St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
St. Anthony is a harbour town in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Labrador region profile, at the northern end of the Great Northern Peninsula. It serves residents first, but travellers know it for Grenfell history, Fishing Point, ocean lookouts, iceberg viewing, whale watching and access to the wider Viking Trail.
The town works best as a northern service base with a strong local story. Its harbour, hospital history, trails, museums and boat-tour season all matter more than a quick pass through town.
How St. Anthony Started
The Town of St. Anthony traces European use of the harbour to seasonal fishing, with French and Basque fishers using the sheltered place long before the modern town developed. The name St. Anthony Haven appears in early exploration records, and the harbour’s protection helped make the settlement durable.
Permanent settlement grew through fishing, coastal trade and later public service. The arrival of Dr. Wilfred Grenfell in the early 1900s changed the town’s role by making St. Anthony a medical and mission centre for northern Newfoundland and Labrador.
The town also gained a military and communications layer in the 20th century. Together, the harbour, Grenfell institutions, fishery, radar history and northern transportation role explain why St. Anthony became more than a small outport.
What St. Anthony Is Like Today
St. Anthony today is the largest service centre on the northern peninsula. Visitors will find accommodations, groceries, fuel, hospital services, a public library, restaurants, harbour activity and outfitters serving both residents and travellers.
Tourism is seasonal but important. The town points visitors toward Fishing Point, Grenfell sites, trails, boat tours, iceberg and whale viewing, and interpretive stops tied to northern Newfoundland life.
The community still feels closely tied to the sea. Weather, ferry connections elsewhere on the coast, fishery work, hospital services and highway travel all shape how days unfold.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Start with Fishing Point. The town identifies Fishing Point Park as an oceanside meeting place where visitors can see icebergs, whales, seabirds, cliffs, the lighthouse and short lookout trails.
Add the Grenfell House Museum and Grenfell Interpretation Centre when they are open. These sites explain why health care, craft work and Grenfell’s northern mission remain central to St. Anthony’s identity.
Use the town’s attraction listings for trails around the harbour and Fishing Point, including Iceberg Alley Trail, Whale Watchers Trail, Cartier’s View Trail and the Grenfell Heritage Trail loop.
For a longer stay, St. Anthony is a practical base for the northern Viking Trail. Nearby heritage and coastal sites can fill extra days, but the town itself deserves time for its harbour, museums, trails and services.
Quick Facts
- Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
- Region: Labrador
- Community type: town
- 2021 census population: about 2,200 residents
- Main setting: sheltered harbour and northern service town on the Great Northern Peninsula
- Good for: Grenfell history, Fishing Point, iceberg viewing, whale watching, trails and northern road trips
- Key routes: Route 430, local harbour roads and St. Anthony Airport access
Travel Notes
St. Anthony is easiest by car, though air access is nearby. Check museum seasons, boat-tour schedules, road conditions and iceberg or whale timing before building a northern peninsula itinerary.