Viking Trail
Canada
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.
Explore on the interactive map →Stops along the route
- Deer Lake
Gateway to the Great Northern Peninsula, where Highway 430 heads north into boreal forest and increasingly raw, windswept terrain.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Where to Eat
- The Old Loft RestaurantSeafood
A charming eatery in Woody Point offering fresh seafood dishes with a view of Bonne Bay.
- Java Jack's Restaurant & GalleryLocal Cuisine
A cozy spot in Rocky Harbour serving local dishes amidst local art displays.
- The Norseman RestaurantFine Dining
Located near L'Anse aux Meadows, offering gourmet meals with a focus on local ingredients.
- The Daily CatchSeafood
A family-run restaurant in St. Lunaire-Griquet known for its fresh fish and chips.
Things to Do
- Cow Head LighthouseHistoric Site
A historic lighthouse offering panoramic views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
- Port au Choix National Historic SiteHistoric Site
Explore ancient burial sites and learn about the Maritime Archaic people.
- Grenfell Historic PropertiesMuseum
Discover the legacy of Dr. Wilfred Grenfell and his medical mission in Labrador.
- L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic SiteHistoric Site
Visit the only known Viking settlement in North America, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.