Scenic Drives Near Stephenville     

French Ancestors Route

A Drive Through Newfoundland's French Heritage

Drive along the edge of the cliffs that plunge into the rich, productive waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Pass through colorful communities with a history dating back to the French fishing fleets. See a distinctive French culture still alive and well in the communities of Cap St. George, La Grand Terre, and L'anse aux Canards. You will discover what has been called "one of the best scenic drives on the island," when you visit the scenic loop we call the French Ancestors Route. The drive around the Port au Port Peninsula is one of the most popular scenic drives in Newfoundland. Upon leaving Stephenville and crossing the isthmus you will want to visit the community of Aguathuna and the beautifully restored, Our Lady Of Mercy Church. This is the largest wooden structure in Newfoundland, protected for future generations to enjoy as a heritage building. The museum and tea room that accompany the church overlook the calm waters of Port au Port Bay. Halfway around the peninsula you will arrive in our Francophone communities. This is one of the last remaining bastions of French culture and settlement in Newfoundland. The French speaking settlers along this stretch of the Festival Coast came from St. Pierre, Brittany, and the Acadian communities of Nova Scotia. Over the generations they have nurtured a delightfully unique French Newfoundland Culture that reflects the isolation of the area. Stop at the Circle of Memories museum in the community of Mainland to explore the area's rich French and seagoing heritage. The French ancestors route is famous for its scenery. The road follows the sea coast and skirts along the edge of the cliffs the entire way around. The sea cliffs along this section of the Festival Coast are most striking - in some places plunges 500 meters into the ocean. A stop at Boutte du Cap lookout in the community of Cape St. George will allow a chance to photograph some of natures most wonderful sculptures.

Three Rivers Scenic Drive

A Drive Through Cottage Country

This drive is named for the areas three salmon rivers - Crabbs, Barachois, and Robinsons. A local guide can show you the best place to cast a line. Take a short, picturesque side trip off the Trans Canada Highway to tiny communities with big Scottish names like Loch Leven and Highlands. The grassy fields and streams that proliferate the lush area are what made it so attractive to the first Scottish settlers who made their living by tilling fertile soil into farmland. This area is also home to the Cormack Trail, a backpacking route along the sea cliffs from Cape Anguille to highlands.

An Explorers Route

Drive over the 1.2 billion year-old Long Range Mountains and through the barrens of low-growing mosses and lichens. See some of the 60,000 Woodland Caribou that inhabit the interior of the island. Visit our historic fishing outports and meet the people that make their living at the edge of the sea. The Caribou Trail is an explorers route. No communities exist along its 148 km except at the trips end in Burgeo. Make arrangements for accommodations or camping at Sandbanks Provincial Park before heading out. From route #1 take the Burgeo turnoff. The road climbs over the long range mountains and some of the oldest rock on earth. You'll enter the Long Range Barrens ecosystem and the realm of the Caribou. Herd of hundreds of animals have been seen along the roadside. You are advised to keep a watchful eye to avoid any accidents. The road drops down to sea level when you arrive in the community of Burgeo. It was this picturesque town that Canadian author Farley Mowat called home when he wrote his book, A Whale for the Killing. The ocean currents and winds have created sand dunes and beaches protected in the much photographed Sandbanks Provincial Park. Ramea, an island 9 km off the coast, along with the coastal communities Grey River and Francois can be reached only by ferry. These are the quintessential outports where the people have used the sea as a livelihood and a means of travel for generations. A visit to these communities is like a journey back in time before roads connected Newfoundland's outports.