Riverfront Trails

A paved path follows the brown, tidal Petitcodiac River through the middle of Moncton, New Brunswick, and on any fine day it is crowded with walkers, runners and cyclists. The Riverfront Trail, as it is usually called, runs for about five kilometres along the river, linking downtown Moncton with the neighbouring communities of Dieppe and Riverview across the water. It forms part of a larger network of urban trails in the region, and it is a section of the Trans Canada Trail, which runs across the country. The path is mostly flat, and a mix of paved and crushed-stone surfaces suits walkers, joggers, cyclists, skaters and parents with strollers.

The trail passes through a series of riverside parks. Riverfront Park is the main one, with lawns, benches and views over the water, and it holds the Treitz House, locally spelled Treitz Haus, one of the oldest buildings in the area, built by a German-descended family in the 19th century. Bore Park, where people gather to watch the tidal bore, is adjacent, so the trail is a natural way to combine the daily spectacle with a walk. In the area around the causeway, the river looks different from its former self. Since the gates were opened in 2010, the water flows more freely, and the muddy banks, which at low tide stretch out in glistening flats, have begun to recover.

Natural features give the trail interest throughout the year. Birdwatchers can see gulls, herons, shorebirds and, in migration seasons, a changing cast of visitors on the mudflats and in the marsh grass. In winter, the path is used by walkers and sometimes snowshoers, with ice floes on the river, and in spring, snowmelt swells the water. Public art, interpretive panels and benches appear along the way, and the broad river views are best at sunset.

Visitors will find trail etiquette simple. Keep to the right, yield to walkers, and pass cyclists and skaters with care. The path is open from dawn to dusk, free to use, and has washrooms in the summer months. Parking is available near the causeway roundabout off Assumption Boulevard and along Assumption, Main and Champlain streets, and access is possible from both the Moncton and Riverview sides of the river.

Downtown Moncton's restaurants, shops and the Saturday market are within a short walk. It is a good outing for families and anyone who likes an easy walk with a river in view.