Take a break from the day-to-day demands of life, and take a deep breath of fresh air. The Saint John Region’s natural spaces are natural places for you and your family to go a little wild.
Kayaking and Canoeing
The Saint John Region offers a wide variety of water adventure opportunities. Paddle an historic river with a day trip on the St. John, Kennebecasis, or Hammond River, and see covered bridges, charming communities, and shorelines teeming with gentle wildlife. Or opt for an ocean paddle, braving the Bay of Fundy waves, ducking into the sea caves at St. Martins, and taking in the scenery. You can bring your own equipment or sign up for a guided kayak tour complete with equipment, training and everything else you will need.
Snowshoeing
Around here we can count on snowfall in the winter months, and that makes snowshoeing a popular activity. You can give it a try with an equipment rental at Inside Out Nature Centre in Rockwood Park, and experience the park’s fields, trails and frozen lakes during the stillness of winter. You can even book a memorable Moonlit Snowshoe Trek.
Elmhurst Outdoors, just outside Saint John in Erbs Cove, also features 10km of snowshoe trails and offers equipment rentals.
Hiking
Ready to hit the trail? The Saint John Region offers hiking experiences for all skill levels. Seven trails at the Irving Nature Park take you past tidal pools, salt marshes, bogs, beaches, and the Fundy coastal forest. At Rockwood Park you’ll find more than 50km of all-season trails, allowing you to experience the park during all four seasons. Historic Mispec Park offers 5km of ocean-side and forested hiking trails. And the Fundy Trail offers everyone the chance to experience the beauty of the secluded Fundy forest, breathtaking vistas of steep cliffs and tumbling rivers, and the amazing power of the Bay of Fundy tide.
Fishing
Sturgeon, trout, and more! Large stretches of our river system are available for license-free, non-salmon fishing. Fishing licenses are required for lakes, however. So if dropping a line into our stocked lakes is in your plan, you’ll need a license. If salmon fishing, please note you may require a guide. In the winter, The Shacks provides everything you need for an authentic ice fishing experience. Each Shack is a solid unit with seating for up to six adults, plywood flooring for extra stability, four fishing holes, poles, bait and even logs to keep the small wood burning stove toasty warm.
Boating
Our position on the Bay of Fundy coastline, at the mouth of the St. John River, makes us a boater’s paradise. You can sail the Bay of Fundy in the morning, and explore the shoreline and islands of our rivers in the afternoon. Dock your own watercraft at one of the local yacht clubs, or rent a canoe, kayak, Jet Ski, wake-board, or stand-up paddleboard for your own personal adventure.
Biking
Be Rad Adventure Company Inc. offers mountain biking adventures in Atlantic Canada! Join one of their scheduled group events, or schedule one of your own. Certified Mountain Biking Instructors and Guides provide a local's perspective of the trails and surrounding communities. Single- and multi-day Mountain Biking Adventures for women, men and women, and families.
Skiing
Our frozen river system attracts many cross-country skiers in the winter months. It’s fabulous exercise, and a wonderful perspective on the mainland we don’t often get the opportunity to see. Take your skis for a spin on Rockwood Park’s system of 50km of trails, and then head across Lily Lake for a hot chocolate when you’re done. Or, visit Elmhurst Outdoors in Erbs Cove, which features 12km of groomed trails for cross-country skiing.
Cross Country Ski New Brunswick
Playgrounds
Help the kids burn off some of that endless energy! Many neighbourhoods have playgrounds either on school property or in public spaces. Some playgrounds have play equipment for children as well as basketball courts and baseball diamonds. The Saint John Region also has splash pads, which are areas for water play with fountains and sprinklers.
Beaches
Dig your toes in the sand, listen to the water lap the shoreline, and enjoy one of our many beaches. Rockwood Park, in the North End, has two supervised sandy freshwater beaches, including a playground and hiking trails. Little River Reservoir, on Loch Lomond Road in East Saint John, offers a supervised freshwater beach, playground, and hiking trails. Dominion Park Beach, on the West Side’s Randolf Island, is a supervised, freshwater, sandy swimming beach with playground, canteen, change houses, barbeque, and picnic shelters. And Mispec Beach, one of the finest unsupervised sandy beaches on the Bay of Fundy, offers free-of-charge parking, picnic sites, a playground, and more.
For a full listing of outdoor activities across the Saint John Region:
City of Saint John
Town of Rothesay
Town of Quispamsis
Town of Hampton
Town of Grand Bay-Westfield
Fundy-St Martins