Biking the Viking Trail in Newfoundland is for those of you who have an adventurous spirit and don’t mind some hard, even challenging cycling.
The 600 km trip up Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula is a fantastic bike ride. The route primarily follows the rocky, barren coast through a series of sparsely populated but picturesque fishing villages with names like Sally’s Cove, Cow Head and Brig Bay.
But the ride offers so much more than just rugged coastal beauty. At the top of the list are the people of Newfoundland who in my experience rank as some of the friendliest and most generous on the planet. Where else in the world does a complete stranger offer their car to you so you can drive to dinner in the rain instead of cycling?
And then there’s the option of doing a number of unique and highly worthwhile side trips. That’s why 10 days is ideal for this bike ride.
Although you cycle through Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – it merits more of your time. The park showcases one of the best examples of plate tectonics in the world along with an unrivaled landscape of great natural beauty. At a minimum take a boat ride up the fjord or hike to the top of Gros Morne Mountain.
Allow another day to ferry over to Labrador from St. Barbe. Whale sightings are common and the biking, though hilly, is also very beautiful, rugged and treeless. And besides when are you likely to return to Labrador?
