Winter in Western Newfoundland: Mountains and Adventure

Western Newfoundland is home to some of the best views in Canada. It has unique scenery and activities every season; winter is no exception. There are many amazing things to do in Western Newfoundland. Here’s a guide of what you can’t miss on your trip:

What’s the Weather like for Winter in Western Newfoundland

One of the incredible things about Western Newfoundland is that it turns into a winter wonderland from January to April (sometimes earlier). This is when fresh, powdery snow will cover the region. This means you can consistently enjoy activities like skiing/snowboarding and snowmobiling. Temperatures hover around 0°C to -5°C but can reach colder, like -20 or lower. Make sure to look at the windchill, too, because that can make it colder. 

What to Wear for Winter in Western Newfoundland

Make sure to pack your winter essentials for a winter trip to Western Newfoundland. Your packing list should include a warm winter jacket, winter boots, warm mitts, a warm toque, lots of layers and sunglasses. Check out my guide to dressing for Canadian winter before you go.

You can rent equipment like snowshoes, skis, snowboards, and more in Western Newfoundland. 

How To Get To Western Newfoundland

By Plane to Western Newfoundland

The easiest way to get to Western Newfoundland is to fly into Deer Lake Regional Airport. Once you arrive, you can rent a car at the airport.

By Ferry to Western Newfoundland

If visiting Cape Breton, you can take an overnight ferry to/from Newfoundland. Choose the ferry option that brings you to Port-aux-Basques, and it will bring you to the tip of Western Newfoundland, and you can about 2 hours to the start of this itinerary in Corner Brook. 

By Car to Western Newfoundland

If you’re already in Newfoundland and have a car, you can travel to Corner Brook, Newfoundland. 

How To Get Around Western Newfoundland?

You’ll need a car for this adventure. It will also allow you to stop for some incredible roadside mountain views. 

If you prefer to sit back and relax, check out Ride in Style. They offer multiple options to help you immerse yourself in Western Newfoundland.

Choose their tour or day trip option, and they’ll create a custom itinerary for you. A local guide will bring you to all the destinations. This is a great option to dive deeper into the region and allow a local to share their favourites and hidden gems. 

They offer a chauffeur service that can bring you to restaurants, activities and sights as needed for your trip. 

How Long Do You Need for Winter in Western Newfoundland

You can easily make a long weekend trip to Western Newfoundland in winter. I recommend at least three nights here. I flew in Friday and flew out Monday. We were able to cross off lots of activities for the trip, but I could have stayed longer too. 

Things To Do For Winter in Western Newfoundland

Snowmobiling Tour with Rugged Edge

Rugged Edge is a local company that offers snowmobiling tours in the winter and ATV tours and dirt bikes in the warmer months. In the winter, you can do a half-day tour, full day tour or rent a snowmobile on your own. 

One of the first things I noticed was how passionate their team is about snowmobiling and showing their backyard to visitors. You won’t believe the views you’ll get less than 10 minutes from their location. I loved zooming through the snow-covered trees and seeing the lookout views.

This was my first time snowmobiling as a passenger and driving; truthfully, I was nervous. Looking back, I had no reason to be. Their team helped me feel comfortable. I gave it a go, and I’m happy I did. 

We also had the opportunity to do a ride through the backcountry. What a sight to be the first ones riding through fresh snow to an incredible view at the end, where we enjoyed hot chocolate. Other tours have the option of charcuterie, touton (classic Newfoundland treat of fried dough), or Newfoundland boil-up.

Fun fact, they’ve had celebrities on their tours like Jason Momoa. He snowmobiled with Rugged Edge for a week to scout locations for his show, Frontier. That gives a pretty cool indication of the epic places they can take you! 

Winter Ziplining with Marble Zip

I found my new favourite season for ziplining! Glide over snow-covered trees and past an icy waterfall with Marble Zip Tours. I’m generally scared of heights, but there was something calming about ziplining over powdery snow.

The zip line is located on top of Marble Mountain near Corner Brook. Go through a network of nine zip lines up to 2000 feet long and 285 feet high and can reach speeds of up to 30 km/hr. You’ll be able to admire the views of Humber Valley along the way. 

Something unique about Marble Zip is that there are some ziplines you can run off the platform or another where you can fall backwards like a trust fall. 

Keep an eye out for Steady Brook Falls, the huge icy waterfall you’ll pass by. There’s also the opportunity to stop and admire it from a platform. 

This adventure takes around 2 hours to complete.

Explore Gros Morne National Park with Tour Gros Morne

Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Canada’s most spectacular national parks. It’s a must-see for anyone travelling to Newfoundland. 

The park is named after Mount Gros Morne, the highest peak in the park at 806m. The area features mountains, lakes and waterfalls. It’s home to the Tablelands, a unique geological formation in North America. Our adventure for the day would be exploring the Tablelands. Even the views from the parking lot/road are incredible making this an accessible spot for many.

The Tablelands are a spectacular feature of Gros Morne National Park. It’s one of the only places on earth where you can walk on earth’s mantle. They’re located at the western end of the park. The Tablelands were formed by glaciers and are now exposed above sea level. Ancient forests once covered the Tablelands, but most of these trees have been destroyed due to erosion. The remaining trees are hardy species that can withstand the tablelands’ harsh winds and weather conditions.

We did a snowshoe tour through the Tablelands with Tour Gros Morne. An experienced guide will bring you through the park and share cool facts and stories. They provide snowshoes and poles for the experience.

They’re award-winning and have a passion for sustainable tourism experiences. They’re also happy to customize tours. 

Tour Gros Morne has multiple day hike options, including the Tablelands and Gros Morne Mountain. 

Even from the parking lot, I was blown away by the views of the Tablelands. As we ventured through it, it felt like we were on mars. I’ve never experienced a landscape like this before. When you first start the trail, you’ll see the clear distinction between the Tablelands and across the road (shown below).

We went further into the Tablelands and reached the canyon, an unbelievable sight. Our guide pointed out that the rocks scattered throughout the Tablelands were originally part of the canyon but 

I couldn’t get over the views seeing the Tablelands in different lighting conditions. The winds quickly moved the clouds, changing the skies from blue to white, and they would return to blue in seconds. I must have taken hundreds of photos.

Something unique about visiting in winter is that you can reach places you wouldn’t be able to normally. You’ll notice the snow level is above the benches you can see in the summer. The wind packs it down, so it’s easy to walk on top of. 

As we made our way back to Tour Gros Morne, we enjoyed views of Gros Morne past the water. 

Experience a Traditional Newfoundland Boil-Up

A Newfoundland boil-up is a tradition where friends and family come together and enjoy drinks and food cooked on a wood fire.

You can experience one with Tour Gros Morne. This was such a fun experience watching their chef cook on an open fire and sharing stories with the group. I recommend this after your snowshoe adventure.

This boil-up was a three-course meal with scallops and bacon jam, stir-fried moose and “drunken smores,” a classic smore with a marshmallow dipped in screech (rum). 

They had seating carved out in the snow, and we enjoyed the mountains and forest views while we dined. 

Ski and Snowboard at Marble Mountain

Marble Mountain has a vertical drop of 1700 ft. Their downhill terrain is a mix of 19% beginner, 36% intermediate, 32% advanced, and 13% expert. They have 39 hills ranging from beginner to expert terrain. The longest run is 4.5km. What’s excellent about Marble Mountain is you can feel like you have the whole run to yourself with plenty of space. They also have great rates compared to hills in Ontario and Quebec. 

You can bring your equipment or rent from Marble Mountain. 

Afterward, enjoy apres ski inside the Marble Mountain lodge. Keep posted for fun events like Jib Fest. 

Relax at The Saltwater Spa & Healing Centre at Marble Inn Resort

After a trip full of adventures, book some time for relaxation at The Saltwater Spa & Healing Centre at Marble Inn Resort. 

They have a circuit of different therapies that will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. Enjoy a mix of saltwater pools, steam rooms, wet and dry saunas, showers, and more. They have a circuit of different therapies that will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. A few of their stations include Labrodite, with benefits like boosted metabolism and immune system. 

I’ve never done the cold circuit at a spa before, but I decided to embrace the circuit fully. I think doing everything in the recommended sequence helped us feel energized at the end. 

I recommend adding this service at the end of your trip. We left feeling so calm and rejuvenated. 

Stay at The Hew & Draw Hotel

The Hew & Draw Hotel is a revitalized century-old downtown building into a modern hotel. The name is from the “Hewers of wood and drawers of water.” It’s an ode to the area’s families that have worked on the water and in the forests of Western Newfoundland for generations. They’ve blended touches of the past to be a contemporary, sustainable property. 

I loved staying here; it was the perfect home base for our trip. There are many wonderful local touches like Gros Morne Coffee in your room, East Coast Glow toiletries, Newfoundland-inspired wallpaper and more. The rooms also come with access to sites like Netflix.

Your stay comes with a complimentary breakfast from Best Coast Restaurant downstairs. Dine in the restaurant or get room service. The food is delicious, and they have fresh-baked bread. 

I loved watching the snowfall from the huge windows. Grab some drinks from Boomstick Brewing beside the restaurant before you go. Make sure to book some time to soak in their rooftop hot tubs.

Explore Corner Brook, Newfoundland 

Spend some time exploring the town of Corner Brook. I was there during their winter carnival and spotted some ice sculptures around the town of their mascot, Leif, a Viking that ties into Newfoundland’s Viking history. Here are some things you can’t miss:

• Take a picture with the colourful Corner Brook sign
• Do an easy 1km hike up Three Bear Mountain for a panoramic view of Corner Brook and the Bay of Islands
• Go for a walk around Glynmill Pond

Best restaurants in Corner Brook, Newfoundland

Here are some local favourites to fuel up between adventures:

Find Best Coast Restaurant inside The Hew & Draw Hotel. It has a great vibe and menu. I followed our server’s recommendations and loved the sage whiskey sour and scallop dish. It’s also beside Boomstick Brewing, so you have a great selection of craft beers. 

Salt & Dice Cafe is a cute coffee shop and board game lounge. Choose from a selection of sandwiches, gourmet sweets and specialty coffee drinks. It’s the perfect spot to warm up with a hot drink. 

Newfound Sushi Izakaya offers a wide range of Japanese-style foods, from ramen to sushi. They have many sushi rolls named after the region, like Blow Me Down and Bay of Islands. I went with their Bay of Islands Dory for a mix of specialties. It comes in a green and yellow dory similar to the ones in the water. Make sure to get their green tea too. 

I hope this guide helped spark some inspiration for your trip to Western Newfoundland. I loved this winter trip. It was the perfect opportunity to cross off winter firsts and explore a stunning part of Canada.

This post was sponsored by Go Western Newfoundland. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I hope you have as much fun exploring Western Newfoundland as I did. I’d love to see your adventures. Feel free to tag me on social @juliaxweber.