With a week off in the schedule before we are due to work back on the mainland, AJ and I found ourselves with time to explore Newfoundland’s spectacularly beautiful Gros Morne National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Park features amazing terrain and geology, including the second highest peak on the island.

With (mostly) lovely weather, we spent the week hiking, taking in the views, and making new friends!

Lighthouse at Lobster Cove Head.

View from the shorelines below the Lobster Cove Head trail.

We saw beautiful sunsets most everynight.

The James Callaghan, or Gros Morne Mountain Trail, was one of our major hikes planned for the trip. The trail climbs almost 800m and takes you up to the summit of the second highest peak in Newfoundland.

The landscape is home to many rare and endangered species that are most often found in arctic climates.

At the base of the mountain, preparing to start the climb up the scree field.

The ‘trail’ was more of a path which ascended rocks, split by frost. It was extremely steep in some points, but gave a killer view if you stopped to catch your breath.

An exhausting climb, but so worth it! Great place to stop for a few minutes and grab a bite to eat, but we couldn’t stop for too long or risk getting cold. The wind was extremely gusty, and despite balmy 15 degree temperatures down below, it was still quite cold at the top of the mountain.

On the north side of the mountain, the view down to Ten Mile Pond. The total hike took us 6.5 hours, with plenty of snacks and water. Highly reccomended if you are ever in Newfoundland!

Tablelands trail is an old road bed which takes you to the entrance of the Winterhouse Brook Caynon. The trail might not be too exciting itself, but it skirts along an area with incredible natural history. From the Parks Canada site: "Geology here marks a time when the continents of Africa and North America collided, pushing these rocks, originally beneath the ocean, to their present position on land."

Once you get to the terminus of the trail, you are free to wander among the rocks.

Keep an eye out for pitcher plants, a neat carniverous plant native to Newfoundland!

View from the Lookout Trail, which takes you to the top of Partridgeberry Hill and has the best panoramic view of the park, according to staff. We agree!

Check out our full trip album on Picasa!