Rocky Harbour is a small fishing-community-turned-tourism-base of under 1,000 people, and the largest community inside Gros Morne National Park. Its history runs from a population of 35 in 1874 to today, shaped almost entirely by fishing until the park's 1973 opening changed the town's direction.
Key takeaways
- Rocky Harbour was previously known as Small Bay or Little Harbour, first recorded in the 1874 census with a population of 35.
- The town's economy was built on summer fishing and winter logging for generations before tourism became central.
- Gros Morne National Park's 1973 opening was the turning point that shifted the town toward tourism.
- A car is effectively required — there's no public transit into or around the wider park.
A fishing community first
Arrowheads found in the area show Mi'kmaw presence long before European settlement. French and English fishermen worked this coast through the 18th and 19th centuries, and the harbour itself was previously known as Small Bay or Little Harbour. The town's first recorded population, in 1874, was just 35 people; families whose surnames — Decker, Shears, Parsons, Ellsworth, Pittman and others — are still common in the area today. Fishing in summer and logging in winter were the main industries for generations, with Woody Point across the bay serving as the commercial hub of the era.
From fishing village to park gateway
Rocky Harbour was incorporated as a town in April 1966. The opening of Gros Morne National Park in 1973 brought a population increase and new services, including an RCMP detachment, and set the town on its current path as a tourism base. As of the 2021 census, the population was 937, making Rocky Harbour the largest community within the park.
The harbourfront
The harbourfront remains the town's social and visual centre — a walkable stretch where several restaurants, including the Ocean View Hotel's dining room, face directly onto the water, and where Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse anchors the north end for sunset views.
Services
Rocky Harbour has the area's Parks Canada visitor centre, fuel, groceries, and the area's main concentration of restaurants and lodging — see our eating and lodging guides. It's the practical service hub for the wider park.
Getting around
A car is genuinely useful, if not essential, for anything beyond the town itself. There's no public transit connecting the park's attractions, and distances between trailheads and viewpoints, especially on the south side, add up quickly — see our getting here guide.
Respectful visiting
This is a small, year-round community, not a resort built solely for visitors. Supporting local restaurants and shops, keeping noise down in residential areas, and following posted trail and property boundaries all go a long way in a town this size.
Last updated: August 2, 2026 · Editorial team