Moncton 
Credit: Parc Provincial Mt. Carleton Provincial Park
Enjoy the glorious natural hotspots in New Brunswick through hiking or a leisurely walk. From fabulous options to enjoy various migratory birds that visit the province to walking on the ocean floor, here are 20 places to enjoy nature in New Brunswick.
1. Sackville Waterfowl Park – Sackville
Sackville is one of New Brunswick’s best-kept secrets. As it sits on the border with Nova Scotia, most people travelling through the province to get to Nova Scotia (though obviously, that isn’t something one could do now) will drive past Sackville.
For those who do take the opportunity to stop, though, Sackville greets its visitors with a special treat right off the highway: the waterfowl park.
Its boardwalks provide ample opportunity for visitors and residents alike to walk and admire the beautiful scenery of a quaint maritime town. Bird and wildlife photographers will also find Sackville appealing for its large variety of fauna.
Cost: Free.
Address: 34 Mallard Drive, Sackville
Website
2. Irishtown Nature Park – Moncton
One of Moncton’s many parks, Irishtown is a firm favourite among walkers, residents, and tourists. It is second-only, perhaps to Centennial Park, the more central of the two.
Irishtown Nature Park boasts many kilometres of multi-use trails, including a refurbished schoolhouse known as Tankville School, now repurposed as a community gathering space and a museum.
Cost: Free.
Address: 1155 Elmwood Drive, Moncton, NB
Website
3. Daly Point Nature Reserve, Bathurst
Credit: Daly Point Nature Reserve
Birdwatchers and wildlife photographers are sure to love their time spent at Daly Point Nature Reserve.
If you’re looking for a treat as a photographer, wait until Fall! Not only are the leaves a glorious colour, but thousands of Canada Geese flock to Daly Point on their migratory path; also up for spotting is the Maritime Ringlet Butterfly, a rare insect that can only be found in ten salt marshes worldwide. Daly Point also has 7.5km of trails to be explored.
Cost: Free.
Address: 2075 Carron Dr, Bathurst
Website
4. Fundy National Park – Alma
Fundy National Park is the province’s first national park, showcasing the Acadian Highlands and the world’s highest tides in the Bay of Fundy. Visitors can kayak, hike extensive trails, explore the ocean floor at low tide, and enjoy waterfalls and backcountry swimming. The park also hosts festivals, offering a full experience of its unique natural and cultural offerings.
Cost: Adult: $ 9.00; Senior: $ 7.75
Youth: free; Family/Group: $ 17.50
Address: Alma
Website
5. Kouchibouguac National Park – St. Louis-de-Kent
Kouchibouguac National Park is one of the best-kept secrets in middle New Brunswick. It features over 30 kilometres of multi-use trails, most popular among cyclists and walkers.
For mountain biking enthusiasts, its “Major Kollock” trail will keep you entertained. It also has a beach and a boardwalk to wind down your day. Kouchibouguac offers oTentik “glamping” and camping at various campsites throughout the park.
Cost: Adult $ 9.00; Senior $ 7.75; Youth free; Family/Group $ 17.50
Address: National 186, NB-117, Kouchibouguac
Website
6. Mount Carleton Provincial Park – St. Quentin
If you’re a hiker, then Mount Carleton is the place to go this summer. The park is home to eleven different trails, all varying by difficulty, distance and elevation gain.
The most popular trails in the Park are the Mount Carleton, Mount Sagamook and Mount Bailey Trails. As their name suggests, the trails represent the ascent of three different mountains — Mount Carleton (817m), is the tallest mountain in NB, followed by Mount Sagamook (412m) and Mount Bailey (324m). There are also many other smaller trails to enjoy.
Cost: Daily Fee – Vehicle: $13.04
Address: 7612 Route 385, Saint-Quentin
Website
7. Odell Park – Fredericton
Odell Park is one of Fredericton’s most popular parks!
This 333-acre piece of property owned and operated by the City of Fredericton features 16km of trails through various types of forestry. The trails are multi-use, so be on the lookout for others on bicycles.
There is also a waterfowl pond and a disc golf course. Odell Park is also home to the Odell Arboretum, featuring 41 different species of trees that grow naturally; the Arboretum’s 2.8-kilometre trail allows you to walk through the pantheon of nature’s growth.
Cost: Free
Address: Waggoners Ln, Fredericton
Website
8. Mapleton Park – Moncton
Mapleton Park is one of Moncton’s north-end parks, it’s a sprawling 122-hectare natural paradise in the heart of the city.
There are forests and open areas featuring a wetland and a lagoon. Mapleton Park is also home to many bird species and different vegetation.
Cost: Free
Address: 600 Mapleton Rd, Moncton
Website
9. Centennial Park – Moncton
Centennial Park is one of Moncton’s most popular parks, stretching over 90 hectares. The park features dozens of kilometres of multi-use trails and is popular among cyclists and walkers.
It is also home to a baseball field, a splash pad, Moncton’s Lawn Bowling Club, tennis courts, and TreeGO, a high-flying obstacle course in the tree canopy.
Cost: Free
Address: 811 St. George Blvd, Moncton
Website
10. Fort Beausejour National Historic Site – Aulac
Credit: National Historic Sites of New Brunswick
Fort Beausejour National Historic Site overlooks the Cumberland Basin. It was the location for many of the battles of the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) for control of North America.
Fort Beausejour saw many cannons fired over the bay as the English sought to hold the fort from the impending French attack. Though the Fort’s cannons have long since fallen silent, visitors can still tour the old ruins.
Cost: Adult $ 4.50; Senior $ 4.00; Youth free
Address: 111 Fort Beausejour Rd, Aulac
Website
11. New Brunswick Botanical Gardens – Saint-Jacques
Credit: Jardin Botanique du Nouveau-Brunswick
The New Brunswick Botanical Gardens in Saint-Jacques is one of the province’s most coveted botanical spaces.
The Garden itself is split into several different sections and hosts hundreds of flora species. There are also beehives and a greenhouse. Those who love horticulture should visit the New Brunswick Botanical Gardens this summer.
Cost: Adults: $21 Seniors & Students: $19 Children (5 – 17 yr): $8.50
Address: 15 Isidore-Boucher Blvd, Saint-Jacques, NB
Website
12. Irving Arboretum – Bouctouche
Located on the shores of the Black River, the Irving Arboretum in Bouctouche is one of New Brunswick’s newest and most beautiful parks. The Arboretum features many different species of trees, some freshly planted year-on-year.
There are also many kilometres of multi-use trails, complete with bridges and rest areas; the trail system leads downtown or out to the Bouctouche Dunes for those who need a little sand in their lives.
Cost: Free.
Address: 52 Chemin du Couvent, Bouctouche, NB
Website
13. St. Martin’s Sea Caves – St. Martins
For those with an interest in geology or simply for those who love to be near the water, the little village of St. Martins on the coast has a lot to offer.
Far from its touristy town centre lies the St. Martins Sea Caves, a centuries-old homage to the power of erosion. At low tide, visitors can walk out to the caves and explore, but they should beware of the high tide, which can reach up to 38 feet!
St. Martins Sea Caves are the perfect easy way to spend an afternoon by the shores of the Bay of Fundy.
Cost: Free
Address: St. Martins
14. Hyla Park Nature Preserve – Fredericton
Fredericton is home to many of New Brunswick’s most treasured tourist attractions, including the relatively hidden gem of Hyla Park. The Nature Preserve was created in 1995 when the park was home to the Hyla versicolor or the gray tree frog. The preserve was created to be a home for this specific type of frog, as it was their northernmost habitat. The park became the first Amphibian Park in Canada and was featured in National Geographic.
In addition to being a home for the gray tree frog, the park is also home to several rare plants: the red milkwort, the narrow-leaved gerardia, and the small-flowered gratiola. The preserve maintains a small trail system and is a great place to go for a stroll if you’re in Fredericton for a day.
Cost: Free
Address: Fredericton
Website
15. Belding’s Reef Nature Preserve – Chance Harbour
Another nature preserve makes our list! This time, it’s an obscure-in-location-only preserve named Belding’s Reef in Chance Harbour, located a couple of hours from Saint John. This preserve sits right on the edge of the Bay of Fundy and is home mostly, to trees! Among its forests are the balsam fir, mountain ash and red spruce. Sphagnum moss coats the floors with cinnamon fern, sweet gale, blue flag Iris, goose-tongue and crowberry. The preserve has a single walking trail leading through the dense forestry to the ocean. Perfect for a sunset hike!
Cost: Free
Address: Chance Harbour Rd, Chance Harbour
Website
16. Walton Glen Gorge Falls – St. Martins
Walton Glen Gorge is one of New Brunswick’s most heavily-trafficked hiking spots, as it’s popular along the even-more popular Fundy Footpath.
This four-kilometre trail will take you through dense rock and forest through difficult-to-hike terrain. There’s a very slight elevation at 187m (614ft), but most of the challenges will come from ascending and descending into rocky gorges as the topography changes. What awaits the avid hiker along this one-way trail is the ever-impressive waterfall and the perfect swimming hole! It’s the perfect trail for a day out!
Cost: Same as access to Fundy National Park (Listed Above)
Address: St. Martin’s, NB
Website
17. Rockwood Park – Saint John
Credit: Rockwood Park
Saint John has several parks, but perhaps it’s most popular is Rockwood Park. This park is one of Canada’s largest urban parks, sprawling a massive 890 hectares. It is open year-round and, in the summer, is home to a golf course. The park also features mixed forest trails, several caves and dozens of kilometres of trails. Also on-site is the city’s zoo. Visitors to Rockwood Park are spoiled for choice.
Cost: Free
Address: 10 Fisher Lakes Dr, Saint John
Website
18. Sussex Bluff Trail – Sussex
The Sussex Bluff Trail is a not-long but moderately difficult 2.2km hike up the Sussex Bluffs in Sussex, New Brunswick. This 3.5km trail up a mountain can be done in just a morning or an afternoon, making it perfect for sunrises! The views from the top are magnificent, the rolling hills and the town of Sussex in the valley below are quite a sight to behold.
Cost: Free
Address: 17 Rockridge Dr, Sussex Corner
Details
19. Cape Enrage – Waterside
Cape Enrage and the Cape Enrage Lighthouse are two of New Brunswick’s busiest tourist attractions, and they are popular among locals and those from far away. The lighthouse itself is still functional, and there’s an enjoyable short trail along the coast to reach it. Also on offer at Cape Enrage is an art gallery, a zipline, rappelling adventures, shipwrecks, and access to several beaches.
Cost: Free (Though prices for activities may vary)
Address: Harvey, NB (Southern tip of Barn Marsh Island)
Details
20. Split Rock Trail – Saint John
The Split Rock Trail on the coast of Saint John, NB, is the perfect sunset hike! This 4.2km out-and-back trail will take you right along the coast of the Bay of Fundy, with beautiful coastline views as the sea provides a serene backdrop.
The trail takes about four hours to complete all-told and is perfect for families, too.
Cost: Free
Address: 4179-4279 Black Beach Rd, Saint John
Website
