Trans-Labrador Highway — Labrador City to Happy Valley-Goose Bay via the Quebec–Labrador Wilderness
Sub-Arctic Canada's loneliest road. Earn it.
Route 500 — the Trans-Labrador Highway’s western leg — is the only road link between Labrador City and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and for most of its length it is exactly what a road through sub-Arctic Canada ought to be: a red-gravel track punched through spruce and tamarack, over exposed Precambrian Shield, across rivers wide enough to matter, and through a landscape so empty that a blown tyre 200 km from nowhere is a genuine problem and not a punchline. The highway passes the enormous Churchill Falls hydroelectric station — the second-largest underground power plant on earth — and skirts the edge of the Smallwood Reservoir, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Wildlife is constant: caribou, moose, black bear, wolves, and in early season, blackflies that will recalibrate your definition of misery.
Most of the route is gravel and manageable in a stock high-clearance 4WD or even a capable AWD in dry conditions, but spring breakup (April–May) turns sections into wheel-sucking mud traps and some river bridges wash out seasonally. Summer (June–September) is the realistic window. Fuel at Labrador City, Churchill Falls, and Goose Bay — nowhere else. Carry extra fuel and at least one full-size spare; sharp shale gravel eats tyres. No permits required. Cell service is essentially zero for the majority of the route. A satellite communicator and a paper topo are not optional items here — they’re the backup plan when the gravel decides it’s not done with you yet.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 571 mi / 919 km |
| Duration | 2-4 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2050 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance AWD or 4WD with extra fuel and spare tyre |
| Nearest town | Labrador City, NL |
| Land manager | Government of Newfoundland and Labrador — Transportation and Infrastructure |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | NL Government — Labrador Highways 511 NL Road Conditions |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Subaru Outback or AWD crossover handle the Trans-Labrador Highway?
A stock Outback or similar AWD crossover can make it in dry summer conditions, but it's not comfortable and one bad section or water crossing can end your trip. High-clearance 4WD is the honest minimum — you're 571 miles from nowhere with no tow trucks coming.
When does the Trans-Labrador Highway open and close each year?
The route is generally drivable June through September. Spring breakup (April–May) turns sections into deep mud and can make crossings impassable, and early snow can arrive by October. Check 511nl.ca for current conditions before you leave — conditions can flip fast out there.
Do you need a permit to drive or camp along the Trans-Labrador Highway?
No permit is required to drive the highway. Dispersed camping along the corridor is generally permitted on Crown land — no fee, no registration. Leave it cleaner than you found it.
What's the hardest section of the route and what should I actually expect?
The stretch between Churchill Falls and Happy Valley-Goose Bay historically sees the roughest gravel, washboarding, and the most significant water crossings after rain. Expect corrugations that will shake loose anything not properly secured, sharp shale that eats tires, and sections where the road disappears into standing water with no way around — depth unknown until you're in it.
How much fuel do I need to carry, and where can I actually fill up along the route?
There are no fuel stops between Labrador City and Churchill Falls (~290 km), and then again nothing reliable until Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Carry a minimum of 20–30 litres of extra fuel in approved jerry cans — more if your rig is thirsty. Churchill Falls has a small fuel stop but hours are limited and supply isn't guaranteed, so don't count on it saving you.
Trail track
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