Exploring the Lower North Shore and Labrador – Come Join the Adventure!

After visiting Newfoundland Island, we took the ferry to Blanc-Sablon, a municipality located on the Lower North Shore in Quebec, Canada.

Instead of heading back to Quebec via Sydney in Nova Scotia, we decided to explore the Lower North Shore—the least-known region of Quebec—as well as Labrador, which is part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

From Blanc-Sablon, we drove to the municipality of Vieux-Fort via Route 138. This road ends in that municipality.

Afterward, we crossed Labrador to return to the Old Capital. Only one road allows this route. It wasn’t fully paved during our trip, but it is now.

We made stops in different areas to go on hikes that let us discover some incredible landscapes.

I hope this travel journal inspires you to venture into these stunning regions.

Videos are embedded throughout the summary. Click on the image to start the video.

Lower North Shore:

Lower North Shore - Blanc-Sablon - Brador Falls Lookout Lower North Shore - Blanc-Sablon - Astragalus Trail (Milk-Vetch Trail) Lower North Shore - Bonne-Espérance - Granny Hill Trail

Labrador:

Red Bay - Tracey Hill Trail Mary's Harbour - White Water Falls Trail Mary's Harbour - Gin Cove Hiking Trail Mary's Harbour - Dr. Moret Hiking Trail Happy Valley-Goose Bay - Birch Island Walk North West River - Sunday Hill Lookout Trail Churchill Falls - Bowdoin Canyon Nature Trail Labrador City - Tanya Lake Loop Trail Labrador City - Crystal Falls Hiking Trail

North Shore

North Shore - Manic 2, 3, 5 Hydroelectric Plants and Daniel-Johnson Dam Baie-Comeau - Pioneers Park Tadoussac Village

**********

More landscapes of the Lower North Shore, Labrador, and the North Shore

LOWER NORTH SHORE - BLANC-SABLON - BRADOR FALLS VIEWPOINT

GPS coordinates: 51.50537, -57.24655

The Brador Falls, nearly 70 meters high, are located in Blanc-Sablon on Quebec’s Lower North Shore.

You can easily view them from a lookout right by Route 138.

A wooden staircase with many steps leads to an observation platform, offering a stunning viewpoint over the Brador River as it flows in cascades through a narrow gorge surrounded by cliffs eroded into jagged shapes.

The Brador River then crosses Route 138 and empties into Brador Bay, located in the Strait of Belle Isle.

https://youtu.be/f7ViDQiwGmc

LOWER NORTH SHORE - BLANC-SABLON - ASTRAGALUS TRAIL (MILK-VETCH TRAIL)

GPS coordinates: 51.4236, -57.1614

The Astragalus hiking trail was developed on Mont Parent in the municipality of Blanc-Sablon.

It was created to protect Fernald’s milk-vetch, a rare plant that produces vibrant purple flowers.

The vegetation here is abundant and highly diverse.

This trail leads to the summit of Mont Parent, offering a breathtaking view of the village of Blanc-Sablon and the coastline.

Along the way, interpretive panels provide information on the geology, botany, and history of the region.

The hike takes about 30 minutes (so 1 hour round-trip).

https://youtu.be/MC_K4KkvDAI

LOWER NORTH SHORE - BONNE-ESPÉRANCE - GRANNY HILL TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 51.42848, -57.83507

The Granny Hill trail takes us to the top of a hill where we have a stunning panoramic view of the harbor, Vieux-Fort Bay, and several islands.

The hike starts on a dirt road, continues on an ATV trail, and ends on a footpath.

https://youtu.be/gXQ3yGnN-PIc

LABRADOR - RED BAY - TRACEY HILL TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 51.73468, -56.44105 Trailhead GPS coordinates: 51.72629, -56.44915 End of trail

The Tracey Hill Trail is moderate and spans 1.6 km, making it roughly a 3 km round trip since the trail is linear.

To reach the top of this hill, you’ll climb 689 steps. We made several stops along the way to turn around and admire the stunning panorama unfolding before us.

We had an unparalleled view of Red Bay and the Strait of Belle Isle. It’s also a great spot to spot icebergs when the season’s right.

The trail features several interpretive panels that share local history. Positive thoughts are also written on many of the stair risers, motivating us to keep climbing higher.

Before reaching the summit, the trail levels out, allowing us to cross some lovely rugged heathland where there’s a pond.

There’s a legend about this pond. It’s said that a pirate, Captain William Kidd, buried treasure at the bottom. The treasure was supposedly guarded by the ghost of a crew member who was killed and beheaded.

At the summit, a light fog surrounded us, giving the place a mysterious vibe.

The return trip was truly enjoyable, with beautiful viewpoints all the way down.

When we visited, the weather was cloudy, but we still loved what we saw. The scenery must be absolutely breathtaking on clear, sunny days.

https://youtu.be/lkFV0c4Yk4c

LABRADOR - MARY'S HARBOUR - WHITE WATER FALLS TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 52.30654, -55.84569 Start of the trail GPS Coordinates: 52.30101, -55.85998 End of the trail

The White Water Falls trail is easy to hike. At 1.5 km long (3 km round trip), it starts with wooden boardwalks crossing through wetlands. The vegetation is really beautiful there.

It leads to the edge of a small airstrip and a gravel road we took to reach the falls.

We went all the way to the end of this short gravel road and arrived at the edge of a narrow channel.

Since there was no obvious trail leading to the falls, we bushwhacked through the woods to get there.

We managed to find the falls. The spot is lovely—the river flows in multiple small cascades through a narrow rocky passage. It’s a great place for a picnic.

On our way back along the gravel road, we spotted a staircase at the edge of the woods. It wasn’t very visible, and there were no signs.

That’s where we should’ve gone to see the falls. So we took the stairs and followed the trail along the riverbank.

This let us discover even more pretty cascades. We even saw a salmon trying to swim upstream. You’ll see it in this video.

When we returned to the gravel road a second time, we encountered a spruce grouse—a beautiful bird with colorful plumage that you’ll also see in this video.

https://youtu.be/NHZmhOCrQ5U

LABRADOR - MARY'S HARBOUR - GIN COVE HIKING TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 52.31409, -55.83571 Trailhead GPS coordinates: 52.31631, -55.82468 End of trail

The Gin Cove hiking trail is a linear trail of about 900 meters. It features a long wooden walkway made up of boardwalks and stairs, some sections of which were in poor condition when we passed through.

However, that didn’t stop us from taking this walk to reach the top of the hill, where a lookout gave us an excellent view of Mary's Harbour.

We then began the descent toward Gin Cove. A staircase with several steps leads us there.

Gin Cove is a small cove located along the Atlantic Ocean.

Instead of retracing our steps to return to our starting point, we decided to walk along the water, which allowed us to discover some pretty pebble beaches and eroded rocks with spectacular shapes and colors.

https://youtu.be/6UFndPaMs9I

LABRADOR - MARY'S HARBOUR - DR. MORET HIKING TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 52.31254, -55.84021 Trailhead

Located behind the Harbourview Manor, this linear trail of about 500 meters consists of wooden boardwalks and stairs, leading to the top of a hill where Dr. Moret’s house once stood. It was built to accommodate doctors and nurses who worked for the International Grenfell Association in Mary's Harbour.

The house was destroyed in a fire in 1945. Today, only the ruins of the foundations remain visible.

A picnic area has been set up at the top, allowing us to rest while enjoying stunning views of Mary's Harbour.

https://youtu.be/c1npksNyGkk

LABRADOR - HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY - BIRCH ISLAND TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 53.29308, -60.31142

This +/- 5 km trail winds through Birch Island, offering many beautiful viewpoints of the island’s various attractions.

The trail, set in a wooded area, first follows the Churchill River, which is lined with long, stunning sandy beaches, and then crosses through marshy zones featuring lovely ponds.

Along the way, you might spot several bird species and wildlife.

The place is very peaceful, and this trail is truly enjoyable to explore.

https://youtu.be/H2Y9_Gax5nU

NORTH WEST RIVER - SUNDAY HILL LOOKOUT TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 53.53450, -60.14861 Trailhead GPS coordinates: 53.52854, -60.13817 Beach

The Sunday Hill Lookout Trail is located in North West River, a very small town in central Labrador. It starts at the far right end of the Labrador Interpretation Centre parking lot.

It’s a short (+/- 4 km round trip) but pleasant walk through the boreal forest, with lush, diverse, and colorful vegetation.

Along the way, we spotted different species of mushrooms.

We also enjoyed lovely viewpoints of the Mealy Mountains, Grand Lake, and Lake Melville.

After the hike, we headed to North West River Beach, a long and stunning sandy beach.

https://youtu.be/gnB3Hy4I0mQ

CHURCHILL FALLS - BOWDOIN CANYON NATURE TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 53.59200, -64.30590 Churchill Falls rest area GPS coordinates: 53.60044, -64.31486 Trailhead GPS coordinates: 53.59200, -64.30590 End of trail

This trail is 3 km round-trip in total and is easy to hike. It starts near a rest area along Route 500 (Trans-Labrador Highway) in Churchill Falls.

The ground vegetation is lush and very pretty (moss, mushrooms, etc.).

We came across a few spruce grouse walking along the trail, and they weren’t scared of us at all. They didn’t run away when we passed by.

The wooden stairs and boardwalks aren’t maintained, but that’s not a major issue. Just be careful and watch your step.

Viewpoints along the trail offer great views of the falls.

The best view, though, is at the end of the hike, where you can see the Churchill River cascading over a 75-meter-high vertical cliff. The panorama is breathtaking.

https://youtu.be/d6l-duPXYx8

LABRADOR CITY - TANYA LAKE LOOP TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 52.94428, -66.93301 Trailhead

The Tanya Lake walking trail is a 2 km gravel path. It’s very easy to walk.

It loops around Tanya Lake, and there are a few rest areas that offer lovely views of the lake. The vegetation is lush and varied.

You’ll even find a nice sandy beach. The perfect spot to relax in nature.

Don’t miss it if you’re heading to Labrador City.

https://youtu.be/-08OZrCM0y8

LABRADOR CITY - CRYSTAL FALLS HIKING TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 52.94500, -66.97394 Parking and trailhead GPS coordinates: 52.94670, -66.97813 End of trail

This trail, about 1.5 km long, starts on a gravel road before branching off into the forest.

You can take a side path that leads to the base of the falls. That’s what we did. However, the slope is steep, so be careful.

It’s definitely worth the trip because the view of the falls cascading into a small cove is really pretty.

We continued our hike to the top of the falls, which gave us a chance to admire this natural beauty from a different angle.

Plus, you get a panoramic view of the towns of Wabush and Labrador City, as well as the surrounding lakes.

https://youtu.be/ysHFfiWEpaU

CÔTE-NORD - MANIC 2, 3, 5 HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS AND DANIEL-JOHNSON DAM

GPS coordinates: 49.32135, -68.34640 Manic-2 Jean-Lesage Power Plant GPS coordinates: 49.73970, -68.59239 Manic-3 René-Lévesque Power Plant GPS coordinates: 50.64715, -68.72453 Manic-5 and Daniel-Johnson Dam

After visiting the province of Newfoundland, Quebec’s Lower North Shore, and a tiny part of Labrador, we made a few stops along the way to see the impressive hydroelectric power plants built by Hydro-Québec on the Manicouagan River, which runs through the Côte-Nord—one of Quebec’s largest regions.

Manic-2 (Jean-Lesage Power Plant)

The Jean-Lesage Power Plant, formerly known as Manic-2, was built from 1961 to 1965 by Hydro-Québec, about 25 kilometers north of Baie-Comeau, as part of the Manic-Outardes project—a series of dams developed along these two rivers in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec.

The plant was renamed on June 22, 2010, in honor of the father of the Quiet Revolution, Jean Lesage (1912–1980), who served as Premier of Quebec from 1960 to 1966.

It’s a gravity dam with hollow joints (the second-largest in the world), featuring a spillway to control the reservoir’s water level. Eight penstocks carry water from the top of the reservoir down to the power plant below.

Its reservoir, which stretches from Manic-3 over 124 km², holds 4 billion cubic meters of water. It has a capacity of 1,145 MW, generated by an 70-meter drop into 8 Francis turbines.

Source: Jean-Lesage Power Plant article on French Wikipedia (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrale_Jean-Lesage).

Manic-3 (René-Lévesque Power Plant)

The René-Lévesque Power Plant is a hydroelectric facility owned by Hydro-Québec, located on the Manicouagan River in Rivière-aux-Outardes, on the Côte-Nord in Quebec.

This plant, with an installed capacity of 1,244 MW, was commissioned in 1975 as part of the Manic-Outardes project. The power plant is underground and is fed by the Manic-3 reservoir. The complex also includes the Manic-3 dam and a spillway.

Source: René-Lévesque Power Plant article on French Wikipedia (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrale_Ren%C3%A9-L%C3%A9vesque).

Manic-5 and Daniel-Johnson Dam

The Manic-5 power plant, Manic-5-PA power plant, and Daniel-Johnson Dam form a hydroelectric complex owned by Hydro-Québec, located on the Côte-Nord of Quebec, on the Manicouagan River, 214 km north of Baie-Comeau.

Standing 214 meters tall, with a crest length of 1,314 meters, featuring 13 arches and 14 buttresses, the dam is the world’s largest multiple-arch and buttress dam. Inaugurated in 1968 and commissioned in 1970 as part of the Manic-Outardes project, it has a head of 150 meters, and the total installed capacity of the two power plants is 2,660 MW.

The Manic-5-PA power plant was built by Hydro-Québec in the 1980s on the other side of the Manicouagan River. It adds 1,064 MW to the original plant’s 1,596 MW. The four turbines were commissioned in 1989.

Source: Manic-5 Power Plant article on French Wikipedia (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrale_Manic-5).

https://youtu.be/lkfsJORD1DE

BAIE-COMEAU - PARC DES PIONNIERS

GPS coordinates: 49.22007, -68.14484

Description source: https://www.tourismebaiecomeau.com/parc-des-pionniers

An exceptional site by the St. Lawrence River

Parc des Pionniers is a multi-functional park where you’ll find a playground for kids, an outdoor gym, a large stage, a pétanque court, picnic areas, a bike path, giant megaphones, a wooded trail, an ice cream kiosk, and so much more!

You can take a walk or bike to the marina to watch the boats depart, then return via the loop that passes through a wooded section, offering another viewpoint with a charming little waterfall.

There’s so much to do—you can spend the whole day playing ball, flying a kite, or climbing on the rocks. If your child needs a bathroom during the picnic, no worries—there’s even a restroom block.

This is where it all happens!

The park also hosts many events during the summer season, like the Festival Eau Grand Air and the Côte-Nord Beer Festival, thanks to its large outdoor stage.

Ephemeral sculptures add to its charm for a while before making way for new ones that will enchant the park for a season.

Skating with a view of the river

In winter, you can enjoy the traditional *partie de sucre* during spring break and go skating on its ice rink, complete with music playing for the occasion.

Beach access point

You can kill two birds with one stone by heading to Plage Champlain, accessible from Parc des Pionniers near Hôtel Le Manoir de Baie-Comeau. You can also launch a kayak or paddleboard from here.

Incredible to think that...

This park, located by the St. Lawrence, was built on an old bark dump about fifty years ago. Today, the Arbori trail in Parc des Pionniers is a super productive ecosystem, filled with trees, flowers, and even a pond and waterfall for birds.

The Parc des Pionniers project was made possible thanks to the generous financial contribution of the federal government at the time, and the "p'tit gars de Baie-Comeau," Brian Mulroney, who was Prime Minister of Canada from 1984 to 1993.

The people of Baie-Comeau are proud of this place, which shows that a neglected site can always be rehabilitated if everyone works together to turn it into a gathering spot.

https://youtu.be/_yS8fTQI2YE

VILLAGE OF TADOUSSAC

GPS coordinates: 48.143509, -69.715466

The small village of Tadoussac is located on the banks of the majestic St. Lawrence River. Its bay is ranked among the most beautiful in the world.

Tadoussac is a very popular tourist destination since it’s one of the best spots on the North Shore for observing marine mammals, both at sea and along the shoreline.

What’s more, there are several types of accommodation available (B&Bs, hotels, camping), as well as many restaurants and a grocery store with a SAQ license.

The village is also a member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec. You’ll find several century-old buildings, including the Tadoussac Hotel, built in 1866 and rebuilt in 1942, and the chapel, completed in 1750. This chapel is one of the oldest wooden churches in North America.

The village has a very pretty beach where the depth changes with the tides.

https://youtu.be/TKWX8GODofA

OTHER LANDSCAPES OF LABRADOR, THE LOWER NORTH SHORE, AND THE NORTH SHORE

Several videos were posted during our stay in the Labrador and Lower North Shore regions. You can watch them in the various playlists that were created for this purpose.

This latest video showcases some other stunning landscapes we were able to admire during our travels, including:

- Beaver Pond Cliff - Saint-Paul River - Brador Bay - Labrador Straits War Memorial - L'Anse-au-Clair - Forteau - L'Anse-au-Diable - Fermont - Site of the former town of Gagnon

https://youtu.be/1_9cNk2SKac

*************************************** E N D *************************************

Hi Anne, finally a recent message! I’ve got a huge desire to visit Newfoundland and Labrador. I’m used to traveling despite being 68—I just switched to a wheeled suitcase now. I’m really struggling to find information about these regions and have tons of questions:

* Are there any buses? * Affordable accommodations? * I saw a railway that really interested me, from Sept-Îles to Schefferville. I understand it doesn’t run every day, but do you have any info? * There’s also a road that caught my eye, from Baie-Comeau to Blanc-Sablon.

As you can tell, I love the ends of the earth where roads sometimes fade away, so you can connect better with nature and the people.

Hope you can help! 👋 See you soon, Marie

I’m French

Hi Marie,

Here’s what I found online to help you get more info on the topics you mentioned in your post:

*Are there any buses?*

In Newfoundland, the DRL bus serves most major routes, and individual companies provide access to tourist spots. Their website: https://drl-lr.com/schedule-and-fares/

However, you’ll miss a lot of attractions without a car because the distances are huge.

There are also taxi and shuttle services, but you’d need to check the costs for those options.

For Labrador, you absolutely need a vehicle to get around. It really is at the end of the world!

*Affordable accommodations*

Not really! I took a look, and prices are very high. Only camping seems budget-friendly!

That said, the euro vs. CAD exchange rate is a real advantage!

*I saw a railway that interests me a lot, from Sept-Îles to Schefferville. I understand there isn’t a departure every day, but do you have any info?*

Regarding the railway between Sept-Îles and Schefferville, here are three links that might give you more details:

https://lactualite.com/actualites/quebec-canada/quebec-le-vrai-train-du-nord/

https://www.tshiuetin.net/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064655231216

*There’s also a road that interests me, from Baie-Comeau to Blanc-Sablon*

We did this route in 2022, and I totally get why you’re drawn to this part of Quebec. The landscapes are stunning.

Here’s a link to the summary I posted on VF—it highlights the attractions we visited along the way:

Discover the Côte-Nord

*I think you’ve gathered that I love the ends of the earth, where roads sometimes fade away to better meet nature and people.*

We have the same interests! 😄

Have a great day!

Anne

https://mariemespoulet.wixsite.com/mariemespoulet

You’ll find out who I am there 😊

Hi Marie,

Being curious by nature, I took a closer look at your profile and discovered an adventurous woman who’s explored off the beaten path.

I’m so jealous!

Have a great evening!

Anne