Background

The Margaree Airport, more commonly known locally as the Margaree Air Strip, is located on the east side of the Margaree Valley off the East Big Intervale Road between Northeast Margaree and Margaree Valley. A gravel road, unnamed on Google Maps, parallels the east side of the 760 m (2500 ft) asphalt runway. It is this road which is the subject of this page, which I have dubbed the “Margaree Air Strip Road”.

I have not driven this road past the south end of the runway; it is not clear how much further this road runs beyond that end: Google Maps in “maps view” shows it connecting to the grounds of the Normaway Inn and to Egypt Road, but its “satellite view” is rather less definitive, with portions of that connection disappearing from the imagery. I have chosen here to treat the road as ending at the south end of the runway, though it appears to continue beyond there for at least another several metres/yards.

Google Maps Name

Shown, but nnamed

Local Usage

The Margaree Air Strip Road

Direction

North to South, ending a bit further east than it begins

Start Point

46°20.795′N 60°58.947′W, at the East Big Intervale Road

End Point

46°20.213′N 60°58.686′W, at the south end of the runway

Length

856 m (½ mi)

Classification

Unknown

Surface

Gravel

Condition

Fair to good in 2014

Route Description

The road is nearly straight, initially passing by a residence and through fields, with the forest quickly arriving on the left. At 355 m (⅕ mi), one reaches the administration building and the hangar on the left and the north end of the runway on the right. Continuing straight across the runway access road, one soon reaches extensive blueberry fields on the left, which border the road for the entire length of the runway. Stop at any point after you have reached the blueberry fields for a fine 360° panorama of the Margaree Valley; the terrain is flat, so you get essentially the same views anywhere along the blueberry fields. I have not driven beyond the south end of the runway and so cannot describe it beyond that point.

Vic’s Scenic Rating

☆☆☆☆☆

Comments

If you are new to the Margaree Valley area, this is a good place to orient yourself. The great views show the Margaree Highlands on all sides of the valley, from Phillips Mountain in the northwest, the Highlands above the Aspy Fault in the north, Sugarloaf Mountain to the northeast, Frasers Mountain and the Nile Brook Valley in the east, the Three Sisters in the south, and Twelve O’Clock Mountain in the southwest. Although this may change in the future, I have not seen any aircraft on any of the several times I have travelled this road in the past, so don’t hesitate on that account to avail yourself of these fine views.

Click on any thumbnail to be taken to the photo essay page for that photo.

Thumbnail	Date	GPS	Locality	Where	Caption
	2014 October 9	46°20.481′N 60°58.783′W	Margaree Valley	620 m (⅜ mi) south southeast of its junction with the East Big Intervale Road	Hogsback Hill and the Margaree Highlands from beside the Margaree Airport runway
	2014 October 9	46°20.481′N 60°58.791′W	Margaree Valley	620 m (⅜ mi) south southeast of its junction with the East Big Intervale Road	Frasers Mountain from the Margaree Airport
	2014 October 9	46°20.479′N 60°58.790′W	Margaree Valley	620 m (⅜ mi) south southeast of its junction with the East Big Intervale Road	The Highlands to the east southeast from the Margaree Airport
	2014 October 9	46°20.479′N 60°58.790′W	Margaree Valley	620 m (⅜ mi) south southeast of its junction with the East Big Intervale Road	The Nile Brook Valley from the Margaree Airport
	2014 October 9	46°20.291′N 60°58.712′W	Margaree Valley	990 m (⅝ mi) south southeast of its junction with the East Big Intervale Road	The northern end of Twelve O’Clock Mountain
	2014 October 9	46°20.290′N 60°58.708′W	Margaree Valley	990 m (⅝ mi) south southeast of its junction with the East Big Intervale Road	The Highlands above the Aspy Fault from Marsh Brook to Portree
	2014 October 9	46°20.288′N 60°58.714′W	Margaree Valley	990 m (⅝ mi) south southeast of its junction with the East Big Intervale Road	Phillips Mountain from beside the Margaree Airport runway
	2014 October 9	46°20.286′N 60°58.716′W	Margaree Valley	990 m (⅝ mi) south southeast of its junction with the East Big Intervale Road	Colours in the trees on the far side of the Margaree Airport runway
	2014 October 9	46°20.286′N 60°58.710′W	Margaree Valley	990 m (⅝ mi) south southeast of its junction with the East Big Intervale Road	Sugarloaf Mountain from the Margaree Airport