The Captain Cook Monument stands on Crow Hill, one of the high points above Corner Brook, and marks where Cook set up his surveying stations during several summers in the 1760s. Before he became the celebrated Pacific explorer, Cook spent years meticulously charting Newfoundland's complex coast, and the Bay of Islands required particular attention given its navigational hazards. The monument itself is modest — a simple marker — but the location is excellent.
The views from Crow Hill over the Bay of Islands are the best in the city. The bay opens westward in a series of island-studded channels with the Long Range Mountains rising behind the town. You can see why Cook spent so much time here: the geography is intricate, and getting it right mattered. Reach the monument by car or a moderate uphill walk; it is signposted from the town centre. Worth the effort any time of year, but especially on a clear summer evening.