Epic Green Gardens Trail & Tablelands at Gros Morne: How to Hike

You made it! Are you ready to hike some of the best trails in Newfoundland at Gros Morne National Park? Start by visiting the cliffside meadows of the Green Gardens Trail in search of stunning views, rocky beaches, and sheep.

End your day with a visit to the Tablelands, where you can literally hike on the Earth’s mantle! This park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is not to be missed. These hikes are part of our epic 12 day itinerary through Newfoundland. Let’s hit the trails.

Before You Venture Out

• Fees are required when visiting all trails at Gros Morne National Park. You can purchase your Discovery Pass online before arriving or at the following locations:
  • Gros Morne Entrance Kiosk in Wiltondale
  • Visitor Centre in Rocky Harbour
  • Discovery Centre in Woody Point
  • Admin Building in Rocky Harbour
• Parking was not an issue for us at Gros Morne National Park, but still plan to get to these hikes early if you can.
• There is a pit toilet at the Green Gardens trailhead and one located along the trail before you reach the stairs to the beach near the campsites. Tablelands has a pit toilet located in the parking lot.
• Permits are required for camping.

Weather and General Safety

• Be aware of the weather at all times. You might experience all four seasons in one day! Sun, rain, fog, wind, heat, cold, you name it. It’s best to bring layers while hiking in Gros Morne National Park because you never know what you’ll encounter.
• Carry at least 1 liter of water per person for every 5 miles planned to hike. We recommend investing in a water bladder, and you’ll likely never run out.
• Proper footwear is recommended while hiking the trails at Gros Morne. Flip flops aren’t going to cut it!

Animal Safety in Newfoundland

• Newfoundland is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including iconic species like moose, caribou, black bears, lynx, and foxes. In addition, the island is home to numerous bird and fish species. While encounters with predators are rare, there’s one creature you’re almost certain to meet: the infamous black fly!
• Newfoundland’s pristine natural environment provides the perfect habitat for black flies, which are active from spring through summer. If you’ve been here, you know just how persistent they can be. Count on some mosquitoes as well!
• Keep DEET bug spray handy, and a head net will become your best friend if you get swarmed.

Green Gardens Trail – moderate – 6 miles, out and back

The Green Gardens Trail is a magical hike at Gros Morne National Park! Note that this trail is no longer a loop. The trail was redone in 2017 for visitor safety. The trail begins to the left of the parking lot and first heads up a hill through the open serpentine barrens of the Tablelands.

Once you reach the top of this section, the trail is mostly downhill until you reach the end, so keep in mind that you’ll need to head back up the way you came after visiting the green cliffs.

As you meander down the cliffside portion of the Green Gardens Trail, you’ll be rewarded with some great views of the surrounding mountains as well as the sea. You will reach a plateau on the coastal cliff edge and pass by the campsites and a pit toilet.

The trail will flatten out into lush cliff-top meadows filled with wildflowers (in season). Breathtaking views all around!

Stop at the iconic red chairs for a break and either head down to the beach or past the iconic red chairs toward Steve’s Cove and the end of the trail.

There is a sign toward the end asking you not to continue along the old trail, and if you do, it is at your own risk. Please do not continue past this point and stay on the current maintained Green Gardens Trail.

Finally, if you are lucky at picturesque Steve’s Cove, you may spot some friendly sheep! After you enjoy your time at Steve’s Cove, head back the way you came toward the red chairs and beach.

Head down the steep ladder-like stairs to the beach for some extra exploration. After you head up from the beach, follow the trail back up to the parking lot.

The Tablelands Trail – easy – 2.6 miles, out and back

Next, imagine a place where you can see and walk on the Earth’s mantle. This is only one of a few places in the entire world where you can do so. 500 million years ago, plate tectonics pushed the Earth’s mantle upward and out above the Earth’s crust.

Today, you will hike on it! Get ready for some fun on the Tablelands Trail.

The Tablelands Trail is the most popular hike in Gros Morne National Park. The trail starts out from the parking lot and follows an old roadbed. The parking lot is just a short distance from the Green Gardens Trail.

Take a look at all the signs along the trail to learn about the history of the Tablelands.

Eventually, you will reach a boardwalk that will lead you to Winter House Brook Canyon. This is definitely a sight to see! You do have the option to keep going up through the Tablelands, exploring more of the area off-trail, but do so at your own risk.

As we reached Winter House Brook Canyon, we could see that we were about to get wet. A storm rolled in, and we got totally drenched. We walked a mile back to the car in the pouring rain, and one of us forgot the proper jacket. Can you guess who that was? Not me! 😅

Finally, we headed back to the Discovery Centre to dry off, get a coffee, and relax.

Other Options

• Drive to Trout River – about a 5-10 minute drive.
  • Explore the Eastern Point Trail or Trout River Pond Trail
• Learn about the history of Gros Morne National Park at the Discovery Centre – a 10-minute drive.
• Explore the quaint towns of Bonne Bay and Woody Point, NL. Here are 4 Unique Activities in Woody Point, Newfoundland and Labrador that you shouldn’t miss.

Where to Stay

🛏️ Stay at one of the best accommodations near Gros Morne National Park:

• The Candlelight Inn – (adults only) free breakfast served from 7:30-9 am, an onsite fire pit with modern and casual comforts. It’s top-rated too!
• Oceanview Hotel – entertainment 5 nights a week. Choose from a variety of room options and enjoy great meals featuring locally sourced ingredients on site.
• Alderbed Cottages – cottages available all year round with great views. A two minute walk from the ocean and walking distance from local entertainment.
• Bayside Cottages and Gros Morne Motel – cottages and motel units with ocean views, all within walking distance of Rocky Harbour.

Final Reflections

The Green Gardens Trail and Tablelands Trail hikes are a great way to start your discovery of Gros Morne National Park to see what it has to offer. We absolutely loved the Green Gardens Trail and the Tablelands. They were totally different from one another.

It’s amazing to see the lush green meadows of Green Gardens and the contrasting rock of the Tablelands hundreds of feet away from each other.

We had the best lunch view ever while eating PB&Js as we sat in the iconic red chairs. At Green Gardens, you will be huffing and puffing your way back up the trail, which did tire us out a bit. However, it was all worth it.

The only thing we were sad about was not seeing any sheep. That being said, we did see plenty of their droppings, so we knew they were around! If you only have time for one hike in this area of Gros Morne National Park, we recommend the Green Gardens Trail.