Discover Oromocto: History, Riverfront and Nature

When planning a stay in Oromocto, you can choose from different areas of interest: the community’s history along the Riverfront, the military history associated with Fort Hughes, and the activities available in the Deer Park Nature & Trans Canada Trail System. The museum names also point to different aspects of military history. Oromocto, then, cannot be reduced to a single type of outing or interest.

Riverfront and Local History

The Oromocto Riverfront is the historic centre of the community. Visitors can learn about Oromocto’s history from the information panels, and see monuments and sculptures there. History and works of art are equally part of this setting. If you would like to get to know the community through its own past, this is a fitting starting point for that focus.

A small water sports centre is also located along the Riverfront, where visitors can rent canoes, kayaks or paddleboards. If you’re planning to rent equipment, check the centre’s current opening hours in advance. This adds a specific on-the-water activity to the Riverfront’s historical focus, although the two need not appeal to the same travel interests.

Fort Hughes and Military History

Fort Hughes is a replica of the original, which British forces built during the American Revolutionary War. The fort also served as a relay station for couriers travelling between Halifax, St. John and Quebec City. These two aspects offer different historical points of reference: the replica relates to the construction of the original, while the relay station reflects its role in travel between the three named places.

Oromocto is also home to two museums with different names and details. The New Brunswick Military History Museum has more than 50 exhibits. The Canadian Military Engineers Museum is now located in the Mitchell Building at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering on the grounds of CFB Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick. The number of exhibits at one museum and the current location of the other are distinct points of reference for understanding the community’s military history.

Nature and Activities in the Deer Park Trail System

The Deer Park Nature & Trans Canada Trail System in Oromocto is suitable for walking, jogging and hiking; non-motorized cycling and wheeling; horseback riding; cross-country skiing; and snowshoeing. Activities range from different types of walking and running to cycling, horseback riding and winter pursuits. There is also a wide variety of native flora and fauna. If you would rather focus on nature and outdoor activities than local history during your trip, the trail system offers a different focus from the Riverfront.

Events and Regional Bridge History

Oromocto Pioneer Days takes place every year in July; specific future dates may vary.

Covered Bridges in Sunbury County

The wider destination of Sunbury County is home to several covered bridges built in different years and with different dimensions. The B015 Back Creek No. 2 Covered Bridge near Hoyt Station was built in 1936 and is 28.8 metres long. Posted limits are 10 tonnes gross weight and 6 tonnes per axle.

The R650 Rusagonis River No. 2 Covered Bridge, also called Owens or Patrick, dates from 1909. It has two spans with a total length of 35.2 metres; its posted weight limit is 10 tonnes. The S590 South Oromocto River No. 2 Covered Bridge near Mill Settlement was built in 1912 and is 41.5 metres long. Posted limits for this bridge are 10 tonnes gross weight and 6 tonnes per axle. Of the three, the South Oromocto River No. 2 is the longest; the Rusagonis River No. 2 is distinguished by its two spans. These details offer a separate perspective on Sunbury County’s construction history.

Discover more destinations: Lincoln.

For the broader travel guide: Sunbury County.