Branching off the Cabot Trail at Cape North, the Bay St. Lawrence drive leads through Sugar Loaf, St. Margaret Village, and the spectacular cliff route to Meat Cove. The road is paved to Bay St. Lawrence and Capstick, then turns to gravel for the final stretch to Meat Cove. Whale-watching tours leave from Bay St. Lawrence wharf. Allow at least half a day to do justice to the side trip.

What to see

Working harbours at Bay St. Lawrence and Capstick where lobster and snow-crab boats unload through the season.
The cliff route from Capstick to Meat Cove — gravel road clinging to a near-vertical drop into the Cabot Strait.
Meat Cove village itself, a 35-house community at the literal end of the road.
Pilot, fin, and minke whales close in on summer afternoons; outfitters in Bay St. Lawrence run small-boat tours.
The view east toward St. Paul Island, often called the graveyard of the Gulf.

On the drive

Pavement ends just past Capstick; the gravel stretch to Meat Cove is well-graded but narrow with steep drops.
Drive slowly — the cliff section has no guardrails and oncoming pickups expect to share the road.
Allow 45 minutes one way from Cape North even though it's only about 30 km — the road won't let you rush.
No fuel north of Cape North; top up before turning off the Cabot Trail.
Cell service is intermittent and disappears altogether on the final stretch.

What to bring

Layers; the wind off the Cabot Strait is dramatic.
A picnic or cash for the Meat Cove chowder hut and the Capstick lobster pound (seasonal).
Camera with a wide lens — the cliff stretches are remarkable.
Bug spray for any short walks at the end of the road.

Combine it with

A whale-watching tour from Bay St. Lawrence wharf.
The Meat Cove Mountain Trail for a steep, short climb with a 360-degree summit view.
Cabots Landing Provincial Park for a beach walk on the way back to the Cabot Trail.