The Bay of Islands is situated on the west coast of Newfoundland. True to its name, its waters are dotted with islands of all shapes and sizes. And in the Bay of Islands, located on a peninsula below the mountains of the same names, you’ll find Blow Me Down Provincial Park; a gem of a camping destination. This park is as colourful as its name! Here you’ll see the blues of the sea, the greens of summer and the explosive bursts of red and oranges that pepper our autumn trees. Blow Me Down Provincial Park is located off Highway 450, 60 km west of Corner Brook and the Trans Canada Highway.
Find out more about the park by visiting Natural History.
Photo Gallery
Activities
Beach
Blow Me Down Provincial Park features a beautiful cobble salt water beach in the day use area. Here you’ll find pebbles worn smooth by hundreds of years of ocean waves.
Bicycling
With two camping loops and a kilometre of gravel park road, Blow Me Down Provincial Park is a nice spot for the kids just giving up their training wheels. So unstrap the bike from your rack and enjoy the fresh air as you pedal past rows of spruce trees. Be sure to strap that helmet on for safety and a reminder to drivers to keep an eye out for children biking.
Bird Watching
Blow Me Down is a bird watchers paradise. In forested areas you can encounter Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, American Robins and Tree Swallows. You can also spot finches such as the White-winged Crossbill and Pine Grosbreak. There are also a number of species of warblers: Blackpoll, Black-and-white, Ovenbird and Northern Waterthrush. Black-legged Kittiwakes are also common in the Bay of Islands. Be sure to bring your binoculars and listen for an orchestra of their delightful songs and calls.
Campfire
Your campsite comes with a fireplace and nothing quite says camping like an open fire on a starry night. The perfect way to end your day; toasting a marshmallow or roasting a hot dog over your campsite’s fireplace with family and friends reflecting on your adventures as the crackling flames echo through the trees.
Camping
Mystical bowl shaped mountains surround two forested loops of private campsites. Each campsite has a picnic table and fireplace. There is space for your vehicle and a large overflow area that can accommodate any size of recreational vehicle.
Camping – Learn to Camp
If you are interested in trying camping for the first time, check out these great resources, including information and videos, such as a packing checklist, tents and tarps, campfires, safety tips and more.
Camping – Group
While Blow Me Down Provincial Park doesn’t offer a specific group campground; not-for-profit organizations can apply to use areas of the park at no charge. Bookings can be made by contacting the park directly and completing a Group Camping Application. Group camping may also be available for off season use by contacting park headquarters.
Dog Walking
Dogs are welcome in all provincial parks and Blow Me Down is no exception. And with two loops of campgrounds, a kilometre of gravel park road, and a beautiful hiking trail, it would be a real shame to leave your canine buddies behind. Dogs must be leashed and be sure to clean up after your pet.
Events
Blow Me Down Provincial Park hosts an annual Canada Day celebration with festivities for the whole family to enjoy! The park plays host to other events throughout the season; please check News & Events for updates.
Generator Use
If you want to power up your campsite, generator use is permitted within our parks although they must be attended at all times and any generators found to be exceedingly loud may be prohibited at any time. In Blow Me Down Provincial Park, you can run your generator between 8:00 am and 11:00 pm; any exceptions must be approved by park staff. Place them on a hardened surface of the campsite, away from any flammable substances and you can light up your night and even power up your television and satellite. Now you’re really roughing it!
Hiking & Walking
Blow Me Down Provincial Park features a kilometre of gravel park road through forest for walkers to enjoy. There are several hiking trails to be enjoyed here, as well. The Lark Harbour Head Trail, also known as the Tortoise Mountain Trail, offers a beautiful view over the Bay of Islands and Lark and York Harbours. Running approximately five kilometres return, it’s a moderate hike taking most people around three hours to complete. The half-kilometre Look-out Trail is more suited to family walking with lots of stairs and actually consists of two trails; one starting from the day use area and the other from the camping loop. Look-out Trail offers access to the Governor’s Staircase. Descending to a beautiful cobble beach, this is an outstanding feature of Blow Me Down Provincial Park.
Kayaking
Blow Me Down makes an excellent location to launch sea kayaks into the beautiful Bay of Islands. The nearest island is Guvernor’s Island, only two kilometres away. The nearby community of York Harbour is the same distance. So pop on your PFD and relax, enjoying the quiet solitude of being on the water; the only sound the dip of your paddle in the water.
Park Attraction
The Governor’s Staircase on the Lark Harbour Head Trail is not to be missed. It faces Governor’s Island, it descends from the main path through 450 million year old volcanic rock to a gorgeous cobble beach. Don’t get too distracted by the view though; as you descend watch for low overhangs and while on the beach, keep an eye on the tide or you may get your shoes a little wet!
Photography
The natural beauty in Blow Me Down Provincial Park makes an excellent backdrop for the enthusiast photographer. Whether you are capturing the panoramic view from the top of the Lark Harbour Head Trail or zooming in on cobblestones on the beach, you won’t be long filling up an SD card. In fact, you might want to bring along a couple extra.
Picnics
The picnic area located next to the cobble beach offers a spectacular view into the Bay of Islands. You’ll no doubt want to stop and take in the view. Pack some snacks and treat yourself to a feast for the body and the soul. This area is open daily until 10:00 pm.
Playground
Blow Me Down has a lovely playground for the young and the young at heart! Located in the day use area of the park there are swings and a slide to be enjoyed.
Snowshoeing
Blow Me Down Provincial Park looks pristine when covered in a crisp blanket of white. Strap on a pair of snowshoes or skis and see this winter landscape in all its splendour, accented by the crunch of your footsteps. Where snow conditions allow, vehicles may be parked near the park gate without blocking access.
Stargazing
Around here, when the sun sets the light show begins. The lack of artificial light means you’ll have no trouble spotting your favourite constellations as the stars twinkle and shine down from above. Bring along a telescope and take it all in.
Wildlife Watching
If it feels like you aren’t alone, you’re right! Look for evidence of the snowshoe hare, such as chewed twigs along pathways. Foxes have also been spotted here. A moose may even wander through the campsites! The best time to experience wildlife in the park is in the morning or evening; keep quiet and keep your eyes peeled.
Prohibitions
Do Not Disturb
Please note that everything in a provincial park is protected; from the smallest rock to the largest tree. For that reason, introducing and/or removing any natural items is prohibited.
No Cutting Trees
No Hunting
No Off-road Vehicles
Off-road vehicles include any motorized vehicles that are not legally permitted for use on provincial highways.
No Snowmobiles
Services
Accessibility Information
All comfort stations within provincial camping parks offer wheelchair accessible washrooms and showers. Wheelchair accessible picnic tables may also be available in the park.
Campfire
Each campsite comes with a fireplace and we ask that you maintain your campfire responsibly by keeping the following in mind. Fires are only permitted in the provided fireplaces or in an area designated by a Park Ranger as being suitable. Visitor owned fireplaces are permitted but must be approved by park staff before using. Campfires must not be left unattended. Ashes or coals must be watered down prior to being disposed of and can only be disposed of in designated areas. Fires are prohibited if an open fire ban is implemented. Provincial park staff may restrict any campfire that creates or may create a hazard to the public.
Camping
Blow Me Down Provincial Park offers 28 campsites in a lovely forested area. Each campsite has a picnic table and fireplace and space for your vehicle. Water taps and outhouse facilities are located throughout the park. A wheelchair accessible comfort station, including flush toilets, showers, laundry room and trailer dumping station are located next to the first camping loop.
Camping – Group
While Blow Me Down doesn’t offer a specific group campground; not-for-profit organizations can make application to use areas of the park at no charge. Bookings can be made by contacting the park directly and completing a Group Camping Application. Group camping may also be available for off season use, depending on availability.
Cell Service
This park features excellent cell service.
Change Table
Change tables are located inside the comfort station washrooms.
Checkpoint
Park staff are on duty and available at the park checkpoint from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.
Emergency Preparedness
Every provincial camping park has an emergency preparedness plan and map. Please familiarize yourself with the map, automated external defibrillator, first aid and muster locations.
Firewood
Firewood is available for purchase from the park checkpoint. Please note: it is prohibited to transport firewood from outside the province into any provincial park. Also, do not gather your own firewood; dead trees provide a home and/or food for plants and animals.
Laundry
Blow Me Down Provincial Park offers coin-operated laundry within the comfort station located adjacent to the first camping loop. Bring change!
Outhouse
Outhouse facilities can be found throughout the park with flush toilets located in the comfort station adjacent to the first camping loop.
Parking
There is a large parking lot in the day use area at the beach.
Picnic Area
A day use area is located at the back of the cobble beach for visitors who are visiting the park for a picnic. And with this spectacular view into the Bay of Islands, there are many!
Showers
Showers are located in the comfort station adjacent to the first camping loop.
Trailer Dumping
The trailer dumping station is located beside the comfort station adjacent to the first camping loop.
Trailer Storage
If you plan to return (and most do!), Blow Me Down offers both summer and winter storage for camping equipment. Prices are available from the park checkpoint.
Washrooms
Washrooms are located within the comfort station adjacent to the first camping loop. Outhouse facilities can be found throughout the park.
Water Rescue Equipment
Water rescue equipment is located in the day use area beside the beach.
Water Taps
There are water taps located throughout the park. Visitors will notice boil order signage on all water sources. These shouldn’t cause concern, but are to be followed. Given that Provincial Parks do not have water chlorination systems, these orders are precautionary for public safety.
WiFi
For your internet needs, a wifi hotspot is located at the park office.
Natural History
Blow Me Down Provincial Park is located in the Serpentine Range subregion of the Western Newfoundland Forest ecoregion and is characterized by a humid climate. Here you’ll find a Dryopteris-Hylocomium-Balsam Fir forest with Red Maple being common and Yellow Birch found in protected valleys. The Serpentine Range subregion extends from Blow Me Down to the Lewis Hills and is a mountainous area with elevations in excess of 800 metres. Vegetation here is dominated by rock barrens.
The Blow Me Down Mountains cover 200 km2 and rise to a height of 750 metres at Round Hill. The mountains contain some of the best exposures of ophiolitic rock on earth. These are sections of the Earth’s oceanic crust and upper mantle that have been uplifted and exposed, primarily by the glacer carved gulches in this area. As you hike the Governor’s Staircase notice how this unique trail is framed by agglomerate volcanic rock formed over 450 million years ago. As you make your way along the stairs, look closely and you’ll see the walls are cut by veins of white quartz. In fact, some of the rocks retain the appearance of the lava flows from which they formed, looking like a stream frozen in time.
For additional information on the natural history of this park in the Western Newfoundland Forest ecoregion, please refer to the Serpentine Range subregion brochure.
Contact
+1 (709) 681-2430
