New Brunswick is a province that’s blessed with tremendous natural beauty. It’s also the place I happen to call home. Although I live in Moncton, when friends and family from out of province come to visit me for the first time, I always make sure to set aside a few days to take them out to some of New Brunswick’s many gorgeous natural features. The following is a list of three of my favourite outdoor spots in New Brunswick, each accompanied by a description of what I love most about them.
Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park
A day spent at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is an excellent starter trip for any visitor new to New Brunswick. Located on a large tract of the Bay of Fundy coastline, the more than twenty free-standing flowerpot rock stacks after which the park is named are as close to an iconic visual as you can get in New Brunswick. With colourful names like Elephant, Dinosaur, ET, and even Mother-In-Law, each of these naturally occurring rock stacks are as unique as they are stunning.
The park also features multiple access points to the ocean floor. You can choose between descending a ramp or a long staircase to explore the ledges and limestone rock formations that reveal themselves when the Atlantic tide is low. I definitely recommend wearing some durable, waterproof footwear before venturing out there.
Hopewell Rocks is a self-guided park and I think that’s the best way to experience it. Although reading up on its history is rewarding, what I love most about this park is that it can be visited without any sort of preparation beforehand. It still retains all of its power and majesty.
Grand Manan Island
Accessible only by ferry, Grand Manan Island is another of New Brunswick’s outdoor gems. Like Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, it is also situated in the Bay of Fundy. The island is a paradise for nature lovers, featuring long forest hikes such as the Swallowtail Lighthouse Trail, the Dark Harbour Trail, and the Red Point Trail. Grand Manan Island also features some truly awe-inspiring coastal cliffs, as well as many picturesque rocky beaches and several secluded coves perfect for picnicking. It’s a perfect spot for bird watching, seal watching, and whale watching, as local wildlife tends to gather in and around the island in droves.
Miramichi River
The Miramichi River is another of New Brunswick’s can’t-miss natural features—especially for those who have never visited the province before. Famed for its world-class fishing, the river draws anglers from across the globe, eager to reel in a few of its native Atlantic salmon. The mighty Miramichi features no shortage of other outdoor activities, such as swimming, kayaking, and canoeing. Several companies also offer guided riverboat tours of the area. Beyond that, the hiking trails along its riverbanks offer scenic and tranquil views of the surrounding wilderness
Although these three natural landmarks are not as internationally famous as, say, Niagara Falls, they are breathtaking nonetheless, and represent New Brunswick’s rugged-yet-beautiful geography. If you ever have a chance to visit any of them, don’t pass it up.