This past June I took a road trip to the southeastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland to visit the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve. To visit the Reverse you book a guided tour at the Edge of Avalon Interpretation Centre in Portugal Cove South.

The fossils you discover at Mistaken Point are the world's oldest and largest collection of biologically complex marine life fossils. These fossils from the Ediacaran period are perfectly preserved on a prehistoric ocean floor. This area has over 10,000 fossils. When you arrive you actually get to walk in your sock feet on a 565-million year old ocean floor - it was incredible!

The fossils were known to the local communities for many generations, but it wasn't until 1967 when Shiva Balak Misra discovered them and knew their significance, that protection for the fossils begin to start. He was in the area mapping Precambrian rocks along the coastline. In the years to follow there were people lobbied to preserve the fossils for their historical significance as this was the first record of Ediacaran fauna in the Western Hemisphere. In 1987 it was designated as a fossil ecological reserve. In July of 2016 it was further designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The 2023 fee is $23 per person, but there is also a child and family rate available. When you go to the Interpretation Centre you can learn about the history of the fossils and the history of the Cape Race Lighthouse. This lighthouse is just down the road from the Ecological Reserve and is still operational with a light keeper tending to it. The Marconi station at Cape Race was the first to hear and answer the distress signals from the Titanic.

This area of the Avalon Peninsula is part of a road trip known as the Irish Loop (Route NL-10). It is just over two (2) hours from St. John's. The location of the guided hike requires you to drive about 15 minutes from the Interpretation Centre to a designated parking lot which is equipped with washrooms.

The total hike is about six kilometres and takes about 3-4 hours, depending on how long you want to stay and explore the fossils.
It is important to dress in layers as this area of the province is generally foggy and this close to the tip of the Peninsula the wind can certainly gust, although it was beautiful on the day we got to explore. Overall, I would recommend making time to visit this historically significant area of Newfoundland, and the world.