From hydro cuts to rail trails, the Rock has a lot to offer the dual sport or Adv rider

Being a Newfoundland expat, these words always echo in my mind: “You never know how good you have it, until you don’t.” 

I have been a motorcycle enthusiast my entire life and I have been fortunate enough to travel throughout North America on some of the most scenic byways and highways that Canada and the Continental U.S. have to offer. Newfoundland has breathtaking landscapes, beckoning adventure aficionados to explore hidden gems. One of the most exhilarating ways to experience the Island’s natural beauty is by embarking on a journey along the gravel roads and trails on an adventure motorcycle. 

During the summer months, the rugged terrain, the charm of gravel roads, the allure of the great outdoors, and the weather all merge to create an unforgettable experience. The island’s new power transmission line on the Northern Peninsula, Buchans to the Burgeo Highway and the former Newfoundland railway bed all make for amazing day rides or overnight excursions. 

The Thrill of Adventure

Adventure motorcycling transcends traditional travel; it’s about the journey itself as much as the destination. The thrill of navigating gravel roads and trails on an adventure motorcycle adds an element to the excitement and exploration to the experience. With its diverse landscapes ranging from rolling hills and plateaus to rugged coastline, the island of Newfoundland provides the backdrop for this adventure. 

The relatively new Muskrat Falls power transmission line, located on the Northern Peninsula, is a great addition to the province’s adventure motorcycling landscape. At 180 km in length, the well-constructed gravel road with bridges and switchbacks follows the path of the hydroelectric transmission line. The rider is given a view of arguably one of the most beautiful parts of the island: the Long Range Mountains. 

For a section, the road traverses the eastern border of Gros Morne National Park and remains basically in the middle of the Great Northern Peninsula — the northernmost reach of the Appalachian Mountains — for many kilometres before returning the rider to the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the north and Hampton Junction to the south. 

You will be treated to incredible views of the ocean, too many waterfalls and ponds to count and, of course, wildlife, including moose and caribou. The gravel road surface challenges riders, enhancing their skills and making the many twists and turns an adrenaline-filled encounter. 

Forest Access Roads

The interior of the island has many forestry access roads that are available to the off-road rider. Trips to Granite and Victoria Lakes are one-way trips with the rider having to return on the same road back to Millertown or Buchans in Central Newfoundland. If you share my inclination toward creating loops during your ride, the roads on the east and west side of Beothuk Lake are a must. One route leads you from Millertown, the original forestry capital of Newfoundland, on the east side of Beothuk Lake on a reasonably maintained gravel road to the Lloyds River crossing.

The other route takes you from Buchans, Newfoundland’s original mining capital, along the west side of the lake, once more on a gravel road that is adequately maintained to the fork in the road for the Lloyds River Crossing. From here, the rider is given yet another stunning panoramic view, as the road ebbs and flows with the Lloyd’s River in the shadow of the Annieopsquotch Mountains until you reach the pavement at Route 490 (The Burgeo Highway).

Rail Trail

Another remarkable adventure motorcycling experience is the former Newfoundland Railway bed (in later years maintained by Canadian National)
now referred to as the Newfoundland T’Railway. This 833-km ride from the west coast starting in Port-Aux-Basque and ending in St. John’s winds through a variety of landscapes, each with its own distinct charm.

Riders may find themselves cruising through picturesque valleys, crossing wooden trestle bridges that harken back to the railway’s heyday, or passing through many of the island’s inland communities. One moment you may be embroiled in dense forest and alder trees and then the trail opens to the Topsails, which is a wide-open plateau in the centre of Newfoundland comprising four high monadnocks of land: the Main, Mizzen, Gaff and Fore, all seafaring terms that describe the sails of a ship. The Topsails are renowned for the incredible amounts of snow it receives.

Many a photo exists of The Bullet, an ironically named passenger and freight train that transited the 833 km
in an astonishing 23 hours, being stranded in two- to four-metre snow drifts. The Gaff Topsail, at 570 metres in elevation, is a place to stop, enjoy the view, have a lunch and ponder how the granite from the nearby quarry was used throughout the island for bridge abutments, and the railway terminus, Riverhead Station in St. John’s, which is now a museum.

The T’Railway along this section in particular is challenging for a motorcyclist as it is basically two track and you are unable to avail of the center, thus you’ll be tackling alders and scrub brush for most of the ride. If you plan to navigate the entire length, you will require camping gear or accommodations that can be found throughout.

The rugged terrain, ever-changing weather conditions, and the thrill of the unknown all contribute to the allure of the experience. Whether it’s navigating challenging sections of loose gravel, overcoming sudden rain showers, or encountering wildlife along the trail, each element adds to the narrative of the adventure.

Motorcycling allows the rider to truly immerse themselves in their surroundings. The sights, sounds, and even the scents of the landscape become an integral part of the journey. Riding through the forests, the aroma is palatable, while along the coastline, the ocean fragrance carries the promise of the open sea. The island of Newfoundland offers all of this; truly one of the less discovered areas for the adventure motorcyclist in North America. As a true Newfoundlander would say, “It’s best kind.” MM