Great Northern Peninsula

The Viking Peninsula or Great Northern Peninsula is a large rural area in western Newfoundland. Located north of Gros Morne National Park, it extends to St. Anthony (population 2400) as the northernmost town on the island of Newfoundland. L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, a former Viking settlement at the northern tip of the peninsula, appears on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

L'Anse aux Meadows

Understand

The Northern Peninsula is sparsely populated (about 25,000 people along 300 km of western coastline); weather conditions can be harsh, especially in winter, due to rugged terrain and direct exposure to westerly prevailing winds across the open Gulf of St. Lawrence. The population is declining. There are few tiny fishing villages and many wide open spaces.

Pack ice jams the Strait of Belle Isle in spring and early summer as icebergs further north break up during the spring thaw and are carried by ocean currents. One may encounter summer conditions ashore and winter conditions on the ice-filled water, or even be unable to get out of the harbour due to ice jams. Polar bears occasionally arrive on the Northern Peninsula from Labrador on the ice; animals or their tracks should be reported to Pistolet Bay Provincial Park staff so bears may be live-trapped and returned to Labrador.

Get in

By car

  • From the Trans-Canada Highway, exit at Deer Lake and follow Highway 430 northward through Gros Morne.
  • From Labrador, board the ferry at Blanc Sablon (+1-866-535-2567). The crossing to St. Barbe is 1¾ hrs, weather permitting, $25 for car and driver. In winter, this ferry lands instead in Corner Brook, with corresponding increase in time and cost.

By bus

  • Norpen Bus Service, +1 709 457-2024. This company runs a shuttle from Corner Brook and Deer Lake to St. Anthony Airport on Tuesdays & Fridays.

By plane

Get around

The only major local road is the Viking Trail, Newfoundland Highway 430, which follows the western coastline.

See

  • 🌍 L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, Route 436 (north of St. Anthony), +1 709 623-2608 (May-Oct), +1 709 458-2417 (off-season), e-mail: . 9AM-5PM daily, early June-Thanksgiving, 9AM-6PM summer. Archaeological site with reconstructions of three Norse buildings, hiking trails, Viking guides in period costume, visitor centre and picnic area. $12.
  • 🌍 Port au Choix National Historic Site, Point Riche Road, Port au Choix, +1 709 861-3522. 9AM-5PM, mid-June to early September. Native archaeological site with visitor centre.
  • 🌍 Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve, Burnt Cape, 1 km northwest of Raleigh. Over 30 species of rare plant life. Call ahead to book an excellent guided tour. Free year-round.
  • 🌍 Pistolet Bay Provincial Park, Raleigh, +1 709 454-7570. Unsupervised beach, picnic area, fishing, canoeing, thirty camp sites ($15/night) with partial services (showers, toilets).
  • 🌍 Table Point Ecological Reserve, 14 km northeast of Daniel's Harbour on Route 430, +1 709 454-7570. Free.
  • 🌍 Cow Head Lighthouse, Cow Head, Newfoundland (Travel across the thin strip of land which connects the old summer island and the mainland 'winter town.' You will see signs that point you to the lighthouse trail.). A 10-minute hike with some stairs will bring you to the renovated lighthouse. This is very cool as it is open and you can climb up into the old lantern room and get a beautiful view of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Free.

Do

  • Scenic Pursuit, 51 Main St, Bide Arm, +1 709 457-2706. Seasonal, M-Sa 9AM-8PM. Boat tours from Canada Bay, charters, iceberg and whale watching.

Buy

  • 🌍 Dark Tickle Company, 75 Main St, St. Lunaire - Griquet, +1 709 623-2354. Manufactures jams, sauces, vinegars, teas, drinks and chocolates using wild berries from Newfoundland and Labrador. Books, clothing, souvenirs.

Eat

Drink

  • 🌍 Skipper Hot's Lounge, Straitsview, St. Lunaire-Griquet, +1 709-623-2241. noon-midnight daily (June-Sept), 2PM-midnight weekends off-season. Bar and lounge, take-out fried foods and sandwiches, live music, billiards and darts.

Sleep

L'Anse aux Meadows

Cape Onion

Hawke's Bay

Main Brook

Plum Point

Port au Choix

Raleigh

St. Anthony

St. Barbe

Connect

Go next

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