Cartwright, Newfoundland and Labrador: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Cartwright is a Sandwich Bay town on Labrador’s south coast in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Labrador region, reached by Route 516 from the Trans-Labrador Highway. It is a small but important road-access community for travellers interested in Hudson’s Bay Company heritage, Labrador coastal scenery, remote-route planning and access toward the Wonderstrands.
The town feels different from island Newfoundland communities in the same size range. The road is long, the landscape is open, and local travel is shaped by bay, barrens, winter routes, snowmobile connections and the scale of Labrador.
How Cartwright Started
Cartwright’s modern European-settlement story is tied to George Cartwright, the English merchant and explorer who established business premises along the Labrador coast in the late eighteenth century. Heritage NL’s account of the Hudson’s Bay Company New Dwelling House links Cartwright’s enterprise to fishing, furring, trade with local Indigenous people and hired British, Irish and Inuit workers.
The Hudson’s Bay Company later became part of the community’s commercial landscape. The New Dwelling House, built in 1926-27 and now a Registered Heritage Structure, carries that trading-post history into the present town. Cartwright’s municipal plan also notes that the area contains Maritime Archaic, Paleoeskimo and European artifacts, a reminder that the harbour setting was significant long before the current municipality.
What Cartwright Is Like Today
Cartwright, Labrador had 439 residents in the 2021 census. It is a small town with a harbour, local services, homes clustered around Sandwich Bay and large areas of undeveloped land nearby. The municipal plan describes a mix of residential and commercial use, with surrounding natural lands used for hunting, firewood collection and winter travel.
For visitors, Cartwright is a road-access Labrador stop rather than a polished resort town. Its value is in the harbour setting, heritage buildings, local knowledge, access to coastal routes and the sense of distance that comes from leaving the main Trans-Labrador Highway.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Start with Cartwright’s harbour and older built heritage. The Hudson’s Bay Company New Dwelling House at 34 Base Road is a strong physical reminder of the trading-company period, even if a visit is exterior-only. Around town, harbour views and local roads help connect the present community to fishing, trade and seasonal travel.
The wider draw is the landscape. Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism places Cartwright on the Expedition 51 South route and describes the community as a gateway to Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve. Labrador Coastal Drive highlights the Wonderstrands near Cartwright, a long stretch of sand tied to the park reserve and Labrador coastal travel.
Cartwright is also a practical stop for hikers, paddlers, birders and travellers who like remote roads. Plan activities with local conditions in mind: weather, road surface, fuel, communications and wildlife can all affect the day.
Quick Facts
- Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
- Region: Labrador region
- Municipality type: Town
- 2021 census population: 439
- Official website: https://www.cartwright.ca/
- Main travel areas: Sandwich Bay, Cartwright harbour, Hudson’s Bay Company New Dwelling House, Route 516, Wonderstrands access
- Key routes: Route 516, Trans-Labrador Highway, Expedition 51 South, Labrador Coastal Drive
Travel Notes
Cartwright requires deliberate road planning. Route 516 connects the town to Route 510, but distances, weather and limited services make fuel and timing important. Cell service can be weak outside communities, so carry offline maps and check conditions before leaving the main highway. Summer and early fall are the easiest seasons for road travel, while winter routes require local advice and proper equipment.