Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve

A place worth coming for

Two young men standing on a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean, with seagulls flying overhead.

There are places you visit, and then there are places that stay with you. Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve is one of those places.

Set along the edge of Newfoundland’s Cape Shore, it’s one of the most accessible seabird colonies in the world, where thousands of birds gather along rugged cliffs and the land opens wide to the Atlantic.

But what draws people here isn’t just what you see.

It’s how it feels.

What makes it so unique?

A large group of white seabirds, likely gannets or gulls, resting on a rocky coastal area near the ocean with a boat in the water nearby.

The Cape is home to tens of thousands of seabirds, including Northern gannets, kittiwakes, murres, and razorbills.

From the cliff-top trail, you can stand just metres away from Bird Rock, where these birds nest in one of the largest colonies in North America. 

Two women walking on a grassy hillside with yellow flowers, with the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve Interpretation Center in the background. Located on the Southern Avalon Peninsula on Newfoundland's Cape Shore.

The walk out

The path to the cliffs is about 1.4 km across open barrens, rolling ground, low shrubs, and ocean air moving constantly across the land. 

It’s not a difficult walk. But it asks you to slow down.

Fog might roll in, the wind might pick up, the view might open all at once… or take its time.

That’s all part of it.

A sheep standing near Bird Rock at Cape St. Mary's with green grass overlooking the ocean with the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve Interpretation Center in the distance.

When to visit

Visitor Season (Mid-May to Mid-October)

The interpretation centre is open daily during this period, with visitor services and facilities available on site.

This is the best time for most travellers to visit.

Late April to May

The colony begins to form as seabirds return. The landscape still feels quieter, with fewer visitors and a slower pace.

Early June to mid-July (Peak Experience)

This is when the reserve is at its fullest.

Thousands of seabirds are actively nesting and feeding along the cliffs, creating the movement and sound the Cape is known for. 

Late July to September

Activity gradually tapers as birds begin to leave, though Northern gannets remain longer into the season. The experience becomes quieter and more spacious.

Conditions to expect

Cool Temperatures (even in summer)

Frequent fog

Strong coastal winds.

~unpredictability (but thats what makes it memorable)

Group of hikers walking up a Big Gulch Valley near Cape St. Mary's, a grassy hill with a river and cliffs in the background under a cloudy sky.

More than a stop

For many, Cape St. Mary’s is a day trip. Drive in, walk out, take a few photos, leave. But that misses something.

Because the experience doesn’t really end at Bird Rock.

The Cape Shore has much to offer if you know the right places to explore.

Coastal cliffs with a small waterfall flowing onto a sandy beach, choppy ocean waves, green grassy top, partly cloudy sky. This is called red land, located near Cape St. Mary's

Stay Near Cape St. Mary’s

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