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Km 0
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Baie Comeau
is where this
road begins. This is the last town until
Fermont and Labrador City (585km from here). Stock up on food and gas,
especially on gas since the price will rise a lot as you travel north (it's a
remote area). In September 2004, the gas was $0.86/L in Baie-Comeau vs $1.04/L
up north. The food was about the same price.
From here to Manic 5 (212km) the road is paved, but it is twisty, narrow, and very hilly, with no real
shoulder. No gas until the
Manic 5 dam, 212km to the north.
There are lots of logging trucks along this section, and they
really move when they are driving north empty. They probably
appreciate it if you find a good place to pull over and allow them to
pass. You'll also have a less stressful drive without them up your
rear end.
If you are going to Manic-5, 215 kilometers away, a rush drive can take you
there in 2 hours, but a normal drive will take 2 hours and a half since there is
a lot of curves, and a smooth drive can take up to 3 hours. If you are going to
Fermont, 565 kilometers away, a rush drive can take you there in 6 hours, a
normal drive in 7 hours and a smooth drive in around 8 hours. If this is your
first time and you are planning to take a lot of pictures and wander here and
there to marvel at the scenery (which I strongly suggest you do), plan more than
8 hours for the trip. Don't forget that Labrador City is in the Maritime
Provinces, thus 1 hour later than in Quebec and Ontario. |
|
Km 22 |
Manic-2 Dam, visible from
the road. A free guided tour of 1˝ hrs is
offered during the summer and reservations are recommended. You will see
how electricity is produced among other things. Great tour, but if you
are short on time, I suggest you save it for the free guided tour of
Manic-5 instead, and/or Churchill Falls.
Hydro Quebec website (Manic 2) |
|
Km 24
|
Manic-2 campground on the
left side of the road. Great place. The camp sites are located past
those of the trailers and are wooded. There is also a small lake on the
north side where you can see Hwy 389 and swim. Water, electricity,
showers and restaurant available. (418) 296-2810.
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|
Km 52 |
Emergency phone |
|
Km 95 |
Emergency phone, pension, gas station, restaurant |
|
Km 126 |
50th Parallel. |
|
Km 165 |
Emergency phone.
Transformer station. This is where the electricity goes up to 735-kV. |
|
Km 214 |
Motel de l'Énergie. Just before you come to Manic-5 there is a
motel and small restaurant where you can buy gas. Beware, the gas is not
cheap... |
|
Km 216 |
Manic-5 dam. Restrooms,
souvenirs, but no picnic tables! Stop at the building on your left and
register for the free guided tour of the dam (during the summer). It is
well worth it! You will visit the installation, go inside the central
arch and on top of the dam. Reservations are recommended.
Hydro Quebec website: Manic 5
There is gas available here; the last for 104km.
Also, the pavement ends here. You will be on gravel road
for the next 916km to Goose Bay, except for the 90km stretch from
Gagnon to Fire Lake, the 20km between Fermont and Labrador City, and the
1km through Churchill Falls.
|
Km 214 through
Km 390 |
For the next 176km, from
Manic 5 north, the road
is gravel. As you can see from the photos it is a modern gravel
road, with easy curves and hills for the most part. However, you
do have to watch out for the sections of deep and loose gravel. If
you don't drive carefully you can easily spin out of control and into
the ditch. |
|
Km 272 |
Emergency phone |
|
Km 285 |
From
about km280 on, the huge Manicougan Reservoir is visible from time to
time in the distance to your left. This is a large man-made lake created by the
Manic-5 dam.
This may be a gravel
road, but you can make pretty good speed now on the long straight
stretches. You can easily drive at 100 km/h most of the time if you feel
confident enough, but don't be overconfident since it may take a few
hours if not days before someone sees your wrecked car in the ditch. By
the way, the speed limit is 70 km/h all the way up to Labrador City. |
|
Km 288 |
Be on the lookout for a
private entry on your left. I suggest you drive down here and have a
look at the Manicouagan Reservoir -- you won't have another chance to do
it. |
|
Km 317 |
Relais Gabriel. Gas,
restaurant, motel. (418) 589-8348. It's your last chance to buy gas
before Fermont, 250 kilometers north. |
Km 300
through
Km 375 |
From about Km300 through Km375 the road
passes through a region of moderate sized mountains. |
|
Km 335 |
Nomade camp at the base of
the Groulx Mountains. Trails going up the various mountains start here.
Official website (in french only):
http://www.monts-groulx.ca |
|
Km 336 |
Prospecteur outfitter, located at the base of the Mounts Groulx,
right after Nomade camp.
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|
Km 365 |
Beaupin River |
|
Km 365 |
Emergency phone |
|
Km 375 |
Hart Jaune River |
|
Km 393 |
At km 391, you make a left
turn and enter the ghost town of Gagnon, dismantled in 1985 after the
mining company who owned it closed its door. For 2 kilometers before you
actually reach the town site, you will see nothing but trees and wonder
if you will see remnants of the town. And then you hit... paved road! A
modern boulevard!
Good news: the road is paved for the next 90 kilometers! You can
drive as fast as you want (no joke)!
Please note: There are no services whatsoever
here. |
|
Km 407 |
52nd parallel. The taiga, composed mainly of small black spruces,
lichens and mosses, officially starts here. Broad-leaved trees will be very
sparse and rare from now on. |
|
Km 418 |
Emergency phone |
|
Km 440 |
Casse River |
|
Km 464 |
Emergency phone |
|
Km 483 |
It's time to hit the brakes
since the paved road ends here!
Up ahead are the remnants of the mine of Fire Lake: 2 massive silos
are still standing. Everything else was taken down. Make a left turn
here and get prepared for the worst part of highway 389: 67 kilometers
of twisty road! |
|
Km 495 |
Emergency phone.
First railroad crossing. Be careful when you cross the railroad. It may
look deserted, but this is not the case! For quite a ways the road flirts with
this railroad that ships out the ore from the Mount Wright iron mine,
crossing and re-crossing the rails many times. You will have to cross it
9 times. Yes, 9 times! Be careful, as there are no crossing signals.
The next 80km of road are much narrower and it twists and turns all over the place. Take care along here. There's not
much room if you meet a truck. There are
many small lakes along here, with deserted sandy beaches. Very
little traffic. |
|
Km 511 |
Emergency phone. |
|
Km 540 |
First view of Mount Wright visible from
the road. All the mountain is literally being striped of its iron! You
will circle it and can get a better view in a few kilometers. |
|
Km 550 |
Mount Wright. Official Website of the Quebec Cartier Mining
Company: http://www.qcmines.com |
|
Km 555 |
North of Daigle Lake, around km 555, are the Severson Mountains.
7 trails are available. If you have a spare day ahead of you, you can hike from
there to Fermont, 12 kilometers away. |
|
Km 562 |
Junction with the road
leading to Fermont, 2 kilometers west. Fermont is a company-owned town. Gas is available here, along with
the usual services.
When you leave Fermont on the way south, check
carefully the information panel (shown on the picture), especially in
the winter. If red lights are on, it means that the road ahead is closed
between those red lights. During the summer, the road is always open. Don't forget to fill up
your car before going south: there is no gas for the next 249
kilometers.
When in Fermont, you can go south a few
meters along Daviault Lake and climb Mount Daviault. Three trails lead
to the summit, ranging from 0.7 to 1.5 kilometers in length. |
|
Km 570 |
Border of Quebec-Labrador.
Congratulations, you've made it! This is the end of Quebec Hwy 389. From here on you are on the
Trans-Labrador Highway.
Distances are now measured from the Labrador border. |
|
Km 575/Km 5 |
Duley Lake Family Park.
Great campground. Lot of open spaces and some black spruces. Sites
available near Long Lake or along Walsh River. Restroom and shower. Very
affordable. (709) 282-3660. |
|
Km 585/Km 15 |
Welcome to Labrador City! You can't miss this panel just before you
enter the town!
Free guided tours of the mines are available during the summer.
Reservations should be made at the tourism booth (709) 944-7631. An
airport services both towns. The Trans Labrador Highway opened in 1992
and connected with Churchill Falls and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Official Website for both towns:
http://www.labradorwest.com
Official Website of the Iron Ore Company of Canada:
http://www.ironore.ca |
