Terra Nova National Park in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada - map, photos and visitor information

Terra Nova National Park combines Newfoundland's boreal forest with the inlets and rocky shores of Bonavista Bay. The Trans-Canada Highway runs through it, making short walks possible during a road trip. Camping and paddling allow longer stays, but most visitor facilities have a seasonal schedule. Autumn visitors also need to account for the park's moose-management program.

Highlights of Terra Nova's forest and coast

• Choose a short forest loop or a longer coastal hike.
• Use Newman Sound as a seasonal camping base.
• Explore inland ponds or coastal waters with suitable paddling skills.
• Look for a clear night in Newfoundland and Labrador's first Dark Sky Preserve.

Know before you visit Terra Nova

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Check the facility schedule and park fees before planning an overnight stay. A highway passing through the park does not mean its campgrounds and washrooms operate all year.

Hiking safety during the moose harvest

Wear blaze orange when hiking during the harvest period. Read signs at the access point and distinguish areas shared with harvesters from areas closed to hunting. Louil Hill Trail, Mill Cove Lookout Trail, and specified parts of the Newman Sound area are among the listed no-hunting areas. Check the exact route boundaries in the harvest visitor guidance.

Coastal weather can change quickly. Carry extra food, drinking water, wind protection, and rain clothing. Tell someone your route and expected return time. Do not assume surface water is safe to drink. Keep at least 100 m from bears, coyotes, and moose.

Check recent trail damage, access, and weather with park staff before relying on a route description.

Protect trails, camps, and wildlife

Stay on the trail and leave natural and historical objects where you find them. Keep dogs leashed and pack out litter. Do not approach or feed animals.

Use designated fire pits only where fires are allowed, and check current restrictions. Newman Sound does not permit charcoal barbecues or portable wood-burning fire pits. Do not collect dead wood from the forest. At backcountry camps, keep food and scented supplies out of tents and use the provided food-storage arrangements.

Book camping and collect the correct permit

Use the Parks Canada Reservation Service or call 1-877-737-3783 for camping reservations. Confirm the operating season and site services before selecting accommodation. Long-term Newman Sound arrangements have a separate telephone booking process.

A backcountry reservation does not replace permit pickup. During the operating season, register with park staff and collect the permit early enough to reach camp before dark. After-hours backcountry registration is unavailable. Return the permit after your trip so staff know you are back.

Location, maps, and highway access

The park is in eastern Newfoundland, about 250 km northwest of St. John's and 60 km southeast of Gander. Route 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, crosses it. Gander is the nearest major airport identified in the park's directions.

Use the park's planning and directions page to choose the correct campground or trailhead. Newman Sound, Malady Head, and backcountry launch points are different destinations. Obtain a park map before leaving the highway, especially when visitor buildings are closed.

Other parks on a Newfoundland road trip

• Lockston Path Provincial Park: A regional option on the Bonavista Peninsula, reached on Route 236 near Port Rexton. It fits a separate drive toward Trinity and the peninsula.
• Notre Dame Provincial Park: On Route 1 at Notre Dame Junction, beyond Gander when traveling west. Check seasonal access before planning a campground stop.

Choose a walk, paddle, or night-sky visit

The Heritage Trail is a 0.5 km loop for a short outing. Louil Hill is a 3.5 km loop. The Coastal Trail is listed as 9.5 km return, while the 35 km return Outport Trail needs much more time and preparation. Select a route for the group's ability and the available daylight.

Use the official hiking descriptions for route planning. Distances describe the listed outing; they do not establish present conditions.

Ponds and coastal inlets provide different paddling environments. Plan an appropriate launch, return route, and weather limit. For a quieter land-based visit, dark-sky viewing offers an alternative to a long hike, provided access and weather permit it.

Campgrounds and accessible accommodation

In season, Newman Sound offers tent sites, RV services, oTENTiks, washrooms, and recreation facilities. Malady Head provides a separate camping area. Individual campsite hookups vary; an unserviced site is not the same as a fully serviced RV site.

Accessible oTENTiks are listed as unit 186 at Newman Sound and unit 94 at Malady Head. Confirm the unit's ramp, equipment, and suitability when booking for its operating season. Bring bedding and camping supplies. Cooking inside an oTENTik is prohibited, and pets are allowed only in designated units.

Backcountry locations have pit privies and bear poles. Reach them by the specified hiking or water approach. These facilities do not imply that backcountry camping remains open after its published season.

About Terra Nova National Park

A protected coast with a longer human history

Established in 1957, Terra Nova was Newfoundland and Labrador's first national park. Human use of the wider area extends back about 5,000 years. Archaeological sites record different coastal cultures and ways of using local resources.

The park's management plan documents collaboration with Indigenous partners, including Miawpukek First Nation and Qalipu First Nation. Parks Canada manages the national park.

Boreal forest and the effects of introduced moose

Black spruce and balsam fir form much of the forest habitat. Native species include woodland caribou and the Newfoundland marten. Moose are introduced animals whose browsing can prevent forest regeneration. The population-reduction program forms part of the park's forest-restoration work.

Observe animals from a distance and keep camps free of accessible food. Wildlife conservation here includes less visible species as well as large mammals.

Contact Terra Nova National Park

Call 709-533-2801 or email [email protected] for planning. The seasonal visitor center number is 709-533-2942. Parks Canada emergency dispatch is 1-877-852-3100.