2026-06-24 Trans-Canada TCH-12-FINAL

The Trans-Canada Highway – Part12  (TCH-12) - Final

For Wed. June 24th, 2026

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Our Trip

This is excursion 12 of the Trans-Canada Highway trip – from coast to coast! Thus far, we have travelled @7200km (4500 miles) following the Trans-Canada Highway from the Vancouver Island in the west to Newfoundland-Labrador in the east. We have just 400 nm left to go and we’ll have travelled across the entire country. In this trip we’ll travel the last portion of highway from Deer Lake (CYDF) to St. John’s, Newfoundland-Labrador on the Atlantic. This portion of highway takes between 6.5-7 hrs hours to drive along the two lane highway: (each direction). The route transitions from deep boreal forests and wilderness to the dramatic, history-rich eastern Avalon Peninsula.

Points of Interest/Highlights: 

Central Newfoundland

·         Grand Falls-Windsor: Stop at Gorge Park for fantastic views of the Exploits River. It is also home to the Salmonid Interpretation Centre if you are visiting during the summer months.

·         Twillingate: Located about 1.5 hours north of the TCH via Route 340, this colorful historic town is widely known as the "Iceberg Capital of the World".

·         Gander: Roughly halfway through the trip, this town features the ⁠North Atlantic Aviation Museum to see older planes and a piece of steel from the 9/11 Twin Towers. It is also famous for its history related to the "Come from Away" event.

·         Terra Nova National Park: Located closer to the eastern half of the drive, this park features a Visitor Centre and offers quick picnic spots, short walks, or hikes.

·         Springdale & Kings Point: Branching slightly off Route 1, Kings Point features craft shops and the Whale Pavilion, which houses the complete skeleton of a humpback whale. 

Clarenville & The Bonavista Peninsula

·         Trinity: A short, beautiful detour off the TCH to Route 230. Wander through preserved 18th-century architecture, saltbox houses, and coastal walking trails.

·         Elliston: Famous for its puffin viewing site and historic root cellars, it is also the location of the Sealer’s Memorial. It sits just off Route 238.

·         Bonavista: Packed with stunning coastal hikes (part of the Discovery Global Geopark) and the historic Cape Bonavista Lighthouse. 

The Avalon Peninsula (Approaching St. John’s)

·         Dildo: Take a 15 km detour off the TCH to visit this small, world-famous fishing and tourism community.

·         Heart’s Content: Accessible via Route 80, this town is home to the ⁠Heart's Content Cable Station, celebrating the first successful 1866 transatlantic telegraph cable.

·         Brigus: A picturesque, historic town nestled just minutes off the highway, famous for its stone walls, historic homes, and the unique "Tunnel" carved out of solid rock.

·         Petty Harbour / Bay Bulls: Just south of St. John’s. Enjoy spectacular ocean cliffs on the East Coast Trail, take a boat tour to see whales and puffins at Bay Bulls, or grab fresh fish and chips at Petty Harbour.

·         St. John's: The eastern terminus of the highway. Explore historic downtown, hike up to ⁠Signal Hill National Historic Site, and visit Quidi Vidi Village. 

Route Airports:

This trip is 395 nm and a relaxing one! Departing:  Deer Lake (CYDF), four mid-stops: CCD2 CCP2 CYQX CCZ3 and final destination of St. John’s (CYYT).

Deer Lake NL

Gander NL

St. John's NL

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FP, itinerary, etc can be found HERE.

Aircraft

Any single GA piston that can travel @ 150-170 kts will suffice. I perhaps will use a C182 or bonanza in this trip but as always please fly your aircraft of choice. 

Add-on Scenery: (If you have payware please feel free to use but it is not necessary to purchase as all airports are in the default sim!)

Cape Fear Scenery: https://flightsim.to/addon/17205/cape-spear-newfoundland-and-labrador-scenery (by JoeMammy)

St. John’s Harbour and Signal Hill Scenery: https://flightsim.to/addon/16748/st-john-s-harbour-and-signal-hill (by JoeMammy)

CYDF, CYQX, CYYT: Payware versions area available from simaddons)

Time and Weather
Prefer to fly real weather if possible but if not, the few clouds, high clouds OR Jeff-Partly Cloudy-Jeff-1.wpr preset (included) might make a nice choice.  For takeoff: set the simulator time to @1700 (ish) local.  (This time simulates early dusk and sun will be behind us yet we should have enough daylight to make it to our destination under VFR conditions). 

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Wednesday, June 24th, 2026 – 1800 UTC

AVSIM Discord Server: https://discord.gg/K5Vy6UxWNm - AVSIM GROUP EVENTS-WED. COM1
Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: SOUTH-EAST-ASIA Server 

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

Norm Richards

June 14th, 2026