Port au Choix, Newfoundland and Labrador: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Port au Choix is a Viking Trail community on Newfoundland’s northwest coast in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Western region. It is one of the province’s strongest archaeology destinations, known for Port au Choix National Historic Site, ancient Maritime Archaic and Dorset presence, limestone barrens, Point Riche Lighthouse and coastal views across the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
A first visit should begin with the Parks Canada site. Port au Choix is a small town, but its landscape holds thousands of years of human history, and the visitor centre gives the shoreline, trails and headlands much more meaning.
How Port au Choix Started
Port au Choix sits in a landscape used by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Parks Canada protects archaeological evidence connected to the Maritime Archaic people, Dorset Paleoeskimo groups and later Indigenous occupation. The area was important because the coast, marine mammals, fish, birds, stone resources and headlands supported repeated use over a very long period.
European settlement developed later around fishing and coastal trade. The French name reflects the longer European presence on this coast, while the town’s modern form grew around harbour access, fishing families and road connections along the Northern Peninsula.
The layered history is the central reason Port au Choix matters to travellers. It is a present-day town, a fishing coast and a protected archaeological landscape at the same time.
What Port au Choix Is Like Today
Port au Choix had 742 residents in the 2021 census. It remains a small coastal town with homes, harbour areas, local services and a strong seasonal visitor role. The Parks Canada site, nearby lighthouse, limestone barrens and Viking Trail location bring travellers who are interested in archaeology, scenery and west-coast road trips.
The town sits in a distinctive landscape. Limestone barrens support rare plants and open views, while the shoreline gives access to headlands, coves and Gulf weather. The place can feel exposed, with wind, fog and sudden changes in light shaping the experience.
Port au Choix is also practical. It offers services on a long stretch of the Northern Peninsula route and can serve as a stop between Gros Morne, St. Barbe ferry traffic and the northern tip of Newfoundland.
The town’s visitor season follows both Parks Canada operations and Viking Trail travel. Summer brings the best access to interpretation, trails and lighthouse roads, while shoulder seasons can be quieter but less predictable. Travellers should check site hours before arrival because the archaeology is easier to understand when the visitor centre is open.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Port au Choix National Historic Site is the main attraction. Start at the visitor centre, then use Parks Canada trails and interpretation to understand the archaeological landscape. The site is strongest when visitors connect exhibits to the shoreline and open barrens outside.
Point Riche Lighthouse is another key stop. The road and headland area offer coastal views, seabird watching, photography and a sense of how exposed this coast can be. Stay on marked routes and respect closures or sensitive habitat.
The limestone barrens deserve slow attention. They may look sparse at first, but they are ecologically important and fragile. Walk only where permitted, avoid trampling plants and check conditions before heading out in fog or high wind.
Port au Choix can also fit into a Viking Trail itinerary with Gros Morne, Port Saunders, St. Barbe and L’Anse aux Meadows. Keep enough time local, because the archaeology and barrens are the reason to stop here.
For a strong first visit, start indoors at the Parks Canada visitor centre, then walk or drive to the outdoor sites while the information is fresh. Save Point Riche for clear weather if possible. The lighthouse area can be windy and exposed, but it helps visitors understand the coastline that shaped both ancient use and later fishing settlement.
Quick Facts
- Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
- Region: Western region
- Municipality type: Town
- 2021 census population: 742
- Official website: https://townofportauchoix.ca/
- Main travel areas: Port au Choix National Historic Site, Point Riche Lighthouse, limestone barrens, town harbour, Viking Trail coast
- Key routes: Route 430, Point Riche Road, Viking Trail, Northern Peninsula roads
Travel Notes
Port au Choix is easiest by car on the Viking Trail. Confirm Parks Canada visitor centre hours before arrival, especially outside peak summer. Bring layers for wind, fog and exposed coastal walking. Stay on marked trails in sensitive barrens and archaeological areas. Allow at least a half day if you want the visitor centre, trails and Point Riche Lighthouse without rushing.
Accommodation and meal options should be checked ahead in busy summer periods and in quiet seasons when hours may be reduced.
If archaeology is the reason for your stop, read the exhibits before walking the landscape. The outdoor sites are more meaningful when the timeline is fresh.