Gros Morne National Park of Canada
Backcountry Camping
Backcountry camping is a great way to experience Gros Morne. The park offers several
trails with primitive campsites. These provide a wilderness experience
without the need to consider navigation. For hikers seeking a greater
challenge, Gros Morne has several backcountry routes that involve
map-and-compass navigation. The
Long Range
and
North Rim
traverses provide
challenging, multi-day experiences. Most hikers visit the park in July &
August; campsite reservations are recommended.
(Plan, prepare, & equipment)
Green Gardens
9–15.5 km return, 3–6 hours
A flexible backpacking route, this trail takes hikers to the sea stacks and
beach at Green Gardens. There are three primitive campsites where the trail
from Long Pond meets the shore. It takes about an hour to walk from the
parking lot to these sites. Facilities include tent platforms, picnic tables,
and an outhouse.
This is a trip to consider if you are bringing children. Be aware of the
steep cliffs near the camping area.
If you continue north, you can camp at Skinners Cove. It takes about one hour
to hike from Green Gardens to this site which connects to the
Wallace Brook trail.
Wallace Brook
12 km return, 3–4 hours
Hike through a narrow forested valley beside Wallace Brook to Skinners Cove.
Steep climbs and river crossings can make this hike difficult. This trail
connects to the Green Gardens trail.
There are no tent platforms, but there is a grassy area to pitch your tent,
and an outdoor toilet.
Snug Harbour
9 km return, 2–3 hours
This fairly flat trail makes for a wonderful, overnight excursion to the
stony beach at Snug Harbour. The trailhead is located 3 km from the Western
Brook Pond trail parking lot.
The river crossing at Western Brook is usually knee deep, but can be
challenging, with waist-high water even during the summer. Expect very cold,
high water in June. The shallowest place to cross the brook is at the outflow
of the pond. It is wider, but there is much less current. Further down, a
cable assists with crossing.
Much of the Snug Harbour trail is muddy. If the water level in Western Brook
Pond is low enough, walking along the shore will reward the hiker with
beautiful views of the glacially carved valley.
The primitive campsite has several places to pitch a tent, but no tent
platforms. There is a bear pole for hanging your food and an outdoor toilet.
The North Rim Traverse starts at the far end of the beach.
Ferry Gulch
16 km return, 6–8 hours
Enjoy a night in the backcountry beside Gros Morne Mountain at this campsite
in Ferry Gulch. There are three tent platforms, picnic tables, a
“bear box” for food storage, and an outdoor toilet. The camping
area is adjacent to the
trail from Gros Morne Mountain,
and is the place where hikers coming off the
Long Range Traverse join the Gros Morne Mountain trail.
This may be a suitable trail to introduce your kids to backpacking, or just a
place to get a taste of the Long Range Mountains. This is a good spot to see
moose, fox, and black bear.