The Trans Labrador Highway crosses some of the most remote sections of Canada, connecting the various traditional industries of the North Country: fishing, logging, and mining. It’s no walk in the park, with many sections composed of rough gravel, treacherous sand buildup, and long stretches where high winds batter your body for hours. But it’s a chance to see a truly unique landscape and test your riding abilities in a part of the country few ever see.
Planning Your Ride on the Trans Labrador Highway The road starts at Blanc Sablon, Quebec and for the first 80 or so miles along the Labrador coast it’s paved and quite pleasant to ride, which doesn’t bely the isolation or primitive road conditions you’ll find in later on. From there, the road turns to gravel and heads inland toward the town of Port Hope Simpson . The overland route beyond Port Hope Simpson was actually just built in 2010, as residents previously took a ferry between the coastal towns of Cartwright and Happy Valley-Goose Bay .
From Happy Valley, it’s 180 miles to the next town of Churchill Falls . The road between them is much better than the previous sections, and it’s being steadily improved as the Canadian government develops the region. Then, 127 mile past Churchill Falls is the 2nd-largest town on the highway, Labrador City (pop. 10,000. From there, the road goes south for 360 miles, and the landscapes become much more forested and less desolate.
Baie Comeau is the final stop on the Trans Labrador, and is also its largest town. The epicenter for logging in this part of the country, it has a population of over 20,000 and more amenities than you could imagine after the last few days of riding through this remote territory. After Baie Comeau, you can take a ferry across the Saint Lawrence River into New Brunswick or continue southward on Highway 138 to Quebec City.
The best time to ride the Trans Labrador Highway is between June and September. Outside of those months, there’s a good chance you’ll run into snow, which will make it much more challenging.
Fuel The Trans Labrador is a little over a thousand miles long, so you’ll need to stop for fuel a few times. Fortunately, there are several places to top up along the way. The first hundred miles of the route hugs the coast and passes through a number of small villages. You’ll want to stop for fuel at the last one, Port Hope Simpson, before heading off on the more remote sections of the highway; there will be no fuel for the next 260 miles. After that, you’ll be able to fuel up in Happy Valley (or Cartwright), Churchill Falls, Labrador City, and the small town of Manic 5
Accommodations and Food Though it’s a 50-mile detour from the Trans Labrador Highway, Cartwright is a popular place to spend the night if you want a warm bed and more than a tent for protection. As it used to be a (relatively) popular ferry terminal, the town has more services than you might expect.
Another option is Happy Valley-Goose Bay, which is one of the largest towns in Labrador, thanks to the military base located there. There are a few hotels and dining options, but don’t expect them to come cheap. Churchill Falls also has a few hotels, and campsites are available on the edge of town, but the lack of tourists there raises the price a bit.
Both Labrador City and Baie Comeau have some options as well, though they’re mostly for workers traveling between the logging camps, mines and other industries in the area. Nonetheless, they have accommodations and restaurants that you’ll recognise.
Sights The interpretive center at Red Bay , in the initial coastal section of the route, has some interesting exhibits about the small fishing village and what it’s like to live in Canada’s north country. If you’re interested in visiting a hydroelectric plant, tours can be arranged at both Churchill Falls and Manic 5.
Toward the end of the route, the abandoned town of Gagnon is an eerie sight to see. While much of the town was dismantled in the mid-80s when mining became unprofitable, its main street has remained relatively untouched.
Route 510 Sign Near Port Hope – Photo Credit: Felix-Antoine Tremblay / CC BY Route 510 – Photo Credit: Felix-Antoine Tremblay / CC BY Port of Cartwright – Photo Credit: Cephas / CC BY Feature Image is of Trans Labrador Sign – Photo Credit: Dsdwn / CC BY
