Channel-Head Lighthouse: A Beacon That Guided Generations
End of Lawrence Lane, Port aux Basques
Grand Bay West Beach
Enter through Kyle Lane
Mouse Island Lookout
End of Regional Street
Selfie Pose Site
Railway Museum Site
1 Trans Canada Highway
Selfie Pose Site (Big Yellow Chair)
A playful photo station with stunning views of ferry traffic. 67 Main Street
An accessible wheelchair is available for use on the sand and in the water. For details or to arrange access, call 695‑3592.
ATV‑Friendly Paths Through Town
Our town is ATV-friendly year-round.
Railway Museum Gift Shop
Port aux Basques
Tel: (709) 695-2214
Cape Ray Lighthouse Craft Shop
Cape Ray
Tel: (709) 695-2862
Country Craft Shop
Doyles
Tel: (709) 955-2522/2520
Rose Blanche Craft Shop
Rose Blanche
Tel: (709) 956-2141
A vibrant waterfront hub at the heart of Channel–Port aux Basques
As one of the Town’s most valued community and tourism assets, Scott’s Cove Park serves as a lively gathering place for residents, visitors, and local vendors throughout the tourism season. Its colourful kiosks, waterfront boardwalk, and amphitheatre have become defining features of the park’s identity.
More than a public space, Scott’s Cove Park is a cultural and economic cornerstone for Channel–Port aux Basques. For over 16 years, it has welcomed travellers arriving in the Port, standing proudly as the first landmark that introduces them to the town’s heritage, hospitality, and coastal charm.
Enjoy a stroll along the harbour boardwalk, visit the cluster of charming kiosks inspired by traditional outport fishing stages. Here you’ll find gift shops offering some of the best Newfoundland souvenirs, snack bars serving local favourites, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that reflects the spirit of the South West Coast.
During the summer, Scott’s Cove comes alive with nightly entertainment, creating a festive waterfront experience for all ages.
Season & Entertainment
• Open: July 1 to Labour Day weekend
• Local Entertainment: Monday to Thursday 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm (weather permitting)
A coastal escape where everyone can relax, explore, and enjoy the shoreline
Grand Bay West Beach is one of the South West Coast’s most cherished natural spaces a long stretch of soft sand, rolling surf, and sweeping Atlantic views just minutes from the heart of Channel–Port aux Basques. It’s a favourite spot for families, walkers, photographers, and anyone who loves the peaceful rhythm of the ocean.
Connected to the shoreline, the Grand Bay West Walking Trail is a scenic coastal trail that winds through dunes, wetlands, and wildlife‑rich habitats. The well‑maintained, family‑friendly trail features lookouts, rest areas, and interpretive signage that highlight the region’s natural and cultural heritage.
Accessible and Welcoming for All
To ensure everyone can enjoy this beautiful coastal area, the Town provides a free accessible beach wheelchair designed for use on sand and in the water.
Visitors with mobility challenges can fully experience the shoreline — from rolling along the beach to safely entering the ocean with support. The chair can be booked through the Town, and staff are happy to assist with access and use.
Comfortable Amenities for a Full Day by the Sea
Grand Bay West is designed for comfort as much as exploration. The beach area includes chairs and picnic tables, perfect for relaxing, enjoying a meal, or simply taking in the view. Nearby, visitors will find a change room and washrooms, making it easy to spend the day at the beach or transition from the trail to the water.
Whether you’re planning a quiet morning walk, a family beach day, or a peaceful evening by the water, Grand Bay West Beach and Trailway offers a restorative coastal experience for all ages and abilities — a place where the South West Coast truly shines.
The Royal Canadian Legion Memorial Park is located at the entrance to the Town of Port aux Basques. The center monument is in memory of the 137 people who lost their lives during the sinking of the S.S. Caribou in 1942. The World War I and II monuments are exact replicas of each other and contain the names of those from Port aux Basques who paid the supreme sacrifice in World War’s I and II.
Where Newfoundland’s journeys, stories, and discoveries come to life
The Railway Heritage Museum invites visitors to step back in time and explore the voyages that shaped Newfoundland more than a century ago.
Through immersive exhibits and historic artifacts, the museum highlights the vital role the railway, fishery, and ferry service played in connecting communities and building the province’s identity.
One of the museum’s most remarkable features is the opportunity to view two rare 16th‑century astrolabes, discovered off the coast by Wayne Mushrow of Isle aux Morts. These extraordinary navigational instruments, among the rarest in the world, are displayed in Port aux Basques for only two months each year, offering a truly unique glimpse into early global exploration.
Visitors can also learn about Lockie MacDougall, the legendary “human wind gauge.” Born in 1896 and living at Wreck house, MacDougall possessed an uncanny ability to sense weather changes. His gift was so reliable that he was hired by Robert Gillespie Reid, builder of the Newfoundland Railway, to determine whether trains could safely pass through the notoriously windy Wreckhouse area. For thirty years, until his passing in 1965, Lockie’s instincts helped keep the railway running safely.
Visitor Information:
Rates: $5 per person (includes a guided tour of the train cars & museum exhibits)
Amenities: Washroom facilities, gift shop, and public seating/picnic area
Payment Options: Cash only.
Events: The Astrolabe Festival: First weekend in August
Contact:
1 Trans Canada Highway
Tel: (709) 695-5775 or (709) 694-4862
Email: sstrickland@portauxbasques.ca
The Harvey Trail at Isle aux Morts, honours the site of the daring rescues by the George Harvey family. Along with their Newfoundland dog “Hairyman”, the family saved all 160 lives aboard the ill-fated brig “Despatch” in 1828 and again 10 years later, they rescued the 25 member crew of the ship “Rankin”.
The trail includes interpretation panels, a mural at the end of the trail and a gazebo on the high point. Picnic tables and rest benches give the hiker opportunity to rest and take in the scenery.
At Cape Ray, visit the museum that interprets the remains of a Dorset Paleo settlement from some 1,800 years ago.
This was a seasonal settlement used for seal hunting and was inhabited for an estimated 800 years. The Cape Ray Lighthouse was built in 1871 (the same year the Rose Blanche Lighthouse was started) and marked the southern tip of the French Shore, where the French enjoyed treaty right from 1783 until 1904.
The Codroy Valley Wetlands is home to a diverse resident waterfowl population and is a major resting area for some 200 species of migratory birds during the Spring and Fall.
The Wetlands is recognized as an Estuary of International Significance under the 1971 Ramsar Convention.
The interpretation centre features information panels and bird displays. A well groomed trail is available to take visitors on a walk through the Wetlands with look outs and resting benches.
Although often starkly functional in setting and design, lighthouses have become romantic symbols reflecting both Canada’s maritime greatness and of safe haven. The affection of Canadians for lighthouses is abiding and enduring and the community of Rose Blanche, Newfoundland is no exception.
The lighthouse is the only structure remaining from the earliest days of this community’s history. Built in 1871 from a nearby granite quarry, this lighthouse stands as a proud sentinel of our shores. D & T Stevenson, lighthouse engineers from Edinburgh, Scotland, designed the original apparatus. This is the family of noted author Robert Louis Stevenson. The light currently on display is a sixth-order Fresnel lens that is one of the few remaining lenses of this type.
Restored in 1999 and furnished with 19th century reproduced furniture and local antiques, this lighthouse is a must-see for all lighthouse enthusiasts.
St. Andrew’s Na Creige Golf Course is situated in the beautiful Codroy Valley on Newfoundland’s west coast. This scenic nine-hole golf course provides spectacular panoramic views of the Long Range Mountains and Little Codroy River from every hole.
Located 20 minutes outside of Port aux Basques, St. Andrews Na Creige has some of the best golfing, as well as scenery, that Newfoundland has to offer.
