Hey adventurers, welcome back to Tents.and.Timber!
Join us as we dive into Day 10 of our epic 32-day journey from Ontario to Newfoundland and back. Today, we're immersing ourselves in the breathtaking landscapes of Gros Morne National Park.
We woke up before the sunrise today, quickly enjoyed some oatmeal and then geared up for our long hike up to the top of Gros Morne Mountain. The start of the trail is about a 15 minute drive from our campsite at the Green Point campground in Gros Morne National Park. Along the drive we could see glimpses of the mountain shrouded in clouds making it appear that much taller.
The parking lot was almost empty when we arrived which is exactly what we were hoping for. We laced up our boots and began hiking The Approach Trail which is a 9 kilometers round trip. This portion of the trail is amazing in itself, with some incredible views and a number of amazing waterfalls. At the midway point of The Approach Trail are some detailed information signs about the area, along with some benches and a washroom. At this point if you were only doing this section of the trail you would turn around and return the way you came. However, for us we were continuing up The Summit Trail which adds another 8 kilometers, for a total of 17 kilometers.
The Summit Trail section is actually a loop up, over and around the backside of Gros Morne Mountain. It starts with a very technical climb up a skree slope of small loose rocks. We stopped part way up this section for some snacks and to soak in the views. Eventually the climb starts to level off as you reach the top of the mountain. At this point the clouds and mist began closing in around us and we could see how one could easily become disoriented and become lost.
PSA: Please make sure you read all the warning signs and are prepared before attempting this trail.
With giant smiles on our faces we reached the top of the mountain and took some pictures of the trail sign indicating we were at 806 meters in elevation and at the top of the mountain. We quickly went from over heated and sweating to chilled as there is little to block the winds at this elevation. Not ready to make our way back down and hoping that the clouds would clear for us to give us a better view, we decided to have some lunch at the top.
The sun did peak out at us a few times as we ate, which gave us a few limited glimpses over the side of the mountain. Although, this was not the perfect view, it was still very special and we soaked it all in before heading down the other side. Once below the mist level the views were truly incredible, with some of the most amazing waterfalls we have ever seen. On a clear day this would feel like a dream landscape.
Eventually we made it to Ferry Gulch where we explored the primitive campsite that we had contemplated staying at. Ultimately we decided that the backcountry campsite we stayed at along the Green Garden Trail was better however, this would still be a pretty incredible location to have a campsite setup. From here there is a lot more skree rock to climb over and along before making it back to the start of The Summit Trail Loop.
Hiking back down The Approach Trail was a breeze as it is much less technical than what we just hiked and is pretty much all downhill. The trail is also nice and wide with a ton of places to stop for a rest and take in the views.
Once at the bottom we enjoyed taking our boots off and slipping our feet into some comfy sandals or Crocks before making the drive back to our campsite for dinner. After dinner we hiked the short Green Point Trail to watch the sunset and sit in another set of red Muskoka National Parks chairs.
Trail Ratings:
The Approach Trail: 9 kms - Moderate Difficulty
2.5 to 3.5 hours, 400 meter elevation gain, hard packed surface or rocks.
The Summit Trail: 8kms or 17 kms total - Difficult
6 to 8.5 hours, 1000 meter elevation gain total, steep rocky, uneven and unstable terrain.
Make sure to continue to join us as we soak in the natural wonders, indulge in local eats, and make unforgettable memories in the heart of Newfoundland's wilderness. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell to stay updated on our adventures!
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Until next time, happy trails!
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