Ride Guide

Explore some of the best motorcycle routes Newfoundland has to offer. We’ve mapped out our favorite riding loops and destination runs — chosen for scenery, road quality, fuel access, and must-see stops along the way.

Use this guide with our wall map in-store or below:

Key "Star Stops" along each route
Distance from Rugged Rock Harley-Davidson
Total route distance
Fuel + food suggestions - COMING SOON
Interactive map links for navigation

Ride prepared. Fuel up early. Weather changes fast. Cell service can be limited in remote areas. Enjoy the ride!

Route 1: The Baccalieu Trail

Winding roads, rolling hills, coastal scenery, you get it all - and not too far from town. From beautiful and quaint Brigus, to the town of Dildo, famously featured on The Tonight Show, there's so many places to enjoy the view, grab a bite to eat, or just stop and smell the salt air. It's #1 on our list for a reason.

Road Routes: NL-60, NL-70 & NL-80

Total Distance: 230 kms

Distance from Rugged Rock H-D (nearest point): 40 kms (30 mins)

Ride Time (no long stops): 3.5 - 4 hours

Star Stops: 5: Dildo - Dildo Brewery

Rider Tips:

Weather can be incredibly unpredictable (take it from us - we're used to it), so make sure you pack your rain gear and layers.
Traffic is usually light and continuous. Watch out for pot holes & sharp turns.
Gas up when you can, some fuel stops are spaced out and not all gas stations carry supreme gas (we've all found out the hard way)!
Always watch out for wildlife.

See the full route details here: Baccalieu Trail - GOOGLE MAPS

Route 2: The Irish Loop

This ride takes you along the coast, passing through beautiful Trepassey and St. Vincent's beach - a prime whale-watching location if you're lucky. Enjoy open ocean viewpoints, and long sweeping turns.

Road Routes: NL-10 & NL-90

Total Distance: 240 kms

Distance from Rugged Rock H-D (nearest point): 32 kms (30 mins)

Ride Time (no long stops): 3.5 - 4 hours

Star Stops: St. Vincent's Beach

Rider Tips:

Weather can be incredibly unpredictable (take it from us - we're used to it), so make sure you pack your rain gear and layers. Fog is common and temps are known to drop off dramatically in these areas.
Traffic is usually light and continuous. Watch out for pot holes.
Gas up when you can, some fuel stops are spaced out and not all gas stations carry supreme gas.
Always watch out for wildlife. Moose are common in these areas particularly near hours of dusk and dawn.

See the full route details here: IRISH LOOP - GOOGLE MAPS

Route 3: The Boot

The Burin Peninsula, otherwise known as The Boot, offers a fine taste of Newfoundland scenery with high cliffs and sheltered coves - once a haven for pirates and privateers. While you're here, swing into Smuggler's Cove to see the motorcyclists haven of the peninsula, home to the Route 210 Run Rally, a popular event for riders across the province held in late August every year.

Road Routes: NL-220

Total Distance: 200 kms

Distance from Rugged Rock H-D (nearest point): 290 kms (3 hours)

Ride Time (no long stops): 3 - 3.5 hours

Star Stops: 6: Smuggler's Cove

Rider Tips:

Weather can be incredibly unpredictable (take it from us - we're used to it), so make sure you pack your rain gear and layers.
Traffic is usually light and continuous. Watch out for pot holes.
Gas up when you can, some fuel stops are spaced out and not all gas stations carry supreme gas.
Always watch out for wildlife.

See the full route details here: THE BOOT - GOOGLE MAPS

Route 4: Discovery Trail

The Bonavista peninsula is where you'll discover true Newfoundland charm and culture, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Home to a host of fishing communities, coastal adventures, theatre entertainment, the root-cellar capital of the world and lighthouses aplenty. Wanna know more? Ask our Apparel Manager, Ange why this is her favorite route.

Road Routes: NL-230

Total Distance: 230 kms

Distance from Rugged Rock H-D (nearest point): 180 kms (2 hours)

Ride Time (no long stops): 3.5 - 4 hours

Star Stops: 7: Bonavista - Puffin Colony

Rider Tips:

Weather can be incredibly unpredictable (take it from us - we're used to it), so make sure you pack your rain gear and layers.
Traffic is usually light and continuous. Watch out for pot holes.
Gas up when you can, some fuel stops are spaced out and not all gas stations carry supreme gas.
Always watch out for wildlife.

See the full route details here: DISCOVERY TRAIL - GOOGLE MAPS

Route 5: Gander Bay Loop / Road to the Shore

The Gander Bay Loop, also known as "The Shore" by locals, is a road to remember - this horseshoe-shaped loop starts in Gambo, taking you through Lumsden beach where you can kick off your shoes and walk in the sand, and finishes in Gander - the town that famously took in over 7,000 passengers when their planes were forced to land on 9/11. In between it all, the coastal communities and winding roads are sure to delight in each of their own unique ways.

Road Routes: NL-320 & NL-330

Total Distance: 215 kms

Distance from Rugged Rock H-D (nearest point): 285 kms (3 hours)

Ride Time (no long stops): 3 - 3.5 hours

Star Stops: 8: Lumsden Beach

Rider Tips:

Weather can be incredibly unpredictable (take it from us - we're used to it), so make sure you pack your rain gear and layers.
Traffic is usually light and continuous. Watch out for pot holes.
Gas up when you can, some fuel stops are spaced out and not all gas stations carry supreme gas.
Always watch out for wildlife.

See the full route details here: GANDER BAY LOOP - GOOGLE MAPS

Route 6: Road to the Isles

The road to the isles is the centerpiece of an amazing spread of the province. With some of the most scenic locations in the province, you don't want to skip this one. Pick up the road in Gander, and make your way around and across the water to Twillingate - the embodiment of everything NL is about: a stunningly rugged coastline, historical and picturesque streets, and lush countryside roads. Off the coast, keep an eye out for whales, seabirds and if the season is right, icebergs. It's positioned right in the heart of Iceberg Alley, a popular path for the frozen giants.

If you're feeling adventurous, hop on the boat to Fogo Island - home of the world famous Fogo Island Inn. Then, come back the way you came or take a trip through Baytona, Campbellton and Lewisporte to round it out.

Road Routes: NL-330 & NL-340

Total Distance: 210 kms

Distance from Rugged Rock H-D (nearest point): 285 kms (3 hours)

Ride Time (no long stops): 3 - 3.5 hours

Star Stops:

9: Twillingate - Long Point Lighthouse

French Beach

Rider Tips:

Weather can be incredibly unpredictable (take it from us - we're used to it), so make sure you pack your rain gear and layers.
Traffic is usually light and continuous. Watch out for pot holes.
Gas up when you can, some fuel stops are spaced out and not all gas stations carry supreme gas.
Always watch out for wildlife.
Many tourist attractions, restaurants and the like will close shop or reduce hours in the off-season (mid-September - early May). Make sure you check ahead to avoid disappointment.

See the full route details here: ROAD TO THE ISLES - GOOGLE MAPS

Route 7: The Viking Trail

The longest route on our list but worth the ride. The Viking Trail will make you feel like you're travelling through the fjords of Norway, the cliffs of Moher, and walking on the moon, all in less than 700kms. Starting in Deer Lake, you'll make your way to Gros Morne National Park; home to a mesa-like formation of the earth's mantle, pushed to the surface by tectonic forces.

Further in is Western Brook Pond; not a pond but indeed, a glacier carved fjord over 2,000 feet from sky to water. Explore the fjord as a part of a boat tour or take a cruise along the coast to see it from above.

Make your way up the coast and find yourself at the most northern part of the island; L'Anse aux Meadows - an 11th century Viking settlement. The Northern Peninsula has Newfoundland's longest iceberg season and it's a great place to watch for whales into the late summer.

Road Routes: NL-430 & NL-436

Total Distance: 435 kms

Distance from Rugged Rock H-D (nearest point): 625 kms (6.5 hours)

Ride Time (no long stops): 5 - 6 hours

Star Stops:

10: Tablelands

11: Western Brook Pond

12: L'Anse aux Meadows

Rider Tips:

Weather can be incredibly unpredictable (take it from us - we're used to it), so make sure you pack your rain gear and layers.
Traffic is usually light and continuous. Watch out for pot holes.
Gas up when you can, some fuel stops are spaced out and not all gas stations carry supreme gas.
The park is full of caribou, moose, and other fauna large and small - always watch out for wildlife.

See the full route details here: THE VIKING TRAIL - GOOGLE MAPS

Route 8: City Highlights

Can't make it out of the city? Don't worry, there is still so much to see in and around St. John's and the surrounding areas. Start in Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove to ride tight and windy roads to Cape Spear, the most easterly point in all of North America. Then, head downtown and visit Signal Hill, Quidi Vidi and George Street; some of our most iconic locations famous for Irish-Newfoundland music, fishery heritage, and our lively night life. Looking for a grub-up? Downtown is host to hundreds of restaurants, pubs and bars that will surely tickle your fancy! Don't forget to check out jelly bean row! These colorful townhouses are everywhere in the downtown area.

Venture through Portugal-Cove-St. Phillips to breathe in the salt air and check out some coastal views and end the trip with a stop into Topsail Beach to kick back and watch the sunset over the bay. This is a great run post-Bike Night at the shop or simply getting out for a quick evening scoot.

Road Routes: Begin/End at NL-11 or NL-60

Total Distance: 70 kms

Distance from Rugged Rock H-D (all major stop-points): Approx. 20 kms or less (30 minutes or less)

Ride Time (no long stops): 1.5 - 2 hours

Star Stops:

Rider Tips:

Weather can be incredibly unpredictable (take it from us - we're used to it), so make sure you pack your rain gear and layers.
Traffic is heavier in town than the outports and bays. Watch out for pot holes, rough roads and construction zones.
Watch out for wildlife. You may be in the city, but wildlife are incredibly common all over the island. Pay special attention for moose on the road to Cape Spear.

See the full route details here: CITY HIGHLIGHTS - GOOGLE MAPS