Discover Northumberland County

Northumberland County in New Brunswick brings together historic sites, Atlantic salmon heritage, and trails for a range of activities. If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip, you can start by considering whether you want to focus on heritage, the Atlantic Salmon Museum, or outdoor experiences. The places and themes below offer different points of reference.

Covered Bridge and Trails near Doaktown

Nelson Hollow Bridge is the oldest covered bridge in New Brunswick and the only covered bridge still standing in Northumberland County. It therefore holds significance on two different scales: its unique place in the province and its connection to the county’s history. The Trans-Canada Trail runs through and around Doaktown. It is used by hikers, ATV riders, and snowmobilers. These activities give you a concrete point of comparison when considering what kind of stay suits your plans.

Atlantic Salmon Museum and Salmon Fishing

In Doaktown, the Atlantic Salmon Museum is dedicated to Atlantic salmon. It explores the fish’s importance as a resource to be protected and its particular appeal to anglers around the world, which is tied to its beauty and elusive nature. The Hall of Fame exhibit in the basement features more than 200 people inducted since 1983. The museum thus focuses both on the importance of salmon and on the people connected with the fishery.

An exhibition was titled “The Golden Age of Salmon Fishing on the Miramichi.” Its subject is the growing interest in recreational salmon fishing that began in the late 1890s. Together with the Hall of Fame, this historical perspective makes fishing a distinct cultural history topic in Northumberland County.

Historic Sites in the County

In Bartibog, MacDonald Farm was built between 1815 and 1820; it was designated a protected historic property in 1977. Enclosure Park in Derby Junction served as a refugee camp in 1756 following the expulsion of the Acadians. Both sites represent different periods in the county’s history.

Red Bank is home to two sites connected with Mi’kmaq history. Augustine Mound is a historic ceremonial site associated with the culture and spirituality of the early Mi’kmaq. Oxbow Site was an old fishing village and the home of the ancestors of the Miramichi Mi’kmaq for thousands of years. In Doaktown, Doak House adds to this picture: Robert Doak built the protected historic home in the Classical style around 1820.

More Sites in the Surrounding Region

The wider region also offers historic architecture and heritage. In Miramichi, St. James and St. John United Church and Graveyard is a two-storey Greek Revival church built by master builder William Murray in 1829–1830. Beaubears Island and nearby Wilsons Point together make up the Boishébert National Historic Site of Canada. Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Site is the only known undisturbed archaeological site in New Brunswick connected with the nationally significant wooden shipbuilding industry of the 19th century.

Trails, River, and Landscape

In the wider region, two trails differ in length and scenery. A 4 km trail loops around historic French Fort Cove; its trailhead is at the corner of Cove Road and King George Highway. As trail maintenance conditions can change, it’s a good idea to check current trail conditions before visiting. Strawberry Marsh Trail is 2 km long and runs along the Miramichi River through marshland with numerous waterfowl. It starts on King George Highway beside Towne Mazda. The distances and landscapes described offer a concrete comparison without presuming a walking time or difficulty level.

A popular canoe route in the wider region runs from the Priceville Footbridge near Boiestown to the Route 8 bridge in Doaktown. In the Miramichi River Road Trip area, you can also fly-fish and go tubing on the river; providers and seasonal conditions may vary. For planning your trip, you can consider different focuses: historic architecture and Mi’kmaq heritage, the history of salmon fishing, or trails and river activities.

Discover more destinations: Chelmsford, Miramichi, Derby, Neguac, Blackville, Beaver Brook, Albert County, Carleton County.

Return to the main travel overview: New Brunswick.