Discover Gloucester County

Gloucester County offers a range of reasons to visit: historic buildings, Acadian culture, maritime history, and natural areas. Which of these themes matter most to you can help you decide whether the destination is right for your hotel search. Its places tell different chapters of history and offer different ways to engage with the region.

Historic buildings and maritime history

The Walker Trading Establishment in Bathurst was built in 1768 as a fishing station, trading post, and summer home. In Caraquet, L’Église Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens is one of the oldest stone churches in New Brunswick. The two sites reflect different historical connections: the establishment was associated with fishing and trade, while the church is a significant example of the province’s sacred architectural heritage.

At Bathurst Harbour, the Pointe-aux-Pères Site was the location of a Recollect and Jesuit mission in the 17th and 18th centuries. A chapel was built there in 1620. The Miscou Lighthouse, built in 1856, stands on Miscou Island. Since it was built, it has guided fishers and seafarers in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Chaleur Bay. Those interested in maritime history can explore not only the region’s history of trade and fishing, but also its coastal navigation heritage.

Acadian culture in Caraquet and Shippagan

The Musée Acadien de Caraquet explores and shares the history and culture of the people of the Acadian Peninsula. The Festival acadien de Caraquet promotes Acadian culture and the French language through a festive program and an open-to-the-world outlook. Its history dates back to 1963, when it began as a village festival with a cultural focus.

In Shippagan, the New Brunswick Fisheries and Aquaculture Festival celebrates maritime heritage with boat blessings, music events, sporting events, and theatre. This gives it a different focus from the Festival acadien de Caraquet: maritime traditions and a program featuring different kinds of events take centre stage here, while the Festival acadien highlights Acadian culture and the French language. Check the specific festival dates before planning a trip.

Nature and trails in Bathurst and on Miscou Island

The Daly Point Nature Reserve in Bathurst is the eastern trailhead of the Sentier Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail. In the reserve, the Coastal Path has viewpoints with panoramic views of Bathurst Harbour. A staircase leads down to a pebble beach at low tide; if you plan to visit the beach, time your visit according to the tides. The reserve is also a habitat for the endangered Maritime Ringlet butterfly and migratory birds.

Hikers can leave their car in the Daly Point Nature Reserve parking lot free of charge for the duration of a hike on the Sentier Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail. They must provide Daly Point with their name, licence plate number, and the start and end times of their hike. Check these parking conditions again before your trip. This will allow you to factor the requirements into your plans without treating the hike as a visit to the reserve.

At the Miscou Island Lighthouse, visitors can climb the lighthouse, enjoy expansive views, and watch birds on the sandy beaches. Visitor amenities at the lighthouse include a paved parking lot, restrooms, and picnic tables. Alongside the building’s historical significance, views and birdwatching are key attractions here. In Bathurst, by contrast, important nature-related attractions include a trailhead for the Sentier Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail and the viewpoints along the Coastal Path.

New Brunswick as part of a wider trip

New Brunswick offers other distinct attractions for a broader trip. Seafood such as lobster, mussels, and scallops is plentiful on the Acadian Peninsula. In Kouchibouguac National Park, the approximately 500-metre-long Kellys Beach Boardwalk provides access to Kellys Beach. Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park has three main access points to the Ocean Floor; the Ocean Floor (Low Tide) route is 1.9 kilometres long. These examples broaden the picture of New Brunswick without replacing Gloucester County’s own highlights.

Fundy Trail Provincial Park is also part of the wider New Brunswick travel region. It covers 2,559 hectares and includes a 30-kilometre parkway along New Brunswick’s southern coast, with views of the Bay of Fundy. The park is open seasonally from mid-May to mid-October. If you include such destinations elsewhere in the region in your trip, account for their own seasonal and local conditions separately from your plans for Gloucester County.

The destinations mentioned here offer a range of thematic highlights; whether you choose Gloucester County or a broader trip through New Brunswick depends on which of them you want to include.

Discover more destinations: Caraquet, Bathurst, Pointe-Verte, Bertrand, Petit Rocher, Beresford, Inkerman, Tracadie-Sheila, Shippagan, Salmon Beach, Lamèque, Janeville.

For the broader travel overview: New Brunswick.