Trout River: A Journey Into the Past Seafood, Sea Walks & Ships
- Kim Martinez
- Jun 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 29
Today, we left our Amazing campsite at Water's Edge in Bonne Bay and wound our way down Bonne Bay Road, past the otherworldly Tablelands hiking trail, until the road simply… ended. There, nestled between ancient cliffs and the Atlantic, we found the tiny, time-capsule town of Trout River.
Note: There is a very difficult turn to get onto Trout River Rd. Hard Right up a hill – we would not do it in our motorhome but many others might. Not to discourage but to warn – at least unhook any tow vehicles.
Trout River - the town
Established in 1815 and named for the river that carves through the mountains before spilling into the sea, Trout River is a true fishing village—where salt-weathered homes and fishing shacks still stand as they did a century ago. Life here moves with the tides, not the clock.
A Rustic Feast by the Sea
Hungry from the drive, we stopped at the Seaside Restaurant—a place as authentic as the town itself. What began in 1979 as a fisherman's wife selling meals from a weathered shack is now a globally recognized eatery (yes, magazines have raved about it) run by her daughter.
True Mom & Pop restaurant. View from the table! Simple Decor
We both ordered the seafood chowder and pan-fried cod fish sandwich—so fresh it gives "farm to table" a whole new meaning: sea to table. The chowder was rich with chunks of local seafood, and the cod sandwich featured fish that had likely been swimming in these very waters just hours before. The food was honest, unpretentious, and absolutely delicious—but the real magic was in the setting: creaking floors, ocean views through the windows, pot belly stove in the corner, and the kind of quiet you only find at the edge of the world.
After several weeks of travel, both Manny and I have shifted gears, learning to embrace a slower pace—less entertainment, more "smelling the roses." Trout River was the perfect place for this mindset, where rushing simply isn't an option.
After lunch, we wandered the rickety boardwalk—battered by storms but still standing—down to the beach. The cove cradles a small marina where fishing boats bob in the sheltered water, framed by cliffs that blunt the Atlantic's fury. The beach, like most in Newfoundland, is more rock than sand, but the peace here is absolute.
What to Do in Trout River
1. Just Be. Drive the two streets (yes, two), breathe the salt air, and let the isolation sink in. You've reached a place where the modern world feels like a rumor.
2. Eat at Seaside Restaurant. It's not fancy. It's real—fresh seafood in an expanded shack that's survived decades of nor'easters. For Floridians like us, it's a thrilling contrast.
3. Walk the Beach & Boardwalk. Follow the wooden path to the shore, then climb the steep cliffside stairs (worth the burn) for a view that'll stamp itself in your memory.
4. Visit the Marina. If the ships are in, it is a treat to see the colorful lifestyle unchanged for decades.
5. Hike the Trout River Pond Trail. A serene escape into raw coastal beauty. Read the review: https://www.travelwelllive.com/post/trout-river-pond-trail-when-small-ponds-aren-t-so-small
6. Explore the Tablelands. Mars on Earth. A hike unlike any other.
Take It Slow, Take It Home
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