Newfoundland and Labrador

Riding Newfoundland

Written and photos by Krista Austin, NL, Canada

Newfoundland is the sixteenth largest island in the world, slightly larger than Cuba. With a population of less than half a million and the majority of residents concentrated in one little corner of the island, it's easy to find the "road less traveled" and disengage from the relentless hustle of modern life.

Riding into Bay de Verde on the northwest Avalon Peninsula

The roads of Newfoundland range from the twisty mountain passes of the West Coast, to the birch-lined gravel paths cutting through the interior, to the flat slab transversing the barren caribou country of the southern Avalon. The landscape is ever changing, and starkly beautiful vistas present themselves around each turn.

“Iceberg hunting” is a great reason for a ride

The irregular shape of the island means that there is over 29,000km of rugged coastline. For centuries, mariners relied on lighthouses to guide them through darkness and “peasoup” fog. These lighthouses are often located at the end of a gravel road, and situated at the most picturesque point of a region. To photograph all of the several hundred lighthouses of Newfoundland, you will need to make more than one visit!

Cape Pine, at the extreme south easterly tip of Newfoundland

The more adventurous traveler will want to test their off-roading skills on the many trails the island has to offer. Rural Newfoundlanders love their ATV's, and in almost every community, after the pavement ends an ATV trail continues towards “cabin country”.

Cabin Country on the Burin Peninsula

The Newfoundland T'Railway is an adventure in itself. 883km (552 miles) of gravel trail stretching from Port Aux Basques to St. John's; it's the route the railway followed from 1898 to 1988. Although this trail is maintained to some degree, it is not for the faint of heart. Trail conditions range from golf-ball-size rocks to loose sand, and areas of the trail can become flooded after heavy rain. In addition to the main T'Railway, there are several “branch lines”, the condition of which depends on when that section of the railway was decommissioned.

A section of the Placentia Branch Line, decommissioned in 1984

Main T'Railway west of St. John's

Take a break from the beaten path, plan for Horizons Unlimited Newfoundland; August 11-14, 2020

The only thing holding you back is your attitude.