Corner Brook

Corner Brook is the largest city in Western Newfoundland. It offers many urban amenities and is a great launching point for exploring Western Newfoundland. The city's excellent port is also an attraction for visiting cruise ships, such as the Queen Mary II.

Understand

The Corner Brook area has been home to settlement for over a century and a half, but it has a fishery history going further back. It was surveyed by Captain Cook in 1767 before he went on to survey Australia and New Zealand. The Corner Brook area became a highly developed centre for pulp & paper with one of the largest operations in the world. The city of Corner Brook came into existence in the year 1956 with the amalgamation of four area communities, each still reflected in the areas of Humbermouth, Curling, Westside, and Townsite. In many ways, the city's vibe is best described by former Mayor Charles Pender: "As a regional centre, we have the small town atmosphere with a big city infrastructure where people can live in peace and security and raise a family."

Get in

By boat

• Marine Atlantic, ☎ [phone]. This ferry service runs from North Sydney to Port aux Basques (on the west coast of the island) throughout the year, and to Argentia (about 90 km from St. John's) during the summer. The duration of the ride depends on the weather and water conditions, so patience is of the essence. Reservations recommended. Ferries are well-stocked with food, alcohol, gift shops, cinemas and sleeping accommodations. There will be lots for you to do. (updated Jun 2018)

By car

The city is located on the Trans-Canada Highway 1, over 200 km north of Port aux Basques. Newfoundland numbers its exits instead of giving them numbers based on their distance from the highway's starting point, so this is only the fourth exit in 200 km!

This is nearly 700 km west of St. John's. From St. John's, stay on Highway 1 and you'll find the city approximately 50 km south of Deer Lake.

Driving from Stephenville, take Route 460 east for 40 km to the Trans-Canada, then head north on Highway 1 for 50 km to Corner Brook.

By plane

• 🌍 Deer Lake Regional Airport (YDF ^IATA), 1 Airport Road, Suite 1 Deer Lake, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Flights from mainland Canada, usually via Halifax or Toronto, land here. This is the easiest way to access Corner Brook. However, you will still need to take either a shuttle, taxi or rental car from Deer Lake to Corner Brook. (updated Jun 2018)

By bus

• DRL Coachlines, ☎ [phone]. Daily scheduled passenger coach services between St. John's & Port Aux Basques. In Corner Brook, DRL stops at an Irving station at the intersection of West Valley Road and Confederation Drive. (updated Jun 2018)
• Newhook's Transportation, ☎ [phone]. Another bus service from Port Aux Basques to St. John's (updated Jun 2018)
• Stew's Bus Lines, ☎ [phone]. Serves Burgeo and Newfoundland's South Shore (updated Jun 2018)
• Norpen Bus Service, ☎ [phone]. A shuttle from Corner Brook and Deer Lake to St. Anthony Airport on Tuesdays & Fridays (updated Jun 2018)
• Thomas Bus Co., Deer Lake, ☎ [phone]. Transportation, charter buses, and bus tour services to and from the Deer Lake Airport. (updated Jun 2018)

Get around

Like any city or town, locals will speak of areas not listed on maps. In Corner Brook, they are: Humbermouth, Curling, Westside, and Townsite. These are the communities that were brought together to form Corner Brook, and locals still refer to these areas by name. Be sure to ask people to clarify where these places are when receiving directions.

By bus

• Corner Brook Transit (The main transfer terminal is at Remembrance Square in Downtown Corner Brook.), ☎ [phone]BUS (287) (recorded information), [phone] (charter information). Two routes operate from 7AM to 10AM, and 3PM to 7PM, on a half hour cycle for routes 1 through 4, and from 10AM to 3PM on an hour cycle for routes 5 and 6. During June, July, and August, the buses run only on the hourly cycle of routes 5 and 6. $2.50 adults, $1.25 children (under age of 12). Ride cards and monthly passes are available. A 5-ride card costs $11.. (updated Jun 2018)

On foot

Corner Brook is a city on many large hills. What looks easy on a map will in fact feel like a true journey if you are not physically fit and mentally prepared for the landscape. Everything will be relative. Walking around the area is the best way to truly take in the surroundings, but it is not always advisable year-round.

Corner Brook is home to a few walking trails exclusively provided for the use of pedestrians. These trails take you around the Glynmill Inn Pond and connect with Margaret Bowater Park. The trails also provide a nice walk to City Hall, the Sir Richard Squires Building and the downtown, not to mention the beautiful gorge. Going through the Western Newfoundland Model Forest, much of the land has been provided for pedestrian usage by Corner Brook Pulp & Paper Ltd.

By car

If you want some convenience and don't want to constantly feel that you are on the Corner Brook One-Step Physical Fitness Walking Program, a car is a handy way to get around town. While the town looks small on a map, the hills complicate things quite a bit. In the winter, be sure to have snow tires. There is no such thing as all-season tires in Corner Brook. They will not get you very far.

A car will also help you reach the nearby sites just outside of Corner Brook, like Marble Mountain or Gros Morne National Park.

By taxi

There are many taxi services in Corner Brook to choose from. Expect to pay a fare of roughly $15 from one side of town to another. Because there is no public transit running on weekends, a cab may be your only option outside of walking.

• Birchy Cabs, ☎ [phone], toll-free: +1-877-634-TAXI (8294). (updated Jun 2018)
• Star Taxi, ☎ [phone]. (updated Jun 2018)
• City Cabs, ☎ [phone]. (updated Jun 2018)
• Corner Taxi :, ☎ [phone]. (updated Jun 2018)

See

• 🌍 Grenfell Campus. Memorial University of Newfoundland's western campus in Corner Brook. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 The Sir Richard Squires Building. Home to the Corner Brook Public Library, the Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial & Supreme Courts, the Provincial Cabinet on the West Coast and a fountain from Expo 67's Czech Pavilion, purchased by Premier Joseph Smallwood. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 The Glynmill Pond. Home to swans and other waterfowl. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Humber Valley Resort, e-mail: [e-mail]. A scenic golf course, 2 beautiful restaurants, 3-6 bedroom chalets complete with hot tubs and barbeques. (updated Jun 2018)
• Massey Drive Pond Trail. A beautiful man-made walking trail through the woods of Massey Drive, built around an outdoor swimming pond. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Marble Mountain, ☎ [phone]. Great skiing in the winter, and a nice hiking destination in summer. Chair lift rides year-round. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Captain Cook's Monument (In the Atlantic Ave. section of town.). A memorial monument for Captain James Cook with a wonderful view of the city and the Atlantic ocean. (updated Jun 2018)
• The Man in the Mountain (On one of the cliffs along the Humber River.). A nature-made face of a First Nations man is chiselled into the rock. A great tourist attraction, and postcards are available with this image pictured on them. (updated Jun 2018)

Do

In early summer, take a walk or go for a drive along the ocean. Look for whales and dolphins.

• Corner Brook Stream Trail. Hike or stroll along the trail. The trail system has two sections, one within the downtown area and another above Margaret Bowater Park that takes visitors into the Gorge, the deep valley through which the stream flows. Most of the trail is a wide gravel path, but portions of the Upper Trail along the Gorge become rough and narrow dirt paths. The main corridor's gravel path is 4 km. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Margaret Bowater Park. Eat at picnic areas, relax on the green, or swim in the stream (when lifeguards are on duty, of course). (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Blomidon Golf & Country Club, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 18 holes. (updated Jun 2018)
• Corner Brook Winter Carnival. A yearly event celebrating the long snowy season. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Blow-Me-Down, 78 Shamrock Crescent, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Cross-country skiing. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Marble Mountain Ski Resort, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. A downhill ski area. (updated Jun 2018)

Buy

There are many Newfoundland-specific shops in Corner Brook, as there are all over the island, but a good concentration of them are on Broadway. You'll be able to find provincial flags, unofficial Newfoundland tricolour flags, traditional and contemporary music, books and art. Cheeky Newfoundland separatist t-shirts are popular. They usually read: "Free NFLD", or "Newfoundland Liberation Army". You'll also be able to pick up t-shirts and the usual items of the tourist variety at these shops.

If you're looking for non-Newfoundland shops, there are two downtowns (relics of the pre-amalgamation communities) centred on Broadway in the west part of Central Corner Brook, and West Street in east Central Corner Brook. These areas have the charm of small communities and give the visitor a more accurate feel for the Newfoundland culture.

As for the fare of generic malls, you can find those inside Corner Brook and on the outskirts of the city. Inside, there's the Valley Mall and Millbrook Mall, nestled right next to each other in the centre of the city where Main Street becomes Herald. On the outskirts, there's Murphy's Square, a collection of big box retailers, and Corner Brook Plaza, a typical city mall with a second floor in the works.

Groceries

• Dominion, 5 Murphy Square (At the Murphy Mall.). (updated Jun 2018)
• Sobey's, 2 Broadway St. (At the Valley Mall downtown.). (updated Jun 2018)
• Coleman's, 137 O'Connell Drive (On Caribou Road near Broadway.). (updated Jun 2018)
• More for Less, 9 Herald Avenue. A health food and bulk food store stocked with much of the ingredients for ethnic cuisine not found elsewhere. (updated Jun 2018)

Eat

Firstly, expect lots of opportunities to eat seafood. Secondly, like Cape Breton, Newfoundland offers plenty of Donairs. In Corner Brook, you'll find them at nearly every pizza joint in the city (for example, Greco at 93 West Street). You'll also have no trouble finding the usual fast food culprits in every conceivable nook and cranny.

• Aroma's Plus (Valley Mall). A charming Newfoundland-style cafeteria. (updated Jun 2018)
• Jennifer's Upper Level Restaurant, 48-50 Broadway, ☎ [phone]. Specializes in steak and seafood. Come for the food, stay for the atmosphere. (updated Jun 2018)
• Jungle Jim's (On the outskirts of the city, attached to the Comfort Inn at 41 Maple Valley Road.). An Atlantic Canadian chain of restaurants. Similar to East Side Mario's and the like. (updated Jun 2018)
• Lucky Star, 4 Humber. A Chinese-Canadian take-out place. (updated Jun 2018)
• Mamateek Restaurant and Pub, Confederation Drive. Serves a wide variety of Canadian cuisine. The specialty is seafood: fresh cod, salmon, scallop, shrimp, mussels is a delight for locals and tourists alike. They also offer delicious baby back ribs (the best in Corner Brook), steak, pasta dishes, and a wide variety of sandwiches. Lunch specials noon-2PM. (updated Jun 2018)
• Newfound Sushi, 117 Broadway. Corner Brook got a sushi place. We can hardly believe it either. Nicer interior and food preparation than you would expect in a small mill town. (updated Jun 2018)
• Shez West, 13 West Street. Fine dining with a cozy sidewalk patio in warmer weather. (updated Jun 2018)
• Somethin' Fishy, 43 Main Street. Fish & chips place with a few tables. It gets quite busy on Friday night as it's the only takeout fish & chips in town. (updated Jun 2018)
• Sorrento, 18 Park St.. An elegant restaurant, screened patio overlooking the park, and cozy lounge. Vast variety of organic foods, vegan, vegetarian, seafood, lamb, steaks. Perfect portobello sun-dried tomato gourmet pizza, pear & blue cheese, rustica, stuffed crust baby spinach & organic feta. Reservations recommended. (updated Jun 2018)
• Thistle's Place. An internet cafe with coffee and the works. Part of a florist on the lower level of the Millbrook Mall downtown. (updated Jun 2018)
• The Wine Cellar & The Carriage Room (At the Glynmill Inn.), toll-free: [phone]. Two fine restaurants with a large selection of fine wines. (updated Jun 2018)
• Z'S Fast Pizza, 117 Broadway, ☎ +1 709 632-FAST (3278). Daily until 4AM. The fastest pizza in town: 7-10 min for orders, pick-ups, take out & delivery. Oven-roasted wings, home fries & donairs. (updated Jun 2018)

Drink

There are several bars on Union Street and several more on Broadway.

• 🌍 Crown & Moose Pub, 48 West Street (Attached to the Holiday Inn.), ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A typical rural Canadian interpretation of a 'pub' (in essence, no different than any other bar but in name). (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 King Henry's Pub & the Cellar, 1B Cobb Lane (At the Glynmill Inn), ☎ [phone]. Unlike other spots in town, these two bars have Smithwick's ale. (updated Jun 2018)
• On the Rocks (Attached to the Sorrento Restaurant.). A fairly cosmopolitan lounge. It often features live music on the weekends along with 2-for-1 all day & night. They offer organic espresso, latte, cappuccino. Jazz piano bar with trendy desserts and cocktails. (updated Jun 2018)

Sleep

• 🌍 The Glynmill Inn, 1B Cobb Lane (Next door to the Corner Brook Stream.), ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Once an administration building for the Pulp & Paper Mill, this Inn offers an Old World feel. Singles $150, doubles $150. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 The Greenwood Inn, 48 West Street (Downtown.), ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 12PM. Typical tourist accommodations. Doubles $130. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Comfort Inn, 41 Maple Valley Road (On the outskirts of town.), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Doubles $120. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Grenfell Campus (On University Drive.). In the summertime, affordable accommodations can be found on the campus. Chalet-style apartments with four furnished bedrooms, a kitchen, and living room can be rented, or hostel-style single rooms with semi-private washrooms can be rented. All rooms are available daily, weekly, or monthly. (updated Jun 2018)

Go next

• Drive down the south and north shores of the Humber Arm to take in all of the small Bay of Islands communities. Taking you along the Blow-me-down Mountain Range in the midst of the Long Range Mountains, you will be able to see the Bay of Islands as the ocean opens up in front of you. On both shores, you'll have about 50 km of road to explore, not to mention countless communities to explore on foot. Take the Captain Cook's Trail via Route 450 on the South Shore, or take Admiral Palliser's Trail via Route 440 on the North Shore.
• Drive the Trans-Canada Highway East and take in the Humber Valley. You'll see Marble Mountain, Atlantic Canada's best downhill skiing resort, and take in roughly 50 km of breathtaking views all the way to Deer Lake. Other attractions along the way: Breakfast Mountain's Old Man in the Mountain, a rock formation resembling a man's face, Steady Brook Falls, a lovely waterfall accessible by trail that leads to a small swimming hole, and Pasadena Beach, an excellent summer swimming destination.

Routes through Corner Brook

North Sydney (via ferry) ← Port aux Basques ←

S  E

→ Deer Lake → Gander