The Arches

A block of dolomite standing on the beach has been pierced by three linked arches, cut by waves when sea level was higher after the last glaciation; the land has since rebounded and the sea withdrawn, so the arches now sit above the working shoreline and can be walked under at any tide. The rock is hundreds of millions of years old. The site is a small provincial park on the Viking Trail with a car park a short walk away, and it makes an obvious stop between Gros Morne and the northern peninsula. Sunset through the openings is the standard photograph.

The landscape

• The three arches - linked openings cut through a dolomite block.
• The raised shoreline - arches standing above the modern beach after land rebound.
• The cobble beach - a rough shore of rounded stone below.
• The sunset alignment - light through the openings in the evening.

When to go

June to September; the site is a roadside stop and open year-round, but the Viking Trail is a winter drive of some seriousness. Evening light is the reason to time it.

What to expect

It is a short stop of twenty minutes. The beach is loose cobble and awkward walking. There are no facilities beyond a car park and privy.

Nearby

Gros Morne lies south; Port au Choix is north.

Key facts