Buchans, Newfoundland and Labrador: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Buchans is an inland mining town in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Central region, set near Red Indian Lake, now known as Beothuk Lake, at the end of Route 370. It gives travellers one of the clearest looks at Newfoundland’s planned company-town era, with mine landmarks, lake scenery and a long road connection back to Badger and the Trans-Canada Highway.
The town is remote by island standards but not difficult to understand: drive south from Badger, watch the landscape open toward the interior, then use Buchans to connect mining history with outdoor travel around the lake.
How Buchans Started
Buchans was built around ore. Heritage and town sources trace the mining story to the discovery of ore in the early twentieth century and the later development of the Lucky Strike deposit. The American Smelting and Refining Company, often known as ASARCO, shaped Buchans as a planned company town to support mine operations.
The community’s built form followed the mining economy. Workers’ housing, company buildings, mine structures, roads and services were arranged around extraction and shipment, not around a coastal harbour or farm settlement. The Lucky Strike Deckhead, now recognized on the Canadian Register of Historic Places, remains the town’s most visible mining landmark.
Mining defined Buchans for decades, but the closure of the mine forced the community to rethink its role. The town’s present visitor identity comes from preserving that company-town story while also using the lake, trails and interior landscape around it.
What Buchans Is Like Today
Buchans had 590 residents in the 2021 census. It is a small town with a distinctive inland setting, mining-era street patterns and local services that matter because the next major centre is a long drive away. Travellers should expect a quiet community, not a full-service tourism hub.
The town now serves people interested in history, cabins, fishing, snowmobiling, ATV routes and interior Newfoundland scenery. Its distance from the highway is part of the experience: the road south from Badger helps explain why a company town could feel separate from the rest of the island.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Start with the Lucky Strike Deckhead and other mining landmarks. The deckhead gives a physical anchor to the mine story, and the town’s own attraction material points visitors toward local heritage interpretation and sites connected to mining, company housing and community life.
Beothuk Lake adds the main outdoor setting. Travellers can look for lake views, picnic areas, fishing access and quiet road stops, depending on season and conditions. Buchans also fits snowmobile and ATV itineraries, but those should be planned with local advice, fuel awareness and current trail information.
Route 370 is the core travel route. Badger is the return connection to the Trans-Canada Highway, while the road itself passes through forest and river country that feels very different from Newfoundland’s coastal drives.
Quick Facts
- Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
- Region: Central region
- Municipality type: Town
- 2021 census population: 590
- Official website: https://www.buchansnl.ca/
- Main travel areas: Lucky Strike Deckhead, mining landmarks, Beothuk Lake, local trails, Route 370 approaches
- Key routes: Route 370, Badger connection, central Newfoundland interior roads
Travel Notes
Buchans requires a dedicated drive from the Trans-Canada Highway, so check fuel, weather and daylight before turning south from Badger. Summer and early fall are best for lake views, walking and heritage stops. Winter travel can suit snowmobile visitors, but road and trail conditions need careful checking. Many services are limited, so do not assume late-night food, fuel or repairs will be available.