Sunbury County: Covered Bridges and Trip Planning

There are three covered bridges in the county. Trails, museums, and community amenities in Oromocto form a separate area of interest. Keep the locations distinct: For the bridges, you can compare year built, length, and posted weight limits; in Oromocto, the attractions range from trails and water access to military history and events.

Covered Bridges in Sunbury County

The B015 Back Creek No. 2 Covered Bridge near Hoyt Station was built in 1936 and is 28.8 m long. Posted limits are 10 t gross weight and 6 t per axle. The year it was built and its dimensions give you a specific reference point when including this bridge in your trip plans.

The R650 Rusagonis River No. 2 Covered Bridge is also in Sunbury County and is also known as Owens or Patrick. It was built in 1909, has two spans with a total length of 35.2 m, and has a posted weight limit of 10 t. The different names can help with navigation, while the two spans and total length describe the structure in more detail.

The S590 South Oromocto River No. 2 Covered Bridge is in Mill Settlement. It was built in 1912 and is 41.5 m long; posted limits are 10 t gross weight and 6 t per axle. Of the three bridges, it is the longest. Both gross weight and per-axle limits are posted for Back Creek and South Oromocto; a weight limit is given for Rusagonis.

Trails and Activities in Oromocto

The Deer Park Nature and Trans Canada Trail System in Oromocto is relatively flat overall. It is suitable for walking, jogging, and hiking, as well as non-motorized cycling and wheeling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. This range includes activities on foot, cycling, and winter sports.

For a specific route, the southern route of the Oromocto section of the Trans Canada Trail runs 3.1 km into downtown Oromocto and to the Hazen Park Trailhead. This distance applies to the southern route. Oromocto’s cycling network is a separate feature: It includes several kilometres of on-street bike lanes, off-road trails, and sidewalks marked to make cyclists more visible.

At the Hazen Park Centre, also called the Sir Douglas Hazen Park TCT Water Route Trailhead, there is a boat, canoe, and kayak launch, as well as washrooms. This is a distinct landmark for travellers whose plans include launching a boat.

History, Museums, and Events

A replica of Fort Hughes stands in Sir Douglas Hazen Park in Oromocto, near the original site on the Oromocto River. The original fort was a blockhouse from the American Revolutionary War. It was built in 1780 and occupied by the Loyalist regiment Royal Fencible Americans until the end of the war. This clearly distinguishes the history of the original fort from the replica that stands there today.

The Canadian Military Engineers Museum is located in the Mitchell Building at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering on CFB Gagetown in Oromocto. It moved to this location and officially reopened there on July 1, 1998. The New Brunswick Military History Museum presents the history of New Brunswick’s armed forces from 1600 to the present; its life-size exhibits cover the province’s military history. If you plan to visit either museum, check current visitor information in advance.

Oromocto Pioneer Days takes place annually in late June or early July. If you want to time your trip around the event, check the dates for the specific year. Another activity option is Second Nature Outdoors in Oromocto, at the mouth of the Oromocto River where it meets the St. John River: The company offers tours and courses.

Getting Around

The Visitor Information Centre in Oromocto is next to eastbound exit 303 on the Trans-Canada Highway. Its location is a clear landmark for arriving visitors. The Hazen Park Centre/Sir Douglas Hazen Park TCT Water Route Trailhead serves a different purpose: it has a boat, canoe, and kayak launch, as well as washrooms.

Discover more destinations: Oromocto, Lincoln, Kings County, St John County, Northumberland County, Carleton County, Kent County, Madawaska County.

For the broader travel overview: New Brunswick.