RoadAtlas
Viking Trail — Canada — Historical
North America

Viking Trail

Canada

Point-to-point
Deer Lake L'Anse aux Meadows

In short: Viking Trail is a 489 km historical road trip in Canada, typically driven over 4–5 days, best in Jun–Sep. Highlights: Deer Lake, Gros Morne National Park, Cow Head.

Distance
489 km
Duration
4–5 days
Best Season
Jun–Sep
IconicEasyHistorical

Tracing one of the most remote corners of Canada, the Viking Trail links 5000-year-old burial grounds, UNESCO fjords, and icebergs drifting past monumental sea stacks, ending at L'Anse aux Meadows, a Norse settlement established five centuries before Columbus.

~0 refuels
~1 charge
Practical notes
The route is paved but fog, wind, rain, and long service gaps are common. Western Brook Pond requires advance booking and departures depend on wind and weather; reserve directly and keep a full-day land fallback. Reconfirm every seasonal restaurant and carry packed food on northern legs.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Western Brook Pond / north Gros Morne

Western Brook Pond Boat Tour · Western Brook Pond land fallback · Shallow Bay Motel Restaurant

Day 2Gros Morne Mountain or Tablelands / Woody Point

Gros Morne Mountain Trail · Tablelands Trail · The Old Loft Restaurant

Day 3Cow Head / Port au Choix / St Barbe area

Cow Head Lighthouse · Port au Choix National Historic Site · Point Riche Restaurant

Day 4St Anthony / L'Anse aux Meadows area

Grenfell Historic Properties · L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site · The Norseman Restaurant

Stops along the route

Deer Lake — Departure — Viking Trail — Canada
Departure
Deer Lake
Gateway to the Great Northern Peninsula, where Highway 430 heads north into boreal forest and increasingly raw, windswept terrain.
Hotels
Cow Head — City — Viking Trail — Canada
City
Cow Head
A limestone headland at the northern edge of Gros Morne, with sea stacks rising from the Gulf and a small theatre festival each summer.
Hotels
Port au Choix — City — Viking Trail — Canada
City
Port au Choix
Five-thousand-year-old Maritime Archaic and Dorset Paleo-Eskimo burial grounds on a limestone point, among the richest archaeological sites in North America.
Hotels
St Anthony — City — Viking Trail — Canada
City
St Anthony
Humpback whales breach offshore in summer and icebergs ground in the harbour into July. The largest town on the northern tip and last stop before the Norse shore.
Hotels
L'Anse aux Meadows — Arrival — Viking Trail — Canada
Arrival
L'Anse aux Meadows
The only confirmed Norse settlement in the Americas, circa 1000 AD. Reconstructed sod longhouses stand on a windswept point, austere and genuinely moving.
Hotels

Things to Do

Gros Morne National Park — Nature — Viking Trail — Canada
Nature
Gros Morne National Park
UNESCO site where the rust-orange Tablelands expose ancient ocean-floor mantle rock. Western Brook Pond is an inland fjord 16 km long and 165 m deep.
St Barbe — Landmark — Viking Trail — Canada
Landmark
St Barbe
Ferry departure point for Labrador and prime iceberg-viewing territory in June. The road north enters the most remote stretch of the peninsula.
Western Brook Pond Boat Tour — Boat Tour — Viking Trail — Canada
Boat Tour
Western Brook Pond Boat Tour
The must-do experience in Gros Morne: a boat tour into a 16km inland fjord walled by 600m cliffs, reached via a 3km walk across coastal bog to the dock.
Cow Head Lighthouse — Historic Site — Viking Trail — Canada
Historic Site
Cow Head Lighthouse
A historic lighthouse offering panoramic views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Port au Choix National Historic Site — Historic Site — Viking Trail — Canada
Historic Site
Port au Choix National Historic Site
Explore ancient burial sites and learn about the Maritime Archaic people.
Grenfell Historic Properties — Museum — Viking Trail — Canada
Museum
Grenfell Historic Properties
Discover the legacy of Dr. Wilfred Grenfell and his medical mission in Labrador.
Show 1 more
L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site — Historic Site — Viking Trail — Canada
Historic Site
L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site
Visit the only known Viking settlement in North America, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Where to Eat

The Old Loft Restaurant — Seafood — Viking Trail — Canada
Seafood
The Old Loft Restaurant
A charming eatery in Woody Point offering fresh seafood dishes with a view of Bonne Bay.
Java Jack's Restaurant & Gallery — Local Cuisine — Viking Trail — Canada
Local Cuisine
Java Jack's Restaurant & Gallery
A cozy spot in Rocky Harbour serving local dishes amidst local art displays.
The Norseman Restaurant — Fine Dining — Viking Trail — Canada
Fine Dining
The Norseman Restaurant
Located near L'Anse aux Meadows, offering gourmet meals with a focus on local ingredients.
The Daily Catch — Seafood — Viking Trail — Canada
Seafood
The Daily Catch
A family-run restaurant in St. Lunaire-Griquet known for its fresh fish and chips.

Nearby and similar drives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Viking Trail drive?

The Viking Trail covers 489 km from start to finish.

How long does the Viking Trail take to drive?

Most travellers spend 4–5 days on the Viking Trail, depending on stops and pace.

When is the best time to drive the Viking Trail?

The recommended season for the Viking Trail is Jun–Sep.

Where does the Viking Trail start and end?

The Viking Trail runs from Deer Lake to L'Anse aux Meadows.

What are the main stops on the Viking Trail?

The Viking Trail passes through Deer Lake, Gros Morne National Park, Cow Head.

How difficult is the Viking Trail to drive?

The Viking Trail is rated easy and is best handled with any vehicle.

Can I drive the Viking Trail in a regular car?

Yes — the Viking Trail is paved end-to-end and a regular car is fine in normal conditions.

How many fuel stops are needed on the Viking Trail?

Plan around 0 refuels (or about 1 EV charges) along the Viking Trail, based on its 489 km length.

Is the Viking Trail safe to drive?

The route is paved but fog, wind, rain, and long service gaps are common. Western Brook Pond requires advance booking and departures depend on wind and weather; reserve directly and keep a full-day land fallback. Reconfirm every seasonal restaurant and carry packed food on northern legs.

What scenic tier is the Viking Trail?

The Viking Trail is a iconic drive — Iconic road trips that anchor a region's reputation — postcard scenery, headline highways, and the routes most travellers want to drive.