Do the things you love to do and love the things you do! Some people want and even need adventure in their lives in order to feel joy, fun and be fulfilled. For outdoor enthusiasts, the outdoor and wilderness experiences fulfill their wanderlust. Sometimes that wanderlust takes them far from home to explore the world but at times it takes them into nature at their doorstep. Getting up close and personal with nature is often called adventure travel and usually involves exploration with a little risk, some specialized skill and a degree of physical fitness.
Whether you are new to Newfoundland or you are a local, one place that spells adventure travel is Gros Morne National Park which is located on the west coast of Newfoundland. Gros Morne is a world heritage site with an area of 1,805 km² making it the second largest national park in Atlantic Canada. It is an area of spectacular natural beauty and definitely an adventure traveller’s paradise.
Travellers to Gros Morne Park can explore the geological beauty of the Tablelands where half a billion years ago two ancient continents collided driving the Earth’s mantle to the surface; today that mantle lies exposed and naked for our exploration and discovery. The Tablelands, as it is often written, is where you can hike to the top of the bottom of the Earth. A full day guided hike, fairly easy, to the top of the tablelands will allow you to experience what few others have seen.
Adventure travel in Gros Morne is enhanced with more than 100 km of trails and, depending on your skill and fitness level, you can choose from easy hikes to more strenuous hikes. The strenuous hikes are for the more abled hikers as the trails often include steep sections and require a significant amount of time. Green Gardens long hike can take anywhere from six to eight hours as does the very popular Gros Morne Mountain hike and both are about 16 kms long.
The renowned view from the top of Gros Morne Mountain will be worth the exhausting hike up to the top. True outdoor enthusiasts will be very conscious of the natural environment around them and on this hike no dogs are allowed and you are encouraged to stay on the trail in order to protect the rare vegetation and habitats nearby.
Getting up close and personal with nature in Gros Morne National Park often means a desire for wilderness camping. There are several trails which lead to primitive campsites and for those who want a more challenging adventure travel experience such as the Long Range Traverse and the North Rim Traverse, you must ensure you have your map and compass. The Long Range Traverse and North Rim Traverse provide challenging, multi-day experiences where you will find limited outhouses and definitely no platforms to set up your tent. Be environmentally conscious!
In winter, adventure travellers can explore Gros Morne through backcountry skiing and snowshoeing. Because there are no marked backcountry routes in Gros Morne National Park, skiers and snowshoers plan and follow their own routes but should be very aware of the weather conditions, their skill and physical fitness abilities.
If you are seeking a rewarding adventure travel experience, set your sights on an adventure traveller’s paradise, Gros Morne National Park!
