Hiking NB

Directions

From Fredericton come into the Miramichi on Route 8 and cross the bridge over the Southwest Miramichi. Continue for 4.3 km to a roundabout and continue on route 8 to the right. After going over the hill you will cross another bridge on the main Miramichi. When crossing the bridge you should be able to see Beaubears Island on your right. Continue across the bridge and turn right at the lights. After the lights take the next right, then shortly after take a left and follow the river. After 1.4 km you will come to Nelson Rural School on your left. There is a small parking lot directly across from the Beaubears Island Interpretive Center or you can drive around the back of the school and park (see map above). The trail goes around the soccer and baseball field behind the school.

From Bathurst come into the Miramichi on Route 8 and cross the Centennial bridge over the Miramichi river. Continue for just over 1 km and take exit 119. Turn right and continue on route 8. After 7.4 km you will come to a set of lights. Turn left at the lights. After the lights take the next right, then shortly after take a left and follow the river. After 1.4 km you will come to Nelson Rural School on your left. There is a small parking lot directly across from the Beaubears Island Interpretive Center or you can drive around the back of the school and park (see map above). The trail goes around the soccer and baseball field behind the school.

From Rogersville come into the Miramichi on Route 126. After a sharp turn you will pass a mill site on the left then a long field. After the field turn left onto Sutton Road. At the bottom of the hill near the river turn left. After a short distance you will come to Nelson Rural School on your left. There is a small parking lot directly across from the Beaubears Island Interpretive Center or you can drive around the back of the school and park (see map above). The trail goes around the soccer and baseball field behind the school.

Description

The Nelson Rural School Trail is a short 600 meter crushed rock trail that circles both a soccer field and adjacent baseball field. The baseball field is behind St. Patricks Catholic Church and there is a graveyard along the trail beside the baseball field.

In the winter the school uses the trail to go snowshoeing with the students. The snowshoe trail continues behind the graveyard and into the woods at the back corner of the field. After a short trail through the woods you will come out into small fields along the site of the old groundwood pulpmill. You can continue on an old road that travels along the mill site and eventually you will come out to Route 126.

Cross Route 126 and you will find the Old Nelson Firehall Trail that runs adjacent to the highway. You can use this trai to create a loop back to the school. Follow this trail to the left (north) and you will eventually come to a convenience store on a corner of Sutton Road. Directly across from the convenience store there is a trail that goes through a small field and emerges onto the railroad tracks above the school (see map above). Turn to the left on the road across the tracks and it will take you back to the school

Other Trails in the city

• Old Nelson Firehall Trail
• French Fort Cove Park
• Beaubears Island National Historic Site
• Strawberry Marsh
• Wilsons Point

Trail Last Hiked: October 13, 2011.

Page Last Updated: April 13, 2013.