City of Corner Brook

CAPTAIN COOK'S TRAIL (ROUTE 450)

South Shore Scenic Drive - Route 450

Captain Cook's Trail is a journey through history that offers spectacular views of the Bay of Islands at every turn. It is the landscape that Captain James Cook explored and recorded in 1767. The road follows the South Shore of the Bay of Islands through mountains and fishing communities to the salty waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Guernsey Island

Some of the communities you'll visit are:

Mount Moriah
The town's name is a biblical term for Land of the Hills. Mount Moriah Municipal Park is located at Cook's Brook, named after Captain James Cook, who was said to have wintered here because of ice conditions in the Bay. In the summer, Cook's Brook is a very popular swimming hole.

Benoit's Cove
Named after the area's first family of French settlers. At Benoit's Cove, the Blow-Me-Down Mountains come into full view. During winter, this mountain range is a magnet for downhill skiers wishing to try Cat Skiing. Benoit's Cove is the starting point for this adventure.

John's Beach
Named after a Mr. John who, in the early 1800's, was one of the first settlers on the beach. John's Beach was also the site of the first Anglican Church in the Bay of Islands, built by Rev. U.Z. Rule in 1866.

Frenchman's Cove
Located at the foothills of the Blow-Me-Down Mountains, Frenchman's Cove offers a great view of Guernsey Island, known locally as "Weebald", jutting up dramatically from the ocean. Woods Island, Pearl Island, and Tweed Island also rise high out of the surrounding sea. The many islands located in the bay definitely led to it's title "Bay of Islands".

Blow-Me-Down Mountain

York Harbour and Lark Harbour
Both towns were named after Captain Cook's ships - the H.M.S. York and the H.M.S. Lark. Blow-Me-Down Provincial Park is the pride of York Harbour and Lark Harbour, offering both long and short hiking trails and an observation tower. Climb the Governor's Staircase, a unique set of stairs in a cave.

Governor's Stairway

Bottle Cove and Little Port
At the end of the road is the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Bottle Cove is a fantastic place to view the rugged coast along this section of Western Newfoundland. At low tide you can walk to a naturally carved "sea cave" on the south side of the cove.

Bottle Cove

| Captain Cook's Trail | Admiral Palliser's Trail | Humber Valley |