Route 389 — Baie-Comeau to Fermont via Manic-5 and the Labrador Trough

Route 389 is one of the most legitimately remote drives in eastern North America. Starting in Baie-Comeau on the St. Lawrence, it climbs north past the Manic-2 and Manic-5 hydroelectric dams — the latter being the largest multiple-arch-and-buttress dam on earth — before transitioning to maintained gravel somewhere north of Relais Gabriel and pushing into the Labrador Trough. By the time you reach Gagnon’s ghost town junction and the final stretch into Fermont, you’ve crossed open taiga and subarctic terrain that feels closer to the NWT than to Montreal. Caribou crossings are real. Moose on the road at dusk are nearly guaranteed. The gravel north of Relais Gabriel gets rough after rain — washboard and softball-sized rocks are normal.

Two-wheel drive is technically possible in dry summer conditions, but a high-clearance 4WD is strongly recommended for the northern gravel section. Fuel is available at Relais Gabriel and Fermont — that’s it. Carry at least 80 litres extra. No cell service north of Manic-5. Best season is late June through early September; October brings snow that can close the northern section without warning. This is a serious fuel-and-logistics route, not a casual weekend trip. But if you want to experience what roadless Quebec actually looks like from behind the wheel, Route 389 is the answer.