The BIG RIDE

Join Us as we Ride the Rock!

The 2023 BIG RIDE will travel to magnificent Newfoundland to explore the gorgeous sights of Gros Morne National Park.

Cycle 300+ stunning kilometres along the roads leading into, within, and around Gros Morne Park over four days. Gros Morne is one of Newfoundland’s most renowned destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage site not to be missed! 

To help make the most of our time there on Day 3 you can choose to bike or hike! 

Bike option: Bike to Western Brook Pond and take in a guided boat tour of a glacier-carved land-locked fjord, and see waterfalls cascading from 2000 feet, billion year-old cliffs, and frequent wildlife sightings.

Hike option: Bike to the hiking trail then take on a challenging day-long 17kms hike climbing 800m to the summit of Gros Morne Mountain along the Gros Morne Mountain Trail. You’ll climb a rocky gully to an exposed arctic-alpine plateau. Your effort is rewarded with stunning views of Ten Mile Pond and the Long Range Mountains.

Beyond that, your Gros Morne visit will be rounded out with an official Newfoundland Kitchen Party (and optional Screeching-in – with your own cod).

Registration fee

The registration fee for The BIG RIDE is $649 (includes 3 nights accommodation, 3 breakfasts, 3 build-our-own lunches, 2 dinners, on-the-road snacks & hydration, Newfoundland Kitchen Party, event support, two-way bike transportation on the ferry, branded t-shirt, water bottle & medal). 

* Riders will be responsible for their travel to and from Newfoundland and any expenses related to that. There will also be one night riders will dine on their own dime at their chosen restaurant in Gros Morne. For those riders who choose the Western Brook Pond boat tour there will be an additional cost to it.

Choose how you want to travel

Riders will be responsible for their travel to and from Newfoundland. Popular options will be flying in and out of Deer Lake (YDF) airport or traveling the Marine Atlantic ferry from North Sydney, NS to Port-aux-Basques, NL and back. 

Flights:  We have arranged a group travel rate on two Air Canada flights. The rate is $628 for both ways, all taxes and fees, included for the following flights:

• June 22, 2023: Departs Halifax at 11:25am, arrives in Deer Lake at 1:22pm
• June 25, 2023: Departs Deer Lake at 2:0pm, arrives in Halifax at 3:03pm

To access our group travel rate on these flights please, contact our travel agent Claire directly at clangan@tpi.ca or 1-833-830-6874 before April 1, 2023. 

Bikes will not be able to travel on the flight due to the small cargo capacity.  We will transport them all over in a truck that is taking the ferry. Your bike will meet you in Deer Lake. 

Ferry:  The ferry you’d need to take leaves Sydney, NS June 21, 2023 at 11:15pm. It is a 7-hour overnight ride. The ferry arrives in Port-aux-Basques, NL at 6:15am June 22, 2023.  Some of our support volunteers will be traveling this route.

Your return ferry would be June 25, 2023 at 11:45pm from Port-aux-Basques and would arrive in Sydney, NS at 6:45am.

Book your ferry passage and overnight bunk (if you want one) directly with Marine Atlantic at www.marineatlantic.ca or 1-800-341-7981.

From Port-aux-Basques, we will have a chartered school bus to transport you to meet up with the group in Deer Lake.

Fundraising

The money raised from The BIG RIDE funds local cancer research trainees being trained at the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute. Minimum fundraising of $1,500 for each rider.

Once you register for the event, you will receive instructions on how to set up your online fundraising page.

Accommodations

Event participants and volunteers will stay in cottages and motel rooms in the community of Rocky Harbour, NL, within Gros Morne National Park. Each rider will be assigned a bed for the three nights in Gros Morne. Couples or friends can ask to room together. 

DRAFT TRIP ITINERARY

June 20:

• Event participants drop off their wrapped bikes at BIG RIDE truck in Halifax to transport to Deer Lake, NL

June 22 (Day 1): 

• Event participants & bikes arrive in Deer Lake to begin BIG RIDE
• Safety meeting
• Bike from Deer Lake to Gros Morne
• Check-in to accommodations
• Dinner & bonfire

June 23 (Day 2):

• Provided breakfast
• Safety meeting
• Bike to & explore Trout River Tablelands
• Simple lunch and snacks throughout the day from support vehicles
• For dinner and evening, folks free to explore nearby restaurants & attractions of Gros Morne

To help make the most of our time there on Day 3 you can choose to bike or hike!

• Provided breakfast
• Safety meeting
• Choose your own adventure:
  • • Bike to Shallow Bay + Western Brook Pond 2-hour boat tour OR
    • Hike Big Lookout Trail
• Simple lunch and snacks throughout the day 
• Group Dinner & Kitchen Party (with optional Screeching-in)

June 25 (Day 4): 

• Breakfast provided
• Safety meeting
• Check out of accommodations
• Bike from Gros Morne to Deer Lake
• Simple lunch and snacks throughout the day from support vehicles
• Finish line in Deer Lake
• Event participant bikes packed into BIG RIDE truck to be driven back to Nova Scotia 
• Event participants return home

June 26, 2023

• BIG RIDE truck returns to Halifax
• Event participants pick up bikes from BIG RIDE truck

Volunteers in support vehicles will support the cyclists on their day rides

Exact details of event subject to change

For more information, contact: BIGRIDEdirector@givetolive.ca