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Guide

The four UNESCO sites, and the drive to each

The measured routes to the World Heritage sites in this guide — Gros Morne National Park, L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, Red Bay National Historic Site, Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve — drawn from Deer Lake (YDF) and St. John's (YYT).Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Tiles by OpenFreeMap. Route line computed with OSRM.

Newfoundland and Labrador has four UNESCO World Heritage sites. Gros Morne and L’Anse aux Meadows are on the island’s west coast, Mistaken Point is on the Avalon, and Red Bay is across the Strait in Labrador. Each one below has the drive from every airport and ferry; tap one for its stops and map.

Check each site’s seasons with Parks Canada and the province, linked below.

Where to go, and how to get there

  • Gros Morne National Park

    World Heritage for the rocks: the Tablelands are the Earth's mantle lying in the open, the geology that helped prove plate tectonics. The park holds this site's biggest measured trails: Gros Morne Mountain, Western Brook's rim, the Tablelands walk and its plateau traverse.

    To Rocky Harbour from every airport and ferry, measured by road.

    Tap where you arrive to see the drive on the map.

    Directions to Gros Morne National Park:Directions →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze
  • L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site

    The only authenticated Norse site in North America: sod halls at the island's northern tip, where Europeans reached this continent a thousand years ago. Parks Canada runs the site. The drive up Route 430 takes a day.

    To L'Anse aux Meadows from every airport and ferry, measured by road.

    Tap where you arrive to see the drive on the map.

    Directions to L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site:Directions →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze
  • Red Bay National Historic Site

    The 16th-century Basque whaling station on the Labrador side of the Strait: chalupas, tryworks and a sunken galleon, run by Parks Canada. From the island, the provincial ferry crosses from St. Barbe on Route 430 to Blanc-Sablon, and Red Bay is up the Labrador coastal road from there.

    To Red Bay from every airport and ferry, measured by road.

    Tap where you arrive to see the drive on the map.

    Directions to Red Bay National Historic Site:Directions →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze
  • Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve

    World Heritage for the fossils: some of the oldest known complex life on Earth, pressed into the rock along the Avalon's southern shore. The province's interpretation centre is where a visit starts.

    To Mistaken Point Interpretation Centre from every airport and ferry, measured by road.

    Tap where you arrive to see the drive on the map.

    Directions to Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve:Directions →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze

Before you go

  • Sites and seasonsEach site sets its own — Parks Canada's pages are the source

    Visitor centres, guided walks and hours at all three Parks Canada sites are seasonal. Check Parks Canada's pages.

    parks.canada.ca →
  • The Strait crossing (for Red Bay)Seasonal service — the provincial schedule decides

    The St. Barbe–Blanc-Sablon ferry is a seasonal provincial service, and weather holds it. Confirm sailings before you plan Labrador into a day.

    gov.nl.ca →

Questions

How many UNESCO World Heritage sites does Newfoundland and Labrador hold?+

Four: Gros Morne, L'Anse aux Meadows, Mistaken Point and Red Bay. Gros Morne and L'Anse aux Meadows are on the island's west coast, Mistaken Point on the Avalon, and Red Bay across the Strait in Labrador.

Can I do Gros Morne and L'Anse aux Meadows in one trip?+

Yes, it is the classic west coast trip: Gros Morne first, then the Viking Trail north, past Port au Choix's archaeology, to the Norse site at the tip. Each site's card has the drive from every airport and ferry.

Is Red Bay really reachable by car?+

Car plus one provincial ferry: drive Route 430 to St. Barbe, cross to Blanc-Sablon, and Red Bay is a short drive up the Labrador coastal road. The ferry schedule decides the day; check the province's page.

Every figure on this page was checked against its source on September 5, 2026.

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