In 2020 people embraced the outdoors like we’ve never seen. Not only was it good for our mental health to get out of our houses and get some exercise, the outdoors was the perfect spot to stay socially distant from other people while still feeling like you were being social.
Provincial parks have played a big role in this outdoors surge and for good reason, especially in Newfoundland. People are discovering their own backyards and finding some real gems.
With 22 provincial parks (13 of which accommodate overnight camping) and a further 10 provincial park reserves you’ll find one for you, whether you want to get out for the day or spend a weekend camping.
We’ve compiled seven of our favourite provincial parks in Newfoundland that you should visit in 2021. You’ll find white sand beaches, sea arches, waterfalls, suspension bridges, and more at these stunning parks.
The Arches Provincial Park
Where: North of Gros Morne
Just north of Gros Morne National Park you’ll find The Arches Provincial Park, named for its most distinctive feature, a large rock formation eroded by the tides into arches. The rocks near the arches can be tricky to walk and balance on so watch your step. You can explore the arches from all angles, underneath and even up on top. There are picnic tables available and it makes a nice place for a picnic if the wind isn’t howling.
Chance Cove Provincial Park
Where: Southeast corner of the Avalon Peninsula
If you’re a tenter, you’re going to love Chance Cove Provincial Park – the only park where you can free camp. After a 6km drive along a dirt road from the main road, you’ll find the parking lot full of trailers throughout the camping season but if you walk just up and over the eastern ridge you’ll find plenty of firepits, a few picnic tables, and good spots to pitch a tent and trees to hang a hammock. There are pit toilets and garbage cans on site. A trail leads down to the coast where you can see whales, seabirds, and seals along this spectacular coast. There’s little to no cell service so it’s the perfect place for a digital detox weekend.
La Manche Provincial Park
Where: the Irish Loop
La Manche Provincial Park is near the old fishing village of La Manche on the southern shore of the Avalon Peninsula. If you’re a hiking fan, this is the park for you. A short, 1.25km trail from the campground will take you to the former village and will connect you to the East Coast Trail. Be sure to check out the old building foundations and the suspension bridge. Head in the other direction from the campground and you’ll find yourself at the La Manche Falls. The river is also a great place to go canoeing.
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Where: Burgeo
Want to visit beaches that will make you do a double take to make sure you’re not in Cuba? At the end of the road in Burgeo on the province’s south coast you’ll find Sandbanks Provincial Parks, appropriately named for its undulating sand dunes and long stretches of flat sandy beaches, some of the most magnificent in the province. While the ocean remains cold all year, on a hot summer day, you can lie on the beach and imagine you’re in the Carribean. The park also includes 7km of walking trails, a swimming pond, a playground, and campground with 30 unserviced sites. A perfect spot to take the family on an adventure.
Dungeon Provincial Park
Where: Bonavista
A collapsed sea cave with a natural archway carved out by sea action is the focus of this day-use provincial park. The “Dungeon” formed when two sea caves became so large that the overhead rock could no longer be supported and the whole thing came crashing down. This formed the large sinkhole structure and two caves leading to the ocean. Eventually the roofs of the two caves will collapse and form a sea stack.
Cataracts Provincial Park
Where: Avalon Peninsula south east of Placentia
8km west of Colinet, on a dirt road, you’ll find Cataracts Provincial Park – one of the most underrated parks in the province. A deep river gorge with two beautiful cascading waterfalls provide a scenic setting for that perfect social media moment. A short walking trail will take you down into the gorge, across the river, and back up the other side allowing you to see the falls from multiple angles. Be sure to check out the arched Ellis Memorial Bridge, built in 1926 and the oldest road bridge in service in the province. Picnic sites and pit toilets are available for day users.
Deadman’s Bay Provincial Park
Where: near Lumsden
Maybe you’d like to sit on a white sand beach while watching icebergs inch by. If so, Deadman’s Bay Provincial Park on the Kittiwake Coast near Lumsden is the Newfoundland provincial park for you. Keep your eye out for the rare piping plover, which once called the beach home. If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path, intimate experience with nature, this is it. No camping is allowed but there are picnic tables and pit toilets on site for day trippers.
What’s your favourite Newfoundland provincial park?
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