Newfoundland T’Railway Provincial Park ATV Trail

The old Newfoundland Railway died in 1988, but its ghost lives on as the T’Railway — 883 kilometers of converted rail bed stretching from Channel-Port aux Basques to St. John’s across some of the most remote terrain in eastern North America. This isn’t manicured rail-trail; it’s proper backcountry where you’ll ford unbridged streams, navigate around beaver dams, and thread through sections where alders have reclaimed the roadway. The route crosses the Long Range Mountains through Gaff Topsails, where caribou migrations bottle up traffic and fog can reduce visibility to zero in minutes. Traditional railway trestles still span deep ravines, now reinforced for ATV traffic but narrow enough to pucker your sphincter.

Easy to moderate difficulty with stock high-clearance vehicles handling most sections, though some stream crossings and muddy stretches favor 4WD. The trail is technically open to motorcycles and ATVs only, but locals use it for accessing remote hunting and fishing spots with pickup trucks during dry conditions. Best traveled June through September when streams are manageable and bogs have firmed up. No permits required, but fuel planning is critical — services are sparse and you’ll cover serious distance between communities. This is Newfoundland at its most authentic: wind-scoured barrens, hidden ponds, and the kind of solitude that makes you understand why people call it The Rock.