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Bucketlist Bri

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Hiking on Earth’s Mantle: The Tablelands in Canada

Last Updated: November 23, 2022 · Canada, Newfoundland & Labrador

How does hiking on earth’s mantle sound to you? Well, if you’re like me this sounds like an exciting adventure worthy of a bucket list checkmark! The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park in western Newfoundland is a sight to be seen and felt.

Hikers — beginners or hardcore enthusiasts — will love hiking the Tablelands as you can choose to keep it easy and walk the 4 km (roundtrip) Tablelands Trail or go rogue off-trail and navigate earth’s mantle with your keen sense of navigation! So are you ready for the adventure?

Here is my guide to hiking the Tablelands Trail in Gros Morne National Park!

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Tips for hiking the Tablelands in Gros Morne:

  • Hiking Time: 1 hour
  • Distance: 4 km (2.5 miles)
  • Off-Trail Hiking? Yes (2-3+ hours)
  • Clothes: Wear hiking shoes and bring warm layers
  • Weather: Can change suddenly with heavy fog and bitter temperatures
  • Guide? Guided tours are available at 10 am on certain days. Check the summer-fall schedule or visit Parks Canada.

↠

Experiencing the thrill of walking on earth’s mantle millions of years after a massive plate tectonic collision is a bucket-list-worthy adventure!

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Table of Contents show
Hiking The Tablelands in Newfoundland, Canada
What’s There to See in the Tablelands?
Hiking Beyond the Tablelands Trail
Safety Tips for Hiking Off-Trail on the Tablelands
Newfoundland and Labrador Tablelands Video
Final Tips for Hiking the Tablelands in Gros Morne

Hiking The Tablelands in Newfoundland, Canada

The Tablelands, in short, are mountains of earth’s upper mantle rock that were thrust upward above the ocean over 500 million years ago when the continental plates collided.

Hiking on Earth's Mantle: The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada #adventure #tablelands #canada #outdooraesthetic www.bucketlistbri.com BUCKETLIST BRI
The Tablelands sit higher and are farther than they look! | Bucketlist Bri

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

The exposed seabed now towers proudly above the earth’s crust in one of the most scenic destinations in Newfoundland: The Gros Morne National Park classed a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Because of its mantle rock composition, barely anything can grow and live on the Tablelands, leaving it mysteriously rocky and barren with lots of juniper shrubs and red berries, birch, and I even saw drooping harebells! You’ll notice the further you climb up the less vegetation there is.

While exploring the Tablelands, you’ll also notice lots of Periodotite rock! We found a piece of dark green Periodotite among the earthy red rubble.

Serpentine, which I learned via the Gros Morne phone application, is like Periodotite but metamorphized due to underground water and pressure.

If you keep your eyes peeled, the Tablelands actually have so many secrets to tell!

What’s There to See in the Tablelands?

Apart from breathtaking panoramic vistas of the surrounding forested hills and mountains, the Tablelands offer scenic waterfall views! Yes, even waterfalls.

Hiking on Earth's Mantle: The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada #adventure #tablelands #canada #outdooraesthetic www.bucketlistbri.com BUCKETLIST BRI
Can you spot me? | Bucketlist Bri
Hiking on Earth's Mantle: The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada #adventure #tablelands #canada #outdooraesthetic www.bucketlistbri.com BUCKETLIST BRI
The waterfall can be seen from a distance – even from the road! | Bucketlist Bri

You can hike right up to the first waterfall which will be off on your right. To get here, you’ll need to hike off-trail but the path is easily laid out before you.

The water might be gushing more after rain or melted snow bed, so watch your step for loose rock!

My favorite thing to really marvel at though is, of course, the Tablelands themselves. To think that you can stand on what was once nearly at earth’s core is impressive!

The Tablelands that we can see and explore today are known for being one of the best spots in the entire world to see earth’s exposed mantle. 

Hiking off-trail at the Tablelands is highly recommended, but you need a good sense of navigation to maneuver off the path.

So you can see waterfalls, Periodotite and Serpentine, and not to mention Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial plant – the Pitcher plant! This is a red-purplish plant that attracts and eats insects.

Hiking Beyond the Tablelands Trail

If you continue following the Tablelands Trail to the end, there will be a resting boardwalk area and a bench. Here’s a panoramic view of what the Gros Morne guides refer to as the Winter House Brook Canyon. 

Hiking on Earth's Mantle: The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada #adventure #tablelands #canada #outdooraesthetic www.bucketlistbri.com BUCKETLIST BRI
Follow the boardwalk trail for approx. 25 minutes and you’ll reach Winter House Brook Canyon. | Bucketlist Bri
Hiking on Earth's Mantle: The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada #adventure #tablelands #canada #outdooraesthetic www.bucketlistbri.com BUCKETLIST BRI
You can continue up the Winter House Brook Canyon off the main Tablelands Trail. | Bucketlist Bri

From here you can continue hiking through the canyon on up to more waterfalls and eventually, the plateau.

We didn’t complete this hike but I’d estimate it would take at least another 2-3 hours or more to make a return trip.

Otherwise, if you turn around here and head back toward the parking lot it should only take 30 minutes – give or take.

Safety Tips for Hiking Off-Trail on the Tablelands

Keep an eye on the weather, which can suddenly change in the Tablelands. While we were there, the top of the Tablelands quickly became covered in a chilly fog. We had to change our off-route plans almost immediately so we wouldn’t get trapped with little to no visibility.

Hiking on Earth's Mantle: The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada #adventure #tablelands #canada #outdooraesthetic www.bucketlistbri.com BUCKETLIST BRI
We did a self-guided tour of The Tablelands and stuck mainly to the trail since the weather became foggy. | Bucketlist Bri

Secondly, while exploring off-trail will give you the best views from atop the plateau, it will require a basic level of fitness to climb up the rubble! Don’t underestimate how close the top looks, either.

If you do plan to navigate off the main trail, then the park advises you to climb up and down the same path to ensure your safety. It also helps to keep track of your steps (Hansel and Gretel style?) so you don’t end up lost!

Newfoundland and Labrador Tablelands Video

See what it’s like to hike the Tablelands in this video by Newfoundland and Labrador:

Final Tips for Hiking the Tablelands in Gros Morne

If you want to learn about the history, rocks, and plants of the Tablelands and actually be able to point them out during your hike, you can show up at 10 am for a guided tour (on certain days).

But if you have other plans and wish to explore the Tablelands at your own pace, you can download the Gros Morne application by Parks Canada and read or listen to a self-guided tour.

We arrived to hike the Tablelands on our own at 9 am in late September. We were the first ones so we had the views all to ourselves. A tour showed up later as we were just heading back to the parking lot.

Wear appropriate hiking shoes, keep pets on leash, bring a full bottle of water and snacks, and don’t count on cell service!

Above all, stay safe and remember to soak in the incredible beauty surrounding you. The Tablelands are a place you won’t likely forget!

Share this adventure with someone who’d love to add this hike to their bucket list!

Hiking on Earth's Mantle: The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada #adventure #tablelands #canada #outdooraesthetic www.bucketlistbri.com BUCKETLIST BRI
Hiking on Earth's Mantle: The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada #adventure #tablelands #canada #outdooraesthetic www.bucketlistbri.com BUCKETLIST BRI
Hiking on Earth's Mantle: The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada #adventure #tablelands #canada #outdooraesthetic www.bucketlistbri.com BUCKETLIST BRI
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By: Bri · In: Canada, Newfoundland & Labrador

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Comments

  1. Josy A says

    October 11, 2019 at 2:50 pm

    Oooh this looks amazing!

    Do you know why so little can grow on upper mantle rocks? Are there minerals that poison plants or something? It’s such an interesting landscape!!

    p.s. I popped over to say hello after you left a comment on my blog. Good luck with your epic drive across Canada! I can’t wait to hear more. 😀

    Reply
    • Bri says

      October 11, 2019 at 10:15 pm

      Aw Josy thanks so much for coming to visit! 🙂 And yes that’s right! It’s mostly ultramafic rock/peridotite and the soil contains lots of toxic heavy metals with high/low levels of calcium and magnesium. And apparently all of that creates a barren landscape that can’t sustain plant life! Pretty neat, huh?!

      Reply

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When you already feel nostalgic for leaving a plac When you already feel nostalgic for leaving a place you’ve only just arrived in... Do you know the feeling I’m talking about?? 

We are here in Goa, India 🇮🇳 for an amazing digital nomad retreat hosted by @nurall_co and are feeling so pumped and grateful to be here! ✨

We’ve already spent our first few hours diving into butter paneer masala and chai at the lovely @caferasagoa and wandering the historic Latin Quarter in awe of its Portuguese tiles and little hole-in-the-wall tapas bars. And it’s safe to say we’re hooked. 🤩 

Can’t wait to uncover even more treasures that Panjim and Goa hold 🫶

... And so begins Day 1/40 of my trip through India, Taiwan, and Japan! Follow along for the journey 🤗

#goaindia #panjim #portugese #indiatraveldiaries #backpackingasia #panaji
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Little did I know then, but Day 1 was just the beginning of this near-72-hour journey to India and back to Paul. What is certain is that I DID NOT expect our big trip back to Asia to start like this. 

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If you know how this song ends, you know how this If you know how this song ends, you know how this video ends 💀

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Is Mexico a good digital nomad destination?? Here Is Mexico a good digital nomad destination??

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Read my blog 🔗 in bio for my 100+ free guides to Mexico 🫶🏼

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💻 read all about it + book the experience on my blog! (🔗 in bio)

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