Mistaken Point, Newfoundland Canada in summer; Shutterstock ID 1709187862; full: 65050; gl: 65050; netsuite: poi; your: Barbara Di Castro
1709187862

Shutterstock / sam2222

Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve

Top choice in Newfoundland & Labrador


Designated a World Heritage site in 2016, this ecological reserve protects 575-million-year-old multicelled marine fossils – the oldest in the world. The only way to reach it is via a free ranger-guided hike from the Edge of Avalon Interpretive Centre in Portugal Cove South.

You can also drive the bumpy gravel road between here and Cape Race. At the end, a lighthouse rises up beside an artifact-filled replica 1904 Marconi wireless station. It was the folks here who received the fateful last message from the Titanic.

The 'Mistaken Point' name, by the way, comes from the blinding fog that blankets the area and has caused many ships to lose their way over the years.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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1. Edge of Avalon Interpretive Centre

7.3 MILES

Part of the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve, the center offers information and exhibits on the history of the reserve, fossil science and the unique…

2. Avalon Wilderness Reserve

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Dominating the interior of the region is the 1070-sq-km Avalon Wilderness Reserve. Illegal hunting dropped the region's caribou population to around 100…

3. St Vincent’s Beach

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The stony beach at St Vincent's is raw even by Newfoundland standards. It's also a brilliant spot to engage in a bit of whale-watching (your best bet is…

4. Colony of Avalon

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The seaside surrounds of the Colony of Avalon archaeological site only add to the rich historical atmosphere that permeates Ferryland. Join a tour and you…

5. Historic Ferryland Museum

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The village's former courthouse is now the small Historic Ferryland Museum. The towering hill behind the museum was where settlers climbed to watch for…

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