Labrador Straits Loop
Viking ruins and iceberg spotting
Route 510 hugs the Strait of Belle Isle from Blanc-Sablon to Red Bay, where 16th-century Basque whalers rendered blubber in stone ovens still standing on the beach. The 90-kilometer coastal run passes L’Anse aux Meadows turnoff — the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America — while icebergs drift past your windshield from April through July. Pinware River crossing at kilometer 35 floods during spring runoff, turning the ford into a lottery.
Easy driving on maintained gravel with some rough sections past Battle Harbour turnoff. Any vehicle handles it, though high clearance helps in the washouts. Summer only — ferry service to Newfoundland shuts down October through April, trapping you on the Quebec side. Stock up in Blanc-Sablon because services are sparse and expensive. You’re driving through 1,000 years of maritime history where Inuit, Vikings, and Basque whalers all left their mark on the most isolated coastline in North America.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 56 mi / 90 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 500 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle |
| Nearest town | Blanc-Sablon, QC |
| Land manager | Newfoundland and Labrador Parks |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| 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 regular car handle the Labrador Straits Loop, or do I need 4WD?
Any vehicle can manage this trail — it's graded gravel and rated easy with no technical terrain. A stock sedan or minivan will get through fine in dry conditions, though a bit of ground clearance helps if the road gets rough after rain.
When does the trail open and is it accessible in shoulder seasons?
June through September is the reliable window. Snow and ice can linger into late May, and early October conditions get dicey fast this far north — the Strait of Belle Isle doesn't mess around with weather.
Are there any permits or fees to drive the Labrador Straits Loop?
No permits required to drive the route itself. If you stop at Red Bay National Historic Site or L'Anse aux Meadows, Parks Canada entry fees apply — budget around $4–8 CAD per adult per site.
What's the hardest section of this trail and what should I actually expect?
Nothing on this route is technically demanding — the water crossings are shallow and manageable even for low-clearance rigs. The bigger challenge is the remoteness: long stretches between services and unpredictable fog or wind off the Labrador Sea can slow you down.
Where do I fuel up, and how far is the gap between gas stations?
Blanc-Sablon is your last reliable fuel before heading northeast along the route — top off there. Stations are sparse to nonexistent along the Labrador coast, so carry a jerry can if you're running anything thirstier than a small SUV.
Trail track
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