Outdoor Activities Sports Facilities Arts & Culture Festivals & Events Scenic Routes Relevant Links



Outdoor Activities

Stephenville is surrounded by the ocean, lakes, rivers, forests and mountains that exemplify the best of the Newfoundland outdoors. The climate is conducive of a lifestyle that includes outdoor activities.

The 1.2 billion-year-old Long Range Mountains are on the north, east and south. The highest geographic point on the island of Newfoundland, Cabox in the Lewis Hills, is within hiking distance. The Indian Head Range, with Trapper Joe's Lookout, Joey's Lookout, Jeannette, Indian Head and the Mine Pond Hiking Trail are all within a few minutes of downtown Stephenville.

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© Image by C. Pelley

Harry's River, Fox Island River, Southwest Brook and Barachois Brook flow out of the mountains near Stephenville. All offer excellent kayaking, canoeing and salmon fishing.

The many coves and inlets around the perimeter of Bay St. George and the Port au Port Peninsula have much to offer. The towering cliffs, numerous pebble beaches and sandy coves are a paradise for beachcombers, bird watchers and rock hounds. The seascapes are magnificent.

The forests, hilltops, valleys, bog lands and mountain ridges abound with wildlife: moose, caribou, black bears, foxes, beaver, otter, mink, arctic hare and numerous varieties of birds.

Hundreds of kilometers of forest access roads and almost endless expanses of open wilderness surrounding Stephenville offer endless opportunities for mountain bikers, snowmobiling and ATV enthusiasts. The backcountry of the Lewis Hills is Newfoundland's best kept secret. The untouched slopes are a telemark skier's paradise!

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Sports Facilities

Whaleback Nordic Ski Park has over 40 kilometers of trails, with 2 kilometers lighted for night skiing.

The Stephenville Dome, constructed for the 99 Canada Winter Games' short track speed skating, offers hockey, figure skating and recreational skating.

The Caribou Curling Club, Pieroway Baseball Park, Harmon Golf Club, and The West Coast Training Center with its facilities for judo, karate, squash, badminton, basketball, volleyball, weight lifting and tennis provide year-round activities for the active lifestyle.

The Regional Aquatic Centre, a multi-use family facility located at 20 Tennessee Drive, contains a 6-lane competitive leisure pool, a junior pool, a tots pool, and a whirlpool. For pool schedule, contact (709) 643-6688; for additional information, contact (709) 643-6689. TOP

Arts and Culture

A jewel in Stephenville's cultural crown, The Stephenville Theatre Festival, produces professional theatre every summer season and is committed to an involvement in cultural activities throughout the year.

Bay Theatre, a high calibre amateur theatre group and winners of numerous provincial awards, entertains with several productions each year.

Secondary schools, led by talented dedicated staff, and artists and producers from the local arts community, have active and high quality fine arts, music and theatre as an integral part of the curricular and extracurricular programs.

Mammoth visual artworks, depicting scenes from Stephenville's past, adorn several buildings in prominent places throughout the town. They were produced by students of the Faculty of Fine Arts, College of the North Atlantic, under the direction of artist-instructors.

Fine arts and crafts created by Newfoundland artists and artisans can be purchased at craft shops and studios. Exhibitions of fine art are regularly on display at the Arts and Culture Center, Stephenville.

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Festivals and Events

The Stephenville - Bay St. George - Port au Port region is rich in ethnic and cultural diversity. The Micmac Indians, the original inhabitants, are experiencing a revival and a new sense of pride in their ancient cultural heritage. The Acadian French, Scottish, Irish and British immigrant populations who have established communities throughout the region, celebrate their cultures through the presentation of numerous festivals and events. The contributions of all the diverse inhabitants of the region provide a fascinating variety in languages, music, theatre and visual arts.

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Scenic Routes

The town of Stephenville is a starting point for a number of scenic drives.

The French Ancestors Route, around the Port au Port Peninsula, brings you to such places as Cap St-George, La Grand Terre and L'anse a Canards. The towering cliffs, pebble beaches and the distinctive French culture make this route one of the best on the island.

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© Image by C. Pelley

The Caribou Trail, 148 kilometers through the Long Range Mountains, terminates in the outport town of Burgeo, a town immortalized in Farley Mowatt's A Whale for the Killing. Some of the 60,000 caribou that inhabit the interior may be seen as you traverse the interior plateau. The friendly people of Burgeo, and the incredible beaches of Sandbanks Provincial Park make the drive worthwhile.





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Relevant Links