Activities
The Burin Peninsula is yet another area of Newfoundland and Labrador brimming with beauty, culture and history. And located on the west side of the peninsula on Route 213 you’ll find the perfect place to set up camp. Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park is a real gem with 51 hectares of varying habitat that will fascinate any visitor! Its natural freshwater barachois and short hiking trail offer fantastic views and the park’s location make it a great home base as you explore the Heritage Run and the beautiful communities up and down this coast.
Find out more about the park by visiting Natural History.
Photo Gallery
Activities
Angling
Angling is permitted within all provincial parks, managed by the Department of Fisheries and Ocean. Please note that all anglers require a provincial salmon license to fish scheduled inland waters and non-residents also require a trout license. Both can be purchased in most convenience stores. Visitors are responsible for following all regulations, to find out more, visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Beach
Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park features not one, but two beautiful semi-salt beaches, thanks to a nearby freshwater barachois. This term refers to a coastal pond separated from the ocean by a sandbar. A swimming section has been roped off in the day use area for your enjoyment.
Bicycling
With two and a half kilometres of gravel park road, Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park is a great spot for the cyclist or kids just giving up their training wheels. So unstrap your 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
Frenchman’s Cove will certainly keep the bird watcher busy. You can catch a glimpse of Greater Yellow-legs, Red Knots, Dunlins and sand pipers. Canada Geese, Green-winged Teal and Black and Ring-necked Ducks can also be seen. A host of seabirds can be spotted as well including Thick-billed Murres, Dovekies, Northern Gannets, Leach’s Storm Petrels, Common Terns and Ring-billed Gulls. Frenchman’s Cove is also host to over twenty species of terrestrial birds, including the Yellow-rumped Warbler. With all these specimens to see, 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 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
Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park offers 75 campsites in a lovely forested area. Each campsite features a picnic table, fireplace and space for your vehicle, most accommodating larger RVs.
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 Frenchman’s Cove 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, depending on availability.
Canoeing
If you’re a canoer, you’ve come to the right park! Frenchman’s Cove backs onto a freshwater barachois and is relatively well-protected. So pop on your PFD and enjoy the quiet solitude of being on the water; the only sound the dip of your paddle.
Dog Walking
Dogs are welcome in all provincial parks and Frenchman’s Cove is no exception. And with the beautiful beaches and two and a half kilometres of gravel park road, 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
Frenchman’s Cove hosts an annual Canada Day celebration that the whole family can enjoy. Other events may occur 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 Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park, you can only run your generator between 8:00 am and 11:00 pm; any exceptions outside of those hours 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!
Golf
Adjacent to the campground you’ll find the Grande Meadows Golf Course, where you can play a few holes under clear blue skies and enjoy the crisp, fresh air. This lovely nine hole course is privately operated. For more information, visit Grande Meadows Golf Course.
Hiking & Walking
Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park features two beaches and two and a half kilometres of gravel park road for walkers to enjoy. There is also a short, one kilometre level trail that leaves the day use area and ends with a great view of the freshwater barachois.
Kayaking
The well protected freshwater barachois is perfect for kayaking as well as canoeing. So pop on your PFD and relish a relaxing paddle in a gorgeous environment.
Photography
The natural beauty of Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park makes an excellent backdrop for the enthusiast photographer. Whether you are capturing the barachois from the hiking trail or a close-up from the waters edge, you won’t be long filling up an SD card. In fact, you might want to bring along a couple extra.
Picnics
The day-use area is open until 10:00pm and is located to the left of the park checkpoint, next to the playground. It features a large grassy meadow; a perfect place to stop, catch your breath and soak up the natural beauty. Pack some snacks and treat yourself to a feast for the body and the soul.
Playground
Frenchman’s Cove Park has a lovely playground in the day-use area for the young and the young at heart. Give the swings a work-out or feel the wind in your hair as you whiz down the slide.
Snowshoeing
While the gate may be closed in the winter months, the park is still accessible by those users who want to enjoy its natural beauty by snowshoes. Strap on a pair and see this winter landscape in all its splendour, accented by the crunch of your footsteps on that crisp blanket of pristine, white snow. 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 in these parts 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.
Swimming
Frenchman’s Pond Provincial Park features a gorgeous freshwater barachois and beach. The swimming area in the day use area is unsupervised.
Wildlife Watching
If it feels like you aren’t alone, you’re right! While walking or hiking keep an eye out for evidence of the snowshoe hare, such as chewed twigs along pathways. Foxes have been spotted in the park and be sure to look for bats at dusk. 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.
Accommodation
The Grand Fairways Resort is located adjacent to the park entrance. Privately operated, this resort offers six two bedroom cottages. For more information, visit Grand Fairways Resort.
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 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
Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park offers 75 campsites in a lovely forested area. Of these, 20 have 15, 30 and 50 amp electrical service available. Campsites 33 to 75 have water hookups. Each campsite features a picnic table, fireplace and space for your vehicle, most accommodating larger RVs. Water taps and outhouses are located throughout the park. A wheelchair accessible comfort station, including flush toilets and showers is located within the day use area and a trailer dumping station is located just inside the park entrance.
Camping – Group
While Frenchman’s Cove 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, depending on availability.
Cell Service
Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park has good cell service.
Change Table
Comfort station washrooms feature change tables.
Checkpoint
Park staff are on duty at the park checkpoint from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.
Electrical Hook-up
Electrical hook-ups are available at 20 of the 75 campsites and feature 15, 30 or 50 amp service.
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 cash 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 source for plants and animals.
Golf
Adjacent to the campground you’ll find the Grande Meadows Golf Course, where you can play a few holes under clear blue skies and enjoy the crisp, fresh air. This lovely nine hole course is privately operated. For more information, visit Grande Meadows Golf Course.
Laundry
Coin-operated laundry services are located in the comfort station. Bring change!
Outhouse
Outhouse facilities are located throughout the park.
Parking
There is a large parking lot in the day use area of the park.
Picnic Area
The day-use area is open until 10 pm and is located to the left of the park checkpoint, right next to the playground. It features a large grassy meadow; a perfect place to stop, catch your breath and soak up the natural beauty.
Playground
Frenchman’s Cove Park has a lovely playground in the day-use area for the young and the young at heart featuring a sandbox, slide and swings to be enjoyed.
Restaurant
Mulligan’s Restaurant is located in the Grand Meadows Golf Course, adjacent to the park. For their menu and hours of operation, visit Grande Meadows Golf Course.
Showers
Showers are located within the comfort station.
Trailer Dumping
The trailer dumping station is located near the entrance to the park.
Trailer Storage
If you plan to return (and most do!), Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park offers both summer and winter storage for camping equipment. Prices are available from the park checkpoint.
Washrooms
Washrooms are located within the comfort station.
Water Rescue Equipment
Water rescue equipment is located near the roped off swimming area in the day use section of the park.
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 comfort station.
Natural History
Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park is located in the Southeastern Barrens subregion of the Maritime Barrens ecoregion and hosts a diverse ecosystem. Situated adjacent to a large barachois, sand and mud flats, mixed forest and even tidal lagoons means you’ll have lots to see and even more to photograph! Bird watchers can enjoy a diverse population of shore birds and waterfowl including lesser yellow-legs, red knots, northern gannets, common terns and ring-billed gulls and ducks. The park also hosts over twenty species of terrestrial birds including the Yellow-rumped Warbler.
For the geologists, armchair or otherwise, exposed rocks in this area can show the boundary between the Precambrian and Cambrian eras. And fossils found in this area represent the first skeletal creatures from 540 million years ago. Fortune Head Ecological Reserve is only a short drive south along Route 213.
For additional information on the natural history of this park in the Maritime Barrens ecoregion, please refer to the Southeastern Barrens subregion brochure.
Contact
+1 (709) 826-2753
