Outdoors
Gros Morne Tablelands Hike
Follow an old roadbed along the base of the Tablelands, a bare orange landscape of Earth's mantle rock pushed up when ancient continents collided, to the glacially carved Winter House Brook Canyon. A side path, the Serpentine Loop, shows the unusual plants that grow on this rock.
- Where
- Newfoundland, Canada
- Distance
- 4 km return
- Climb
- 88 m
- Time
- 1-2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
The route
Tablelands Trail to Winter House Brook Canyon, out and back.
The trailhead is on Route 431, 4 km west of the Discovery Centre in Woody Point.
Permits and fees
You need a Gros Morne National Park pass (adult day pass $12.25; a lower winter rate applies from 1 November to 15 May).
Before you go
- Parks Canada runs a two-hour guided walk here in summer; check the schedule at a park facility.
- The free Parks Canada app has a self-guided tour of the trail that works without mobile signal.
- Stay on the trail where you can to avoid trampling the small, rare plants.
- For a longer day in the Tablelands, the Trout River Pond trail is 14 km return (4-5 hours).
What to bring
- Shoes with grip that you have already worn in
- At least 1.5 litres of water
- Food you will actually want to eat
- A warm or waterproof layer
- The route, saved offline
- Sun cream and a hat
Getting ready for it
If your longest walk lately is under two hours, do a few longer walks first, ideally with some climbing and the pack you will carry.
Step-ups and lunges twice a week make the descents much easier on your knees.
Staying safe
- Climbing to the top of the Tablelands is off-trail and unmarked; you need route-finding and navigation skills, so talk to park staff first.
- Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
- Turn around if the weather turns or the footing gets sketchy. The trail will still be there.
Route details checked September 30, 2026 against parks.canada.ca, parks.canada.ca and parks.canada.ca. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.
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