Newfoundland (3) - Gros Morne National Park I

It took us about 6 hours to drive from Trinity to Woody Point, our base to explore the south part of Gros Morne National Park. There are two trails we wanted to hike here: Tablelands Trail and Green Gardens Trail.

1. Woody Point.

2. The Tablelands seen from Woody Point.

3. The Tablelands seen from Route 431.

4. The Tablelands seen from Route 431.

According to Wikipedia: "The Tablelands, found between the towns of Trout River and Woody Point in Gros Morne National Park, look more like a barren desert than traditional Newfoundland. This is due to the ultramafic rock – peridotite – which makes up the Tablelands. It is thought to originate in the Earth's mantle and was forced up from the depths during a plate collision several hundred million years ago. Peridotite lacks the usual nutrients required to sustain most plant life, hence its barren appearance. The rock is very low in calcium, very high in magnesium, and has toxic amounts of heavy metals. Peridotite is also high in iron, which accounts for its brownish colour (rusted colour). Underneath this weathered zone, the rock is really a dark green colour."

5. Tablelands Trail (4 km round trip, easy).

6. Tablelands Trail.

7. The end of the Tablelands Trail.

Green Gardens Trail can be hiked many ways. We did the long but easier way which is using Long Pond Trailhead, turn left at the junction, hike to the second campground and return the same way (13.4 km). Taking the loop back would require hiking the Wallace Brook Trail which is listed as difficult (500+ meters of elevation gain).

8. Green Gardens Trail.

9. Green Gardens Trail. This is the junction (1.7 km from Long Pond Trailhead). Turning left is the Green Gardens Trail (moderate, 100 - 500 meters of elevation gain), turning right is the Wallace Brook Trail.

10. Green Gardens Trail. After the junction, the trail goes ups and downs, but mostly down until it reaches the first campground, so make sure you have energy to climb back up later.

11. Green Gardens Trail.

12. Green Gardens Trail.

13. Green Gardens Trail, just passed the first campground. There are stairs down to the beach.

14. Green Gardens Trail.

15. Green Gardens Trail.

16. Green Gardens Trail.

17. Green Gardens Trail, just before the second campground area.

18. Green Gardens Trail. Believe it or not, we saw two herds of sheep grazing on the trail. The local told us later that sheep farmers bring the sheep here to graze using boat in the beginning of summer, and come back to get them later.

19. Green Gardens Trail, second campground area.

20. Green Gardens Trail, second campground area.

21. Green Gardens Trail, going back the same way we came.

22. Green Gardens Trail.

23. Green Gardens Trail.

24. Watch out for sheep coming :)

25. More sheep.

26. After the hike, we checked out Trout River and ate dinner there.

27. Trout River.

28. Trout River.

(To be continued)