28 June, 2026 0 comments Leave a comment

Early this spring, my husband and I joined five other couples, each towing an Airstream travel trailer, on a grand adventure to the wilds of northeastern Canada. Our route would follow the famous route called Expedition 51°, pictured here and below.

THE ROUTE:

This is a remote 1,700-kilometer (1,050-mile) road trip and tourist route that takes drivers through some of the most rugged and remote wilderness in Northeastern Canada.

The epic loop spans from Baie-Comeau, Quebec, on the St. Lawrence River, up through Fermont, and traverses Labrador from west to east along the Trans-Labrador Highway before ending at Blanc-Sablon on the Lower North Shore, overlooking the Strait of Belle Isle.

The route features a mix of raw boreal forests, untamed rivers, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and remote coastal villages. 

Because of the vast distances between amenities (up to 400 km or 250 miles between gas stations), travellers are advised to heavily prepare with spare tires, emergency supplies, and satellite phones.

We timed our trip to be early enough to avoid black fly season but late enough that night time temperatures would be above freezing and gravel roads would have firmed up after spring thaw.

GETTING THERE:

First of all, our group had to get from Ontario to Baie-Comeau, an easy 1,300 km (800 mile) journey that we spread out over the course of a week.

We enjoyed visiting Peterborough, Montebello, Trois Rivieres, and Tadoussac along the way.

The north shore of the St. Lawrence River is gorgeous - rugged and hilly. After crossing the Saguenay River by ferry at Tadoussac, we camped in a beautiful spot overlooking the river (shown here), and enjoyed a whale watching cruise.

THE EXPEDITION:

We headed north from Baie-Comeau on Hwy 389, into the wilds of northern Quebec. We passed several hydro-electric projects, including Manic 5.

This photo of our truck and trailer approaching the famous structure, which is the world's highest multiple-arch-and-buttress dam, was taken by a friend on the caravan. 

Standing 214 meters (703 feet) tall and stretching 1,314 meters (4,311 feet) long, the colossal engineering marvel creates a massive reservoir inside a 214-million-year-old meteorite impact crater.

On Hwy 389, which is a mix of paved and gravel sections 567 kilometers (352 miles) long, there were no campgrounds to stay in. Shown here is our group parked for the night at a truck stop near the half way point called Relais Gabriel.

We had no campground services to plug into, but with full fresh water tanks, propane tanks, and batteries, we all spent a comfortable night. This was the first of many 'boon-docking' experiences on this trip. 

We were excited to reach the Quebec/Labrador border, where the Trans Labrador highway begins. This is a new road and fully paved.

Stay tuned for the next phase of our adventure as we journey across Labrador.

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