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Visit Us

• Hours of Operation
• Location
• Visitation Statistics
• Visitor Centre
• Trails
• School Program
• Come and visit all the animals at the park. Enter the Virtual Tour
• Do's & Don'ts
• Entry / Travel Permits
• Hiking In Salmonier Nature Park
• Admission Fees
• Accessibility
• Facilities
• Animals
• Birders Field Checklist
• Virtual Tour

Hours of Operation

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Location

Salmonier Nature Park is located on the Salmonier Line (Route 90), 12 km south of the Trans Canada Highway (Route 1) on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland.

• Location Map

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Visitation Statistics

Average annual visitation to the park is between 35,000 to 40,000 visitors.

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Visitor Centre

• Information Desk
• Touch Displays
• Natural Legacies Exhibit (2nd Floor)
• Washrooms/Parental Services/First Aid
• Accessible to the Physically Challenged
• Gift Store
• Outdoor Picnic Area

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Trails

• 3 km of Boardwalk Trail
• Wheelchair/Stroller friendly
• Interpretative Signage at each Animal Enclosure & designated areas along the trail

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School Program

• Teachers' Page

For more information and scheduling, please contact:

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Do's & Don'ts

Within Salmonier Nature Park:

• Do not feed or harass the animals
• Food is not permitted on the park trail
• Do not litter
• Stay on public trails/boardwalk
• Remain quiet on the trails
• Absolutely no smoking in the Park
• Portable orange water sprayers along the trail are for fire use only
• Do not pick plants or collect natural materials
• Do not throw coins in the park streams
• Liquor in any form is not permitted in the park
• Pets are not permitted in the park
• Synopsis of the Regulations

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Entry / Travel Permits

The Wild Life Park Regulations (Consolidated Newfoundland Regulation 977/96) authorizes the Minister or his/her designate to issue a conditional permit which identifies limited and prohibited activities within the Park.

This permit is required only if a person wishes to access the unfenced Limited Use Area of the Park. This is the remote back country area of the Park that is set aside as a wilderness reserve. This area is used by hikers and wilderness campers. With the exception of salmon and trout angling, all other consumptive outdoor activities are prohibited in this area.

A permit is not required for persons accessing the fenced Intensive Use Area for the purpose of viewing the nature trails and zoological specimen displays there. These persons will have entered via the appropriate gate during public visitation hours and have been met by Visitor Services or other staff.

The entry/travel permit outlines prohibited activities within the Limited Use Area of the Park, and highlights several other pertinent regulations contained in the Wild Life Park Regulations, 1996.

Permittees are asked to note that tents or other structures must not be erected within 15 metres of waterways.

Permits must be filled out thoroughly and legibly. All members of a party entering the Park must be identified on the permit.

Permits are available free of charge at Salmonier Nature Park, Inland Fish and Wildlife headquarters (Building 810, Pleasantville) and at Paddy's Pond Forestry/Wildlife Office.

Permits will be issued for a maximum period of ten days.

In the case of registered cabin-owners within the Park, an annual permit will be issued to the primary owner. All regular users of any cabin within the Park must be identified on the appropriate permit. The permit-holder is responsible for the conduct of regular users of his/her cabin. Occasional visitors to any cabin within the Park must first acquire a permit before entering the Park.

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Hiking In Salmonier Nature Park

Intensive Use Area

This is the usual public visitation area of the park, and it is within this 40 hectare fenced area that the animal displays and the 3 kilometre boardwalk trail are found. Hiking in this area is restricted to the regular boardwalk trail only.

• Synopsis of the Regulations

Limited Use Area

This area covers approximately 1415 hectares, and functions as a wilderness reserve for the natural communities and processes in evidence there. Most consumptive wildlife activities are not permitted in this area, although trout and salmon angling is permissible and is a popular past-time here. The Park does not maintain or promote any trails in the area, however a network of trails associated with salmon angling is present. The more prominent of these are identified on a simplified map which is provided on request to persons acquiring permits to enter the Salmonier Nature Park Limited Use Area. These trails are not maintained and in some cases may be difficult to follow, but essentially may be rated as rigorous. Some trails have extensive wet sections, while others may be difficult to travel due to wind-fallen trees.

Avalon Wilderness Reserve

Salmonier Nature Park has been identified as a convenient trailhead for hikes across the Avalon Wilderness Reserve. This is a demanding hike of approximately 35 kilometres, requiring at least one night of camping en route. Extensive hiking, orientation and outdoor survival skills are essential for anyone contemplating this hike. Access to the Avalon Reserve can be achieved by following the anglers' trail to Butler's Pool on the Salmonier River and proceeding generally eastward from that point. The usual destination point of such hikes is the Southern Shore Highway (Route10), accessed by either Cape Pond Road or Horsechops Road.

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Admission Fee

Admission to Salmonier Nature Park is free.

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Accessibility

The entire trail is boardwalk, therefore Salmonier Nature Park is wheelchair and stroller friendly. The park is working towards making the trails completely accessible in the very near future.

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Facilities

1. Gift Store operated by the Friends of Salmonier Nature Park.
2. Outdoor Picnic Area (note: there are no indoor eating facilities at the Park).
3. Outdoor Classroom (In 2003, the Friends of Salmonier Nature Park, with assistance from park staff constructed an outdoor classroom in the picnic area of the park. The classroom provides a great area to present interpretive programs to visiting school groups. It is also an ideal stage area for visiting entertainers on family fun days and other special events).
4. Public Washrooms and Parental Care Area. There are washrooms within the Interpretation Centre and mid-way on the trails. There is a wheelchair accessible washroom on the main floor of the Interpretration Centre.
5. First Aid Capabilities.

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