Gateway Wetland Nature Trail and Conservation Center
Be sure to visit the brand new Hub of the Watershed in Oromocto! The Gateway Wetland Nature Trails and Conservation Center. For more information on the project please visit Oromocto.ca!
At the center you will learn about the Watershed and the Town of Oromocto. There is interesting information about the wetlands and wildlife. Walk along the beautiful trails and boardwalks! The trails are fully wheelchair and stroller accessible. Pack a picnic and enjoy the picnic tables that are on site.
A beautiful covered bridge is one of many photo spots along the trail!
At the center you will learn about the Watershed and the Town of Oromocto. There is interesting information about the wetlands and wildlife. Walk along the beautiful trails and boardwalks! The trails are fully wheelchair and stroller accessible. Pack a picnic and enjoy the picnic tables that are on site.
A beautiful covered bridge is one of many photo spots along the trail!
Adventure Trails of Oromocoto River Watershed
Check Out The Video Preview!
Plan Your Next Adventure On The Trails!
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty: TBD
- Trail Length: TBD
- Trail Walk Time: TBD
- Accessibility: TBD
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty: TBD
- Trail Length: TBD
- Trail Walk Time: TBD
- Accessibility: TBD
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty: TBD
- Trail Length: TBD
- Trail Walk Time: TBD
- Accessibility: TBD
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty: TBD
- Trail Length: TBD
- Trail Walk Time: TBD
- Accessibility: TBD
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty: TBD
- Trail Length: TBD
- Trail Walk Time: TBD
- Accessibility: TBD
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty: TBD
- Trail Length: TBD
- Trail Walk Time: TBD
- Accessibility: TBD
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty: TBD
- Trail Length: TBD
- Trail Walk Time: TBD
- Accessibility: TBD
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty: TBD
- Trail Length: TBD
- Trail Walk Time: TBD
- Accessibility: TBD
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty: TBD
- Trail Length: TBD
- Trail Walk Time: TBD
- Accessibility: TBD
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty: TBD
- Trail Length: TBD
- Trail Walk Time: TBD
- Accessibility: TBD
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty: TBD
- Trail Length: TBD
- Trail Walk Time: TBD
- Accessibility: TBD
Trail At A Glance
- Directions to Trail
- Trail Difficulty
- Trail Length
- Trail Walk Time
Other Places To Explore and Discover!
Nestled within the Oromocto River Watershed are 3 of 60 historic covered bridges that are left in left in New Brunswick .The nostalgia of a by-gone era or just wanting to sneak a quick kiss from your partner while traveling through attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Come and visit and be sure to bring your camera. Smyth Covered Bridge in Hoyt NB was built in 1912 and a 100 year celebration was held in 2012. At the same time Covered Bridge Park was reopened for all to enjoy.
The pools under the bridge and above the bridge are favorite fishing spots. This also a good place to launch or take out your canoe or kayak. Just make sure there is lots of water before you make your trip.
The Hoyt Fall Fair Committee and the Oromocto River Watershed have been instrumental in reviving this important and historical area. Prince Charles visited this park when he trained in Base Gagetown many years ago. K.C. Irving donated the land to the community in the 1970’s.
In 2014 Pete Brook, which runs through the park , will undergo a major stream restoration. Riffles and pools will be made to provide refuge for Atlantic salmon par and smolt. This is a cold water brook and was home to 31 salmon par and smolt in just 100 meters. The 2010 January flood saw this stream completely destroyed as a holding habitat for salmon and trout-thankfully we will bring this stream back.
Carrow Falls and Pete Falls Adventure Trails are just minutes away from the Smyth Bridge park and are a must see.
Come and visit and be sure to bring your camera. Smyth Covered Bridge in Hoyt NB was built in 1912 and a 100 year celebration was held in 2012. At the same time Covered Bridge Park was reopened for all to enjoy.
The pools under the bridge and above the bridge are favorite fishing spots. This also a good place to launch or take out your canoe or kayak. Just make sure there is lots of water before you make your trip.
The Hoyt Fall Fair Committee and the Oromocto River Watershed have been instrumental in reviving this important and historical area. Prince Charles visited this park when he trained in Base Gagetown many years ago. K.C. Irving donated the land to the community in the 1970’s.
In 2014 Pete Brook, which runs through the park , will undergo a major stream restoration. Riffles and pools will be made to provide refuge for Atlantic salmon par and smolt. This is a cold water brook and was home to 31 salmon par and smolt in just 100 meters. The 2010 January flood saw this stream completely destroyed as a holding habitat for salmon and trout-thankfully we will bring this stream back.
Carrow Falls and Pete Falls Adventure Trails are just minutes away from the Smyth Bridge park and are a must see.
Covered Bridge Locations
Smyth Bridge
Hoyt Station
Patrick Owens
Sir Douglas Hazen Park
Sir Douglas Hazen Park has it all, it is definitely a people place. In the very early days it was the center of the fur trade; The ancient Maliseet Trail from the Saint John River system to the Passamaquoddy bay on the Bay of Fundy started here at the mouth of the Oromocto River. For nearly 75 years, ship building was the main industry because of it’s proximity to all building materials. The great white pine masts ,the hemlock decks and oak were simply cut off the river banks and floated to the mill site. The war of 1812 saw the block house rebuilt to aid in stopping the planned invasion coming via the Oromocto Route. Saw mills and lumbering carried the local economy for nearly 50 years.
Today the beautiful park setting plays host to the largest Marina on the Saint John River System, The TransCanada Trail, and ECO-LOGICAL Adventures Inc. Sir Douglas Hazen Park is also a great place to enjoy many different types of outdoor activities. Come experience history and beauty that Sir Douglas Hazen Park and the Trans Canada trail have to offer. The Gateway to the Oromocto River Watershed all starts here.
Today the beautiful park setting plays host to the largest Marina on the Saint John River System, The TransCanada Trail, and ECO-LOGICAL Adventures Inc. Sir Douglas Hazen Park is also a great place to enjoy many different types of outdoor activities. Come experience history and beauty that Sir Douglas Hazen Park and the Trans Canada trail have to offer. The Gateway to the Oromocto River Watershed all starts here.
Future Trail Projects - Maliseet Ancient Trail
Ancient Trails are of great interest to our watershed. Before the European people arrived, First Nation’s people had a great network of trails and canoe routes.
One of the most significant ancient trails used by the Maliseet First Nations was the connecting trails and waterways that joined the Saint John River system to the Passamaquoddy Bay near St George NB.
This great Maliseet Trail started at the mouth of the Oromocto River where it empties into the Saint John River. This ancient trail was a transportation and trade link to the coast.
One of the most significant ancient trails used by the Maliseet First Nations was the connecting trails and waterways that joined the Saint John River system to the Passamaquoddy Bay near St George NB.
This great Maliseet Trail started at the mouth of the Oromocto River where it empties into the Saint John River. This ancient trail was a transportation and trade link to the coast.
The birch bark canoe would have been the principal mode of transportation up the Oromocto River and would have been an easy paddle to the present day Fredericton Junction. Canoes would have been poled and paddled up stream, pulled or roped through rapids until they reached North Oromocto Lake near Harvey. An easy paddle up and across the lake to the west side. Then the hard work of carrying equipment, supplies and canoe for 4 kilometers up and across the ridge to the Magaguadavic River.
Then all would be down hill all the way to the Bay. Several heavy rapids would have to be negotiated as well as 2 waterfalls. This trail would have been the most used native trail in the province of NB. A secondary Maliseet Trail turned left to go to Little Lake. At the end of Little Lake a gravel horseback or esker joins Peltoma Lake. This was a 2.2 kilometer portage. The outlet stream of Peltoma Lake joins the Piskehegan Stream which then joins the Magaguadavic River and runs to the Passamaquoddy Bay. These routes have a very high concentration of First Nation artefacts, in fact the highest in the province outside the Famous Augustine mound found at Red Bank.
The Oromocto River Watershed wants to bring these ancient trails back to life. What a great outdoor adventure trip it will be for any advanced group wanting a super adventure experience.
The trip would take 3-4 days to complete from Oromocto to St George.
The great news is – we know the exact location of these trails and they have been GPS.
If you would like to be involved in this project please contact Robin Hanson, Oromocto River Watershed Association
- What is the next step in developing these trails?
- We need to define the ownership of the land where the portages exist and obtain permission to cross and use.
- We need to ribbon the trails.
- Clear the trails of brush and obstacles making an easy walking trail and portage trail on which one can carry a canoe.
- Sign entrances to trails for easy discovery.
- Create two monuments to pay tribute to First Nations and their Ancient Trails.
If you would like to be involved in this project please contact Robin Hanson, Oromocto River Watershed Association
