Background

Historically, as it name implies, this road connected Whycocomagh and Port Hood, following its present route from Churchview to the Southwest Ridge Road and then the Alpine Ridge Road to Southwest Mabou; my understanding is that, after crossing the river near the current bridge, it then followed a route close to that of today’s snowmobile trails SANS 520 (Railway Trail) and SANS 525 (from the Railway Trail across Rocky Ridge into Port Hood). As best as I have been able to ascertain, officially, the Alpine Ridge Road is still considered part of the Whycocomagh Port Hood Road, but local usage treats them today as two distinct roads and I have followed the local usage here, so the Alpine Ridge Road has a separate entry in this catalogue.

Google Maps Name

Whycocomagh Port Hood Road

Local Names

This road is frequently referred to as the Whycocomagh Road and often as the Glencoe Mills Road. Other than sometimes on signage, it is almost never referred to by its full name.

Direction

West to East (starts a bit further north than it ends)

Start Point

46°00.214′N 61°22.627′W, at the junction of the Alpine Ridge Road, the Southwest Ridge (Mabou Ridge) Road, and the Whycocomagh Port Hood Road

End Point

45°59.069′N 61°08.502′W, in Churchview at Highway 252

Length

22.3 km (13⅞ mi)

Classification

Local Road

Surface

Gravel

Condition

In recent years, very good to excellent for an unpaved road, particularly from the Southwest Ridge Road to the Upper Glencoe Road and from the Kewstoke Brook bridge to Soapstone Mine. Construction some years ago widened the curvy section “going down the mountain” near the top, but the terrain pretty much dictates the path the road follows there and elsewhere along much of its length.

Road Description

This is a lovely, scenic backcountry road that I drive as often as I can. From its start, it passes through the Mull River Valley, crossing the Gillis Bridge over the Mull River; while not as spectacular as Long Johns Bridge over the Southwest Mabou River, this bridge merits a stop for its views of the river and the valley. The Old Mull River Road leaves the road a bit past the Gillis Bridge and one then arrives at a Y, where the right fork is the Upper Glencoe Road to the church at Glencoe Mills and the left fork continues on towards Whycocomagh. Shortly beyond its junction with the Glencoe Road, open views of the mountains of Upper Glencoe and of the Mull River Valley in Glencoe Mills are available across the blueberry fields beside the road. Beyond MacKinnons Road, there are views of Cape Mabou in the far distance. The road becomes very twisty as it follows the terrain “down the mountain” to the bridge over the Kewstoke Brook at the bottom, where it straightens out as it follows the base of Skye Mountain along Kewstoke Brook with grand views of Campbells Mountain as it approaches Soapstone Mine. Skye Mountain comes into better view thereafter, as the road follows the Indian River into Churchview, another section with curves to which you will want to pay attention. The fall foliage along the Indian River on both sides of the road is usually spectacular. In Churchview, it passes two cemeteries, crosses the Skye River, and ends on Highway 252.

Vic’s Scenic Rating

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Thumbnail	Date	GPS	Locality	Where	Caption
	2014 October 5	45°58.293′N 61°18.365′W	Glencoe Mills	1.2 km (¾ mi) from its junction with the Glencoe Road	Ridge across the Mull River Valley
	2014 October 5	45°58.294′N 61°18.363′W	Glencoe Mills	1.2 km (¾ mi) from its junction with the Glencoe Road	Looking towards Upper Glencoe and the Bornish Hills from the Whycocomagh Port Hood Road
	2014 October 5	45°58.296′N 61°18.363′W	Glencoe Mills	1.2 km (¾ mi) from its junction with the Glencoe Road	The Churchview Road Summit from “The Plains”
	2014 October 5	45°58.297′N 61°18.362′W	Glencoe Mills	1.2 km (¾ mi) from its junction with the Glencoe Road	St Joseph’s Church in Glencoe Mills
	2014 October 5	45°58.360′N 61°18.066′W	Glencoe Mills	1.2 km (¾ mi) from its junction with the Glencoe Road	Red tree at the side of the Whycocomagh Port Hood Road
	2014 October 5	45°58.359′N 61°18.055′W	Glencoe Mills	1.2 km (¾ mi) from its junction with the Glencoe Road	The field at the farm on the MacKinnon Road
	2014 October 5	45°58.356′N 61°18.052′W	Glencoe Mills	1.2 km (¾ mi) from its junction with the Glencoe Road	Prominence on the south side of the Mull River Valley
	2014 October 5	45°58.181′N 61°16.482′W	Glencoe Mills	3.8 km (2⅜ mi) east of its junction with the Glencoe Road	Small trees beside the Whycocomagh Port Hood Road
	2014 October 5	45°58.178′N 61°16.478′W	Glencoe Mills	3.8 km (2⅜ mi) east of its junction with the Glencoe Road	The “Rosedale Ridge” near its Dunakin end
	2014 October 5	45°58.177′N 61°16.475′W	Glencoe Mills	3.8 km (2⅜ mi) east of its junction with the Glencoe Road	Close-up of the highest part of the “Rosedale Ridge”
	2014 October 5	45°58.177′N 61°16.475′W	Glencoe Mills	3.8 km (2⅜ mi) east of its junction with the Glencoe Road	Close-up of the northern part of the “Rosedale Ridge”
	2014 October 5	45°58.177′N 61°16.474′W	Glencoe Mills	3.8 km (2⅜ mi) east of its junction with the Glencoe Road	Looking across the Miramichi Brook Valley to the “Rosedale Ridge”
	2014 October 5	45°58.175′N 61°16.466′W	Glencoe Mills	3.8 km (2⅜ mi) east of its junction with the Glencoe Road	Cape Mabou from the Whycocomagh Port Hood Road in Glencoe Mills
	2005 October 7	45°58.182′N 61°15.732′W	Dunakin	west of its junction with the MacLellans Road	Looking northwest from the Whycocomagh Road in Dunakin