Featured Hikes: New Brunswick

Stunning coastal scenery, charming communities and diverse heritage await outdoor enthusiasts along New Brunswick’s sections of the Trans Canada Trail. Featuring the Bay of Fundy, city skylines and beautiful rural areas, it’s a wonderland for hikers, cyclists, equestrians, paddlers and many others.

Discover Featured Hikes in New Brunswick.

City of Fredericton – North Side Trail

Part of the Fredericton Trail System, this rural trail runs northwest to Keswick, and connects to the Lincoln Trail and the Valley and South Riverfront trails.

Starting at the Trans Canada Trail pavilion, right by the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge, the North Side Trail follows the Saint John River, winding through forested areas and featuring beautiful views along the way.

Walk, hike, bike or horseback ride and look out for eagles and osprey along the way. In the winter, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are popular options.

City of Saint John

Saint John offers a variety of great hiking experiences. Stroll the Harbour Passage, and stop on the Reversing Falls Bridge, or at the Skywalk – the best viewpoints to see the Reversing Falls phenomenon.

Check out Rockwood Park, a nature park in the heart of the city, and one of Canada’s largest urban parks boasting 890 hectares of tree-covered hills, caves and freshwater lakes. Used by hikers, runners, bikers and equestrians, this wide gravel trail is ideal for users of all ages and levels, and cycling enthusiasts will love the bike skills park nearby. In the winter, the lake becomes a skating rink, and cross-country skiing or snowshoeing can be done on the nearby trails.

Coastal Link Trail

When completed in 2025, the Coastal Link Trail will span 200 kilometres, running from Saint John to the East Coast Greenway at St. Stephen, just across the border from Calais, Maine. This quintessential New Brunswick experience will link Oak Bay, St. Andrews, St. George, Penfield and Spruce Lake. The first leg of the Trail to be completed, the 1.8-kilometre Waterfront Trail in St. Stephen, has recently been upgraded with a paved surface and new infrastructure and is perfect for hiking, walking, cycling or skiing.

The St. Stephen section includes several access points and follows the St. Croix River, offering beautiful water and rural views. Along your route, stop at the St. Stephen Post Office National Historic Site for a glimpse of late 19th-century architecture and charm. For an energy boost, visit the Chocolate Museum to learn about chocolate making and sample the product!

Fundy Footpath

Starting off at Big Salmon River and continuing along the coastline to the edge of Fundy National Park, the 43-kilometre Fundy Footpath is a challenging multi-day hike that features several steep sections and elevation changes, with moderate and difficult areas in a wilderness setting. Access points are available along the way, allowing for hikes from as short as an hour to as long as four days in duration. Note that registration is required to use the Fundy Trail Parkway and it’s strongly recommended to leave your hiking plan with an emergency contact.

Hike along cliffs and through mixed forest on the Bay of Fundy, enjoying the exceptional coastal view and forest vibes. Enjoy the views—and take a rest—along the many beaches along the route. It’s a truly challenging and equally rewarding experience!

Fundy National Park

Fundy National Park has a large trail system with incredible coastal views that showcase the Acadian forest and the highest tides in the world! The park offers several trails ranging from easy to difficult, including the epic Goose River Trail, an 11-kilometre journey through dramatic landscapes featuring constant elevation changes, dramatic river valley views, plunging coastal cliffs and cool ocean breezes.

The park also offers access to Long Beach along the bay, plus three other beaches, over 20 lookouts, a waterfall and a suspension bridge. Trails within the park connect hikers to the Fundy Footpath, a 41-km coastal wilderness trek from Fundy National Park to the Big Salmon River, near the town of St. Martins.

Lincoln Trail

Lincoln Trail is part of the extensive Fredericton Trail System. Head out from the visitor centre north of the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge and journey southeast to Oromocto along the beautiful Saint John River.

Walk, hike or bike alongside lovely riverfront homes and colourful flower gardens. Pack a picnic and stop for a bite along the way or head into Fredericton and seek out a cute café. In the fall, the vibrant red, orange and yellow leaves in the hardwood trees make for an unforgettable sight.

Riverfront Trail

The Riverfront Trail connects downtown Moncton to Dieppe and Riverview via five kilometres of paved and gravel trails running along the Petitcodiac River.

Walk, run or bike along the riverbank, passing through Bore Park, one of Moncton’s oldest maintained public parks and home to several historical monuments; Treitz Haus, Moncton’s oldest building, which now houses a Visitor Information Centre; and skateparks and sports fields. In the winter months, trail sections are cleared for walking and running.

The Petitcodiac River features one of the most impressive tidal bores in the world, so be sure to check the tidal bore schedule before visiting! Along the Riverfront Trail you’ll find a beautiful lighthouse, picnic tables, seating shelters, a covered bridge, a large gazebo and even a playground.

Sentier de l’Étoile

The Sentier de l’Étoile is a long-distance hiking and cycling trail that follows the eastern coast of New Brunswick.

Hike or bike this spectacular trail, which runs parallel to the Petitcodiac River. Begin in Memramcook and cross through several charming communities en route to Dieppe. This epic journey through l’Acadie includes paved and gravel sections with incredible coastal vistas, and beautiful forested and rural areas.