Rothesay on the Kennebecasis River

Rothesay is located on the Kennebecasis River. Two distinct highlights stand out when choosing a destination: activities in parks and on trails, and the history of the railway and the community.

Parks, trails and seasonal activities

Wells Recreation Park offers a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, cycling and snowshoeing. In winter, weather permitting, the trails are groomed for classic cross-country skiing and skating, snowshoeing and hiking. If you are coming specifically to cross-country ski or snowshoe, factor this weather-dependent grooming into your plans.

East Riverside-Kingshurst Park has a loop trail around the grounds and offers impressive views of the Kennebecasis River. Steele Kennedy Nature Park has a one-kilometre loop trail for hiking. The comparison helps you choose: views of the river are the main attraction at East Riverside-Kingshurst Park, while Steele Kennedy Nature Park is described with a specific loop-trail length.

Rothesay’s publicly operated parks, trails and open green spaces are accessible from dawn to dusk; access rules may change. Check the current rules before planning your visit. K-Park Beach is one of two supervised beaches in Rothesay that are open to the public during the summer months. As beach access is seasonal, check the current dates before your visit.

Railway and community history

Rothesay Railway Station (European and North American) is a National Historic Site of Canada and commemorates the development of the Maritime railways. The Rothesay Living Museum, meanwhile, was founded as a partnership between the Town of Rothesay and Rothesay High School. It collects, preserves and shares the history of the community.

More to explore in the wider Kings County destination

Kings County also offers examples of railway heritage. The Intercolonial Railway Station there is a one-and-a-half-storey brick railway station in the Craftsman style; the station and freight building are connected by a covered passageway. The station is designated a Local Historic Place because of its formative role in the early development of the community of Sussex. Today, it houses the 8th Canadian Hussars Museum.

For hiking, the Sussex Nature Walkway is another named trail in the wider Kings County destination: it is five kilometres long, self-guided and runs along Trout Creek through an area with diverse flora and fauna. Hampton Marsh offers a different landscape and focus for activities. The marsh is part of the St. John River floodplain and lies within a network of oxbows, tributaries and backwaters of the Kennebecasis River. Visitors can enjoy birdwatching and photography, as well as recreational boating, canoeing and kayaking.

Discover more destinations: Penobsquis, Norton, Sussex, Hampton

Return to the wider travel guide: Kings County.