Discover Bathurst

Bathurst offers three concrete starting points for planning a trip: the history of northern New Brunswick, Chaleur Bay and the Sentier Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail. If you’re looking for a hotel in Bathurst, you can first decide whether culture, waterside walks or hiking will shape your stay. These places show different sides of the city and the wider destination of Gloucester County.

History in Bathurst

The Bathurst Heritage Museum shares the stories of the people and industries that have shaped northern New Brunswick. Its collections include photographs and archives, as well as genealogical and historical documents about the history of local communities and Indigenous cultures. The museum brings together visual records, archival collections and documents on local and family history. A visit offers a cultural focus distinct from the waterfront paths and hiking opportunities.

La Promenade Waterfront

La Promenade Waterfront includes a visitor information centre and scenic wooden boardwalks. Walkers and strollers can enjoy views of Chaleur Bay from the boardwalks. Visiting the information centre and walking along the water are both local starting points for planning a trip. Unlike the museum, the focus here is the waterfront promenade and its views of the bay.

Hiking the Sentier Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail

The Sentier Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail is a 150 km single-track hiking trail. It runs from its mouth in Bathurst to its source in the Appalachian Mountains of Mount Carleton Provincial Park, following the Nepisiguit River. At Bathurst’s eastern edge, the trail extends for 9 km. The 9 km describes its course along the edge of the city, while 150 km is the length of the full route. These two figures help distinguish the local section from the entire route. Trail conditions and access may vary seasonally; check current conditions before your hike.

Daly Point Nature Reserve in Bathurst is the trail’s eastern starting point. Hikers can leave their car in the reserve’s parking lot free of charge for the duration of a hike. Hikers must give Daly Point Nature Reserve their name, licence plate number, and the start and end times of their hike. Check parking conditions again before your trip. The Coastal Path in Daly Point Nature Reserve leads to viewpoints with panoramic views of Bathurst Harbour; at low tide, a staircase leads to a pebble beach. The reserve also provides habitat for the endangered Maritime Ringlet butterfly and migratory birds.

More destinations in the wider destination of Gloucester County

The history of the wider destination of Gloucester County can also be explored at a variety of sites. The Walker Trading Establishment in Bathurst, Gloucester County, was built in 1768 as a fishing station, trading post and summer home. At Bathurst Harbour, the Pointe-aux-Pères Site was the location of a Récollet and Jesuit mission in the 17th and 18th centuries; a chapel was built there in 1620. In Caraquet, Gloucester County, stands L’Église Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens, built in 1857 and among New Brunswick’s oldest stone churches.

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, cosmopolitan program. It began in 1963 as a culturally focused village festival. In Shippagan, the New Brunswick Fisheries and Aquaculture Festival celebrates maritime heritage with boat blessings, musical events, sporting events and theatre.

Another historic point of interest in Gloucester County is the Miscou Lighthouse on Miscou Island. Built in 1856, the lighthouse guides fishers and mariners in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Chaleur Bay. Visitors can climb it, enjoy the sweeping views and watch birds along the sandy beaches. Visitor amenities include a paved parking lot, washrooms and picnic tables.

Discover more destinations: Pointe-Verte, Lamèque, Janeville, Petit Rocher, Caraquet, Bertrand, Shippagan, Salmon Beach

For the overview of the wider destination: Gloucester County.