Sunsweep Trail
Roosevelt Campobello International ParkVideo
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Quick Facts
| Difficulty | moderate |
| Trail Type | linear |
| Distance | 3.2 km |
| Estimated Time | 2 hours one-way |
| Surface Type | forested |
| Elevation Change | 24 metres |
| Features | statue, coastal views |
| Trail Markers | signs |
| Scenery Rating | must see |
| Maintenance Rating | well maintained |
| Cell Reception | medium |
| Dog Friendly | on a leash |
| Fees | none |
Gallery
Map
Description
The Sunsweep Trail is our favorite trail in the park. It starts at Liberty Point, which is one of the most popular points in the park and ends at Raccoon Beach. In between, the trail follows the rugged shoreline. There are several benches along the trail with coastal views. The first one provides views ahead to Ragged Point and views back towards Liberty Point. From here you can also see the cliffs of Grand Manan Island across the bay. In this section of the trail there are several wet spots to navigate around. There are narrow boardwalks in some of them, but they are old and in disrepair so not always helpful. At the viewpoints, make sure you look for seals and seabirds.
After about a kilometre from Liberty Point, you will come to a side trail out to Ragged Point. Ragged Point is a long, narrow, rocky point that juts out into the Bay of Fundy. The trail out to ragged point climbs slightly through a meadow. At the end of the point, you will find the Sunsweep statue (See From the Sign below for more details).
From Ragged Point the trail goes through a mostly softwood forest. It comes out to several more lookouts with benches. After the third one the trail turns to the left. It then comes out to an opening overlooking the long curve of Raccoon Beach. The trail continues around the eroding clifftops (use caution) and then follows what looks like an old road. The trail eventually comes out into the field near the access to Raccoon Beach.
This trail can be made into a nice 6.6 kilometre loop by combining it with the Lower Duck Pond to Raccoon Beach and Liberty Point to Lower Duck Pond trails.
From the Sign
Liberty Point
Liberty Point's ecology is influenced by wind, the approximately 28-foot tidal range, and the cool, moist conditions brought by frequent fogs and ocean spray on the shore, land and vegetation. Due to the strong winds and salt spray, spruce trees here appear stunted and dead spruce stubs are common.
The Wolves are a series of small, unihabited, rocky islands. A Native American legend tells of wolves chasing a deer and a moose. Seeing that the deer and moose were tiring, the Great Chief Glooscap changed the animals into islands. With the Wolf Islands doomed to remain outcasts offshore in the Bay of Fundy, Deer Island (New Brunswick) and Moose Island (part of Eastport, Maine) were safe in the protected waters of the Passamaquoddy Bay.
The wildflowers and lichens that grow at Liberty Point are adapted to the harsh conditions. Although they appear to grow out of the rock, rose-root sedum (Sedum rosea) and harebells (Campanula rotundifolia) grow in small pockets of soil in rock cracks and depressions. When in bloom, beach-head iris (Iris hookeri) and beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) and their beautifying colors to those of the orange lichen (Xanthora spp.).
From the Sign
The Canadian Island of Grand Manan
about 10 kilometres (6 miles) away, is 24.7 kilometres (15.3 miles) long. As a young man, FDR and his friend Lathrop Brown sailed to the island and dug, unsuccessfully, for Captain Kidd's pirate treasure.
Due to high cliffs, little access to the shore, and few sheltered coves, this side of the Grand Manan offered few good locations for settlement. As a result, the island's communities developed on its eastern shore and on other small nearby islands. Now combined and recognized as the village of Grand Manan, the former communities of North Head, Castalia, Woodwards Cove, Grand Harbour and Ingalls Head, White Head Island, and Seal Cove retain their separate identities. Grand Manan's residents find employment in fishing, manufacturing, the retail and wholesale trades, and tourism. Vehicle access to the island is by a 90-minute ferry crossing from Black's Harbour, New Brunswick.
Grand Manan is the dulse capital of the world. Dulse (Palmaria palmata), an edible red seaweed, is hand picked at low tide, dried in the sun, and packaged for sale as a snack food and as a condiment and seasoning.
Directions
From the Main Visitor Centre for Roosevelt Campobello International Park, cross the road and take the Glensevern Road. This road is a gravel road but usually is in good shape. Drive for 3.6 kilometer and you will come out into the field at Raccoon Beach. You will find the trail enter the woods at the far end of the field on the left.
To access the other end of the trail, continue past Raccoon Beach for another 2.7 kilometres and you will come to the end of the road at Liberty Point. The trail enters the woods on the left when you first enter the parking area.
From the Sign
Sunsweep
Sunsweep is an international art project for three sites adjoining the US/Canada border.
- Roosevelt-Campobello Park, New Brunswick
- American Point Island, Lake-of-the-Woods
- Boundary Bluff, Point Roberts, Washington
This sculpture is aligned to the North Star, solstice and equinoxes and portrays the path of the sun from east to west. Designed and given by David Barr in 1985 to the people of this community as a symbol of international friendship.
Other Trails in the Park
- Cranberry Point Trail
- Customes House Trail
- Duck Pond Multi-Use Trail
- Eagle Hill Bog Boardwalk
- Friar's Bay Beach
- Friar's Head Trail
- Liberty Point to Lower Duck Pond Trail
- Lower Duck Pond Beach Walk
- Lower Duck Pond to Raccoon Beach Trail
- Mulholland Lighthouse Trail
- Raccoon Beach to Herring Cove Beach Walk
- Roosevelt Cottage Multi-Use Trail
- Upper Duck Pond to Fox Farm Meadow Trail
Trail Last Hiked: August 5, 2023.
Page Last Updated: July 28, 2024.