Getting here

The Akami-Uapishkᵁ – KakKasuak – Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve is remote; it has no road access. The park may be accessed by air, sea, or snowmobile, coordinated independently with service providers in the nearby communities. 
A trip plan must be discussed with Parks Canada and partners before accessing the national park reserve. The closest major town is Happy Valley-Goose Bay, while the National Park Reserve’s gateway communities are: Sheshatshiu, Rigolet, and Cartwright.

For additional information, please see the activities and experiences section of this website.

Getting to the gateway communities

Air

The closest major airport is located in the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Direct flights are generally available from nearby centres such as Deer Lake, St. John’s, Halifax, and Montreal. Please confirm currently available routes with the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Airport. Regional carriers offer regular flights to Rigolet (40 minute flight).

Helicopter or float plane access to Akami-uapishku – KakKasuak – Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve may be arranged through charter companies located near the airport. Please be aware that aircraft access is restricted in the national park reserve. For further details, please see Aircraft Access Permits and Authorizations.

Road

From Happy Valley-Goose Bay, it is possible to drive to the communities of Sheshatshiu (41 kms/40 min) and Cartwright (398 km/6 hrs).

Sea

Rigolet and Cartwright can  be accessed by coastal boat after the ice breakup between the months of May to November. The NL ferry schedule is linked below.

Airports and airlines

Goose Bay Airport: https://goosebayairport.com/ (EN)
Air Borealis (airline and helicopter service): https://www.airborealis.ca/ (EN/FR)
Provincial Airlines: https://www.palairlines.ca/ (EN/FR)

Helicopters

Canadian Helicopters: https://www.canadianhelicopters.com/ (EN/FR)
Newfoundland Helicopters: http://www.newfoundlandhelicopters.com/ (EN)

Ferries

Newfoundland and Labrador: Ferry Schedules https://www.gov.nl.ca/ti/ferryservices/schedules/ (EN)
Nunatsiavut Marine: https://www.ngc-ng.ca/our-companies/nunatsiavut-marine-inc/
For further information on air and sea access, please contact Parks Canada.
Driving to Happy Valley-Goose Bay

From the island of Newfoundland (St. Barbe to Happy Valley-Goose Bay)

When driving the Trans-Labrador Highway, please allow additional driving time for changeable road conditions. Be self-sufficient and prepared to drive long distances – hundreds of kms – between communities and services. For up-to-date information on NL road conditions, including advisories and driving distances, please consult https://511nl.ca/map or visit https://www.gov.nl.ca/ti/roads/highwaydriving/. Please note that while the Trans-Labrador Highway is paved, driving from Newfoundland across Labrador in winter is difficult. At times portions of the road may be closed due to weather and road conditions. Ferry crossings are frequently cancelled and delayed in the winter months.

From the island portion of the province, Labrador can be reached by taking the Labrador ferry at St. Barbe, NL to Blanc Sablon, QC (approx. 2 hrs). Drive the short distance eastwards on Route 138 to cross the Labrador border. You’ve made it to the Big Land!

Continue on the Trans-Labrador Highway (Highway 510), past Red Bay National Historic Site and World Heritage Site (Blanc Sablon to Red Bay: approx. 80 kms/1 hr) and Port Hope Simpson (Blanc Sablon to Port Hope Simpson: approx. 214 kms/2.5 hours), arriving at the junction of Highway 516 (Port Hope Simpson to start of Highway 516: 110 km/1.5 hours).

To get to Cartwright, turn right onto Highway 516 (from the junction with Highway 510, approx. 93 km/1 hr). At a minimum, the drive from Blanc Sablon, QC to Cartwright is 420 km/5.5 hours.

Via the same route, at the junction between Highway 510 and 516, you can instead continue on the Trans-Labrador highway to Happy Valley-Goose Bay (from the junction of highway 510/516: 300 km/4 hrs). At a minimum, the drive from Blanc Sablon, QC to Happy Valley-Goose Bay is 618 km/8 hours.

To get to Sheshatshiu, take the NW River Road from Happy Valley-Goose Bay for approx. 40 km/40 min. At a minimum, the drive from Blanc Sablon, QC to Sheshatshiu is 700 km/9 hours.

It is not possible to drive to Rigolet via the Trans-Labrador Highway. It can be reached via float plane or coastal boat from Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

From Quebec (Baie-Comeau, QC to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL)

From Baie-Comeau, QC, follow route QC-398 east toward Labrador, and continue driving the NL-500 to Labrador City (Baie-Comeau to Labrador City: approx. 585 km / 8.5 hours). Stay on the NL-500 and drive to Happy Valley-Goose Bay (approx. 530 km / 6.5 hours from Labrador City). At a minimum, the drive from Baie-Comeau, QC to Happy Valley-Goose Bay is 1115 km / 15 hours. ­Be prepared for unpaved sections of highway and changeable road conditions. There is no cell coverage from Baie-Comeau to Labrador City.

For additional information on driving to Labrador from Quebec, please see: https://www.tourismecote-nord.com/en/cote-nord/tourist-routes/expedition-51/ (EN/FR)

Communication and Cell Service

Please note that most of Labrador does not have cellphone coverage, including along routes 500 and 510 of the Trans-Labrador highway. It is strongly recommended to have a satellite phone with you.

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador provides a free satellite phone pick-up and drop-off service for the public travelling the Trans-Labrador Highway. For further information, please contact the province: https://www.gov.nl.ca/ti/files/publications-satellite-phones-on-tlh.pdf or visit  https://www.gov.nl.ca/ti/roads/highwaydriving/ for general information.

Cellular phone service throughout Newfoundland and Labrador can be unreliable, particularly in rural and remote locations. In Labrador, cellular coverage is available in many of the larger communities, including Red Bay, Port Hope Simpson, Cartwright, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Sheshatshiu, Labrador City, Churchill Falls, and others. Please confirm available coverage along your intended travel route with your cellphone service provider prior to your arrival.