The Ultimate Guide to the Fundy Trail Parkway

This post is sponsored by Destination New Brunswick but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

When Daniel and I first got asked to come to New Brunswick, we were excited to hear about a new area that was coming together that would be completely open when we were there. The Fundy Trail Parkway has been in development for decades, which is why we were excited to check out this spot which is sure to become a major attraction in Atlantic Canada. If you plan on enjoying the outdoors on your New Brunswick road trip, then you shouldn’t miss the Fundy Trail Parkway!

Everything you need to know about the Fundy Trail Parkway

This guide has everything you need to plan your trip to the Fundy Trail Parkway, including what to do while you’re there!

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Fundy Trail map

History of the Fundy Trail Parkway

Dr. Mitchell Franklin, a businessman and philanthropist, came up with the idea to create an environmentally-protected space where those traveling along the Atlantic Coast in New Brunswick could recreate in this beautiful area sitting next to the Bay of Fundy–home to the highest tides in the world!

After receiving funding from Federal and Provincial governments, the construction of the Parkway began in 1995 and was fully completed this year in 2021 with the final addition of a connector road. This new road connects Alma, the gateway to the Fundy National Park to the Fundy Trail Parkway, providing an extensive network of trails, camping sights, and more.

When is the Fundy Trail Parkway open?

The Fundy Trail Parkway completion officially happened in 2018 as open to the public. Since 2020, it is now accessible from both entrances from May to October.

Hours vary based on the time of year, so you will want to double check on the Parkway’s website to make sure that you won’t be arriving too early or you won’t have enough time to explore everything you want to.

How do I get to the Fundy Trail Parkway?

The Fundy Trail Parkway has two entrances and you can access it either from the east side or the west side. I recommend renting a car in Moncton, which is about 45 minutes away from the east entrance and where the largest airport in the province is located.

However, you can also access it from the west entrance, where the nearest community is St. Martins.

How long does it take to drive the Fundy Trail Parkway?

The Fundy Trail Parkway, without stops, takes about 45 minutes to drive through. While you can do this in order to get some great views from your car, I recommend taking some time out and exploring this beautiful area. There are plenty of overlooks where you can stop for a few moments and appreciate the gorgeous sea cliffs, or you can choose to hike one of the many trails within the Parkway–it’s one of the best things to do in New Brunswick!

I have a list below of things to do while you’re there, and you can spend several days hiking and camping there, as well.

What is the Fundy Trail Parkway entrance fee?

The entrance fee for the Fundy Trail Parkway is extremely affordable at $8 USD per adult in your vehicle. Kids are $4.45 USD, and seniors are $7.27. You can also pay for a whole family (two adults and up to five youth) within your car for a price of $29 USD.

Season passes are also available if you are planning on several trips there over the course of the months it is open.

What is there to do on the Fundy Trail Parkway?

One of the things that I found the most amazing about the Fundy Trail Parkway was that in such a seemingly short stretch of land, there was so much to keep you occupied! It’s an outdoor-lover’s paradise with some history thrown in. Whether you’re looking to spend a day or come back again and again, you’re likely to just scratch the surface.

Hike the Fundy Footpath

Over the past few years, the Fundy Footpath has garnered a name for itself as one of the premier hiking trails in Atlantic Canada. While the hike itself not only goes through the Fundy Trail Parkway and extends to Fundy National Park, a big chunk of it is in the Parkway’s perimeters.

Many choose to start at P8 (parking lot 8) and then head across the suspension bridge where you will see the sign for the trailhead. Hikers are recommended to register at an interpretive center before heading out, because this is a tough hike! Four or five days is recommended to complete it from one end to the other.

Not into carrying your stuff? Companies like Red Rock Adventures will port your camping gear, cook your meals, and pack things up for you as you head out on another day on the trail. Daniel was really into this idea!

Check out the waterfalls

There are four main waterfalls in the Parkway that you can visit, and each offer something a little different. Some of the waterfalls do require some walking to get to, which is why I do think it’s worth spending more time in the Parkway than you might initially plan for.

To get to Long Beach Falls you have a short walk less than half a mile. There are a couple of steep sections, but kids should easily be able to get there with no problem. Likewise, McLeod Brook Falls is a short walk from the Walton Glen Reception Center.

Fuller Falls is located right off the side of the road very close to the west entrance of the Parkway. It can be a bit steep getting down to the boardwalk overlook, but it’s worth the short climb back up! Fuller Falls tends to be the most popular since it is the easiest to get to.

Walton Glen Gorge Waterfall can’t be accessed without hiking in the backcountry, but you can see it from the observation deck at Walton Glen Gorge. It is also the second-highest waterfall in the province!

Walton Glen Gorge

Known as “the Grand Canyon of New Brunswick,” this area is protected by the Protected Natural Areas Act as a place of ecological significance. You will follow a path from the Walton Glen Gorge Reception Center to the observation deck about a mile away. It’s an easy hike, and the Parkway is looking to create an accessible trail so everyone can enjoy the stunning views.

The Cookhouse

Established back in the day when the Little Salmon River was a major logging site, the cookhouse was the spot where hungry lumberjacks could grab their meals (up to 8,000 calories!) in a pail or socialize with dances and a slice of pie. The recently revitalized modern cookhouse aims to keep those memories alive by offering food items that those starving workers would scarf down.

Guests to the cookhouse can grab lunch or some delicious molasses cookies while getting a glimpse of what the logging life must have been like from pictures on the wall. The Heritage Cookhouse also offers events throughout the year, including Thanksgiving Dinner, pie socials, and more. 

For those with a large family, order the Lumberjack Breakfast available on the weekends. You get pancakes, an egg scramble, bacon, ham, sausage, fried potatoes, baked beans, and brown bread. Got to get those 8,000 calories in!

Stay at the Hearst Lodge

As one of the more historical options of things to do on the Fundy Trail Parkway is staying at the recently renovated Hearst Lodge. Once the salmon fishing haven of the Hearst family (yes, that Hearst family), the lodge has been completely refurbished as a place to stay summer of 2022. There is a catch, however–you have to be willing to hike about three miles to get there! As well as the main lodge, there are also two smaller cabins available, as well.

For businesses or families looking for a retreat without cell service and a chance to unwind, this might be the ideal place to spend time together around a bonfire or enjoying the rushing water of the Little Salmon River. If this sounds appealing to you, I’d make sure to check out the Fundy Trail Parkway website in order to book.

Check out the interpretive center

You can visit the interpretive center about six miles into the Fundy Trail Parkway. The former bunkhouse of the loggers who used to call this area home, it was used from the 1800s all the way until the 1950s! The Pejepscot Paper Company was the main supporter of commerce here and they created a small village that included a schoolhouse, theater, and electricity.

While there, you can check out photos and artifacts from the time period where it was actively used. Staff members are available to answer any questions you might have, and you can also use the bathroom and grab some snacks for the road here if you would like.

Visit a lookout

What better way to enjoy Canada’s Atlantic coastline than to stop and take a picture at one of the many lookout points on the Parkway? Whether you have kids or you need wheelchair access, these lookouts have been made easy to use.

Some offer dramatic views of the beaches below while others you might encounter on one of your hikes. If you are taking a tour bus, there are also several spots that will accommodate larger vehicles.

My favorite part of the many lookouts was that almost all of them had picnic tables where you could take your lunch and get a great ocean view. Several campsites are also available nearby lookouts.

Visit a beach

It’s not all about exploring the woods in the Fundy Trail Parkway! Since it is also located on the coast, you get access to some pretty fabulous beaches, as well. Whether you are looking for something with softer sand or a beach that is a bit more rugged, this stretch of coastline is home to some of the best beaches in New Brunswick.

The best part is that even in the summer months, you won’t find them super crowded. One of the most popular options is Long Beach, where you can see those tides vary dramatically. When experiencing low tide, the beach extends a third of a mile. You have plenty of space–just be sure to be aware of the tide schedule so you know when they will come in.

Check out the sawmill display

Located next to the Cookhouse, you can get an idea of the machinery that was used by loggers and shipbuilders during the region’s heyday of lumbermaking. Turn right at parking lot six (P6), and then you will take a sharp left in order to get there.

The sawmill that the Parkway has out is a portable saw, which was perfect for the forested environment. During the colder months, this saw would be running nearly all the time as local men supplemented their income with their labor.

You can also check out the nearby school foundation, which is the last remaining one from that time period found on the Parkway.

Walk a suspension bridge

Named after Dr. Mitchell Franklin, this bridge crosses the Big Salmon River and you can find it near the interpretive center. Formerly a covered bridge, it was washed out one year and replaced with a more modern way to cross the river.

In order to start out on the Fundy Footpath, you will also need to cross this bridge in order to get on the trail. Daniel and I carried our lumberjack lunches across the bridge and had our picnic on the other side. We even spotted a beaver while we were there, and sightings of bald eagles are common.

Have a picnic

One of the things I loved the best about traveling along the Parkway was the number of picnic benches available. You can find them at nearly all the overlooks, by observation decks, and along hikes.

Even if you just plan on enjoying the Parkway for the day, you can find numerous scenic spots to bring your own food or to have your lumberjack lunch in a pail. It’s a great way to mix things up and experience some of the highlights of the area without having to go far to do so.

Hike a trail

While the Fundy Footpath is by far the most famous trail in the park, it’s definitely not the only option available! The Parkway also labels its hikes so you can easily find a trail that is suitable for your experience and fitness level. The green circle means easy, the blue square is moderate, and the black diamond means difficult.

I recommend taking some time before you head out on your hike to do some research. The area can get some rain, which means conditions can change pretty quickly. Black diamond hikes often include water crossings and ladders and cables. Many of the trails also require that you pick up your feet due to the number of exposed roots along the way.

You can find a full list of hikes on the Fundy Trail Parkway’s website–even if you hike every weekend in the summer, you’ll have a hard time running out of new trails to try!

Have you ever visited the Fundy Trail Parkway? Share your favorite adventure in the comments!

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