front of a stone oven. They wear a white bonnet and apron, smiling under a wooden structure with a grassy landscape and water in the background.

Fresh bread straight out of the oven!

Back inside the centre, you can learn more about the Resettlement Era and view artifacts from the Point Riche Lighthouse. 

Hike one, two, or all three, short scenic trails

Amid a rugged coastline of unique limestone barrens, forests, and bays, you'll find three short trails to explore. The Coastal Trail is the shortest at just 1-kilometre one-way, and starts at Old Port au Choix. It crosses gentle terrain featuring a coastal tuckamore forest and ocean views, that often include whales and small fishing boats. The Dorset Trail (3 kilometres one-way) leads you to Phillip’s Garden, and features limestone barrens, tuckamore, and panoramic views from Crow Head—keep your eyes open for caribou and birds.

A scenic coastal landscape with rocky shores and grassy cliffs. Two people walk along the grassy path atop the cliff under a clear blue sky. Waves gently crash against the rocks below.
A red and white lighthouse stands tall near a small white building with a red roof. Both are on a grassy landscape beside the ocean under a cloudy sky. Picnic tables are scattered around the area.
A caribou stands in a grassy field with a blurred green forest and blue sky in the background. Its antlers are large and branching.
A young reindeer is resting on grass in a field. The sun casts a warm glow, highlighting the reindeer’s fur and the surrounding greenery. The background is slightly blurred, creating a serene and peaceful scene.

The Coastal Trail, leading to Phillip's Garden

The last trail, Point Riche Trail, is also 3 kilometres one-way, and features an octagonal lighthouse built in 1892. You can also expect to see limestone barrens, rock formations and incredible coastal sights.

Take a leisurely guided walk with a local (Lassy buns included)

Join Carolyn, your guide and former town mayor, for a walkabout along the seacoast. You’ll experience first-hand the craggy beauty of this region, while hearing stories about the landscape and local history, including yarns from the fishing industry.

A group of people walking on a grassy coastal path beside the sea under a clear blue sky, with a rocky beach in the distance and green fields stretching into the horizon.

Lavers Leisurely Walk and Lassy Buns

You may even see a moose or caribou, and you’ll definitely enjoy some lassy (molasses) buns...baked especially for you by your guide.

Shop locally made one-of-kind art at Ben’s Studio

Creating folk art from recycled lobster trap laths and individually hand-carved sculptures, local artist, Ben Ploughman crafts colourful stories about Newfoundland, and its distinct people through his rare art.

A framed painting depicts a lighthouse by the sea under a cloudy sky, with two small houses and two moose in the foreground. All elements are set against a green and blue background. The frame appears to be made of wood.
A man in a plaid shirt carves a wooden figure in a workshop. In front of him is a display of colorful, painted wooden figures and animals on a wooden board. A window and shelves with tools are visible in the background.

Artwork at Ben's Studio

 Take a piece of place home; when you look at it, it’s guaranteed to bring fond memories of your time spent here.  

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 Planning a trip to Port au Choix? Be sure to share your photos with us on Instagram @newfoundlandlabrador and tag them with #ExploreNL!

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