Restigouche County: Nature and Winter

Restigouche County offers forest trails, canoe trips on winding rivers, and sunny beaches, as well as a variety of winter activities. These include groomed snowmobile trails, snow activities in the parks, and trips to cultural sites. A drive along Route 134 is another way to get to know the region. When planning, consider whether you want to focus on nature, winter sports, local history, or a scenic drive.

Winter Trails and Activities in the Parks

Restigouche has more than 675 kilometres of groomed snowmobile trails. The Restigouche Timber Trail Snowmobile Club maintains and promotes more than 130 kilometres of trails in the region. The figures have different scopes: one refers to groomed trails in Restigouche, while the other refers to trails covered by the club. There are also three active snowmobile clubs in the region.

Mount Carleton Provincial Park offers year-round camping and groomed trails for snowmobiling and snowshoeing. As winter access and trail grooming can vary seasonally, check conditions before your trip. It is also a good idea to check current park conditions for year-round camping.

In winter, Sugarloaf Park offers alpine skiing and fat biking, as well as outdoor skating, tubing, and tobogganing. The outdoor club Les Montagnards holds year-round activities there, including races, scavenger hunts, and fundraisers. Specific activities may vary by season, so check conditions for winter offerings before your trip.

Culture and Places in the Region

In Dalhousie, the Restigouche Regional Museum preserves and displays artefacts, memorabilia, and historical records relating to the region’s history, culture, and genealogy. Also in Dalhousie, the Restigouche Farmers Market offers locally produced foods and products, fresh produce, and handmade goods. Market offerings and operations may change, so it is worth checking the latest information before visiting.

In Campbellton, the Restigouche Esplanade/Waterfront is a walking path that passes themed exhibits. Those interested in a longer outdoor stay can find hiking and biking trails, lakes, and views of the surrounding mountains at Sugarloaf Provincial Park in Atholville.

Sugarloaf also refers to a different attraction: the Sugarloaf Bike Park in Campbellton is a mountain biking destination with lift service and trails for riders of all skill levels. The two parks differ in their names, the activities described, and their locations. This distinction can help with planning if you want to focus specifically on hiking and cycling or on mountain biking.

There are different ways to experience the region outside the parks, too. The Restigouche ATV Club maintains and promotes more than 200 kilometres of ATV trails in Restigouche; trail distances and conditions may change. Canoeing on winding rivers and exploring forest trails offer a different focus from motorized trails. The region also has sunny beaches.

Route and Trip Planning

Route 134 follows the Restigouche loop from Charlo through Dalhousie to Campbellton. Check the route and road conditions before setting out. The route is a practical planning option alongside activities at individual locations; you can choose the order of your trip based on your own interests.

You can include the places and experiences that interest you in your trip plans.

Discover more destinations: Campbellton, Dalhousie, Saint-Quentin, Kedgwick, Kent County, Madawaska County, Gloucester County, Carleton County.

For the broader travel overview: New Brunswick.