10 Best Outdoor Adventures in New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada’s best destinations for people who love the outdoors.
From rugged ATV trails and deep forests to the dramatic Bay of Fundy, mountain hiking, wildlife watching and beautiful rivers, New Brunswick offers outdoor adventures for almost every type of traveller.
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, a family vacation, a road trip through Atlantic Canada or a cruise excursion from Saint John, there are plenty of ways to get outside and experience the province.
Here are 10 of the best outdoor adventures in New Brunswick to add to your travel list.
1. Ride the New Brunswick Backcountry by ATV or Side-by-Side
If you really want to experience the wild side of New Brunswick, get off the pavement and onto the trails.
New Brunswick has more than 10,000 kilometres of ATV and side-by-side trails, connecting forests, mountains, rivers, valleys and rural communities across the province.
For visitors, a guided ATV or UTV experience is an excellent way to discover the backcountry without having to know the trail system yourself.
Why go ATV riding in New Brunswick?
You can experience:
- Forest trails
- Mud holes and water crossings
- Rocky terrain
- Scenic lookouts
- Wildlife habitat
- Remote backcountry
- Fall colours
- The thrill of driving your own machine
Experience it with Mud to Moose Trail Adventures
Located in Ripples, New Brunswick, Mud to Moose Trail Adventures offers guided ATV and side-by-side adventures through the New Brunswick backcountry.
Our local guides know the trails, the terrain and the places where wildlife is often spotted.
If you’re looking for an authentic New Brunswick ATV adventure, this is one experience that gets you beyond the usual tourist attractions.
Don’t just see New Brunswick. Ride it.
Adventure idea: Book a guided ATV tour or side-by-side tour with Mud to Moose Trail Adventures.
2. Search for Moose and Wildlife
New Brunswick is home to extensive forests and remote wilderness, making it an excellent destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
One of the most exciting animals to encounter is the moose.
Seeing a moose in its natural environment is completely different from seeing one in a zoo. You never know when one might appear along a trail, near a wetland or at the edge of a forest.
Early morning and evening can be particularly rewarding times for wildlife watching.
What might you see?
Depending on location and conditions, outdoor explorers may encounter:
- Moose
- Deer
- Black bears
- Beavers
- Foxes
- Coyotes
- Bald eagles
- Loons
- Other woodland and wetland species
The key is patience. Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, which is part of what makes them exciting.
Learn more
Read our complete guide:
Where to See Moose in New Brunswick
For an even more memorable experience, combine wildlife watching with a guided backcountry adventure.
Adventure idea: Explore New Brunswick’s wilderness with a guided ATV or side-by-side tour.
3. Explore the Bay of Fundy and Walk on the Ocean Floor
Few outdoor experiences in New Brunswick are as unusual as walking on the ocean floor.
At Hopewell Rocks, the enormous tides of the Bay of Fundy expose the shoreline around the famous Flowerpot Rocks.
At low tide, visitors can walk along the ocean floor and explore the sandstone formations. When the tide returns, the same landscape is transformed by the water.
The experience is a perfect example of why the Bay of Fundy is one of New Brunswick’s most famous natural attractions.
Make the most of your visit
Check the tide schedule before you go.
The timing of the tides determines when the ocean floor is accessible, so planning ahead can make a major difference to your experience.
Adventure idea: Visit Hopewell Rocks at low tide, explore the ocean floor and then explore another Fundy attraction later in the day.
4. Drive the Fundy Trail Parkway
For travellers who love scenic drives, hiking and spectacular coastal scenery, Fundy Trail Provincial Park should be near the top of the list.
The park features a roughly 30-kilometre scenic drive along the Bay of Fundy coast, along with hiking and biking trails, waterfalls, beaches and numerous coastal viewpoints.
The combination of forest, cliffs and ocean makes this one of the most impressive outdoor road-trip experiences in New Brunswick.
Things to do at Fundy Trail
- Take a scenic drive
- Visit coastal lookouts
- Hike forest trails
- Explore waterfalls
- Walk along Long Beach
- Visit discovery beaches
- Take photographs
- Explore the Big Salmon River area
The park is also connected to the famous Fundy Footpath for experienced hikers.
Adventure idea: Spend a full day exploring Fundy Trail Provincial Park and St. Martins.
5. Hike Mount Carleton Provincial Park
If mountains are your idea of adventure, head north.
Mount Carleton Provincial Park is home to the highest peak in the Maritimes and offers some of the province’s most impressive wilderness scenery.
The park is particularly spectacular during autumn when the surrounding forests turn shades of red, orange and yellow.
Tourism New Brunswick highlights Mount Carleton as one of the province’s premier destinations for fall hiking and mountain scenery.
Why hike Mount Carleton?
- Mountain scenery
- Forest trails
- Lakes and wilderness
- Wildlife
- Fall colours
- Camping
- Photography
- Backcountry experiences
For experienced hikers, reaching the summit provides a spectacular perspective over the surrounding landscape.
Adventure idea: Plan a fall hiking trip and combine Mount Carleton with other northern New Brunswick attractions.
6. Paddle New Brunswick’s Rivers and Lakes
New Brunswick is a fantastic destination for kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding.
The province’s rivers and lakes provide a completely different perspective from exploring by road.
One of the best places to experience this is Kouchibouguac National Park, where visitors can paddle through waterways surrounded by forests, wetlands and coastal landscapes.
Kouchibouguac offers canoeing, kayaking, paddling, cycling, hiking, wildlife watching and other outdoor activities.
Why try paddling?
Paddling allows you to:
- Explore quiet waterways
- Watch wildlife
- Photograph forests and wetlands
- Enjoy peaceful mornings
- Experience New Brunswick from the water
- Combine exercise with sightseeing
It can be relaxing or adventurous depending on the route and conditions.
Adventure idea: Spend a day kayaking or canoeing at Kouchibouguac National Park.
7. Go Whale Watching in the Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy isn’t just about tides.
It is also one of the best places in New Brunswick to experience marine wildlife.
Whale-watching excursions operate from several locations, including Saint Andrews, Grand Manan Island and Campobello Island.
Depending on the season and conditions, visitors may encounter species including humpback whales, fin whales, minke whales and other marine wildlife.
What else might you see?
A whale-watching trip can also provide opportunities to see:
- Seals
- Porpoises
- Seabirds
- Dolphins
- Other marine wildlife
There’s something special about being on the water when a massive whale surfaces nearby.
Adventure idea: Book a Bay of Fundy whale-watching excursion from Saint Andrews, Grand Manan or another coastal departure point.
8. Explore Fundy National Park
For a combination of hiking, camping, waterfalls, beaches and coastal scenery, Fundy National Park is hard to beat.
The park has more than 100 kilometres of hiking trails and provides opportunities for hiking, biking, paddling, kayaking, fishing, camping, swimming and wildlife watching.
The Bay of Fundy is the obvious attraction, but the interior of the park is equally impressive.
You can hike through Acadian forest, follow streams into valleys, discover waterfalls and explore coastal viewpoints.
Great Fundy National Park activities
- Hiking
- Mountain biking
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- Camping
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Wildlife watching
- Photography
- Stargazing
For a multi-day New Brunswick adventure, Fundy National Park is an excellent place to slow down and spend more time outdoors.
Adventure idea: Stay overnight and dedicate at least a full day to exploring the park.
9. Climb, Zip and Explore the Forest Canopy
Not every outdoor adventure has to happen on the ground.
For travellers looking for something with a little more adrenaline, New Brunswick has aerial adventure experiences where you can climb, zipline and navigate obstacles above the forest floor.
One option is the TreeGO adventure park at Mactaquac, where participants can experience aerial courses while surrounded by the forest.
Mactaquac Provincial Park itself is a major four-season outdoor destination along the Saint John River, with hiking, camping, beaches and other recreational activities.
Why try an aerial adventure?
It’s a great choice for:
- Families
- Couples
- Groups of friends
- Teenagers
- Adventure seekers
- Travellers looking for something different
You get the excitement of climbing and ziplining while enjoying the surrounding New Brunswick forest.
Adventure idea: Combine an aerial adventure at Mactaquac with a visit to Fredericton.
10. Take a New Brunswick Adventure Road Trip
Sometimes the best outdoor adventure isn’t one attraction.
It’s the journey between them.
New Brunswick is ideal for a road trip because you can combine mountains, forests, rivers, beaches, wildlife and the Bay of Fundy into one trip.
A road trip can take you from Fredericton into the wilderness, through the Fundy region, along the coast and into some of New Brunswick’s most spectacular parks.
Example New Brunswick adventure route
Fredericton → Mactaquac → Ripples → Fundy Trail → St. Martins → Hopewell Rocks → Fundy National Park
Add more time and continue toward:
Saint Andrews → Grand Manan → northern New Brunswick → Mount Carleton → Kouchibouguac
This gives you the opportunity to experience several completely different landscapes in one vacation.
Planning a longer adventure?
Check out our:
- 3-Day New Brunswick Adventure
- 5-Day New Brunswick Adventure
- 7-Day New Brunswick Adventure
- New Brunswick Adventure Road Trip
- 25 Best Things to Do in New Brunswick
Which New Brunswick Outdoor Adventure Is Right for You?
| Adventure | Best For | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| ATV / Side-by-Side | Adrenaline & backcountry | Moderate |
| Moose & Wildlife Watching | Nature lovers | Easy |
| Hopewell Rocks | Families & sightseeing | Easy |
| Fundy Trail | Road trips & hiking | Easy–Moderate |
| Mount Carleton | Hikers & mountain lovers | Moderate–Hard |
| Kayaking & Canoeing | Water lovers | Easy–Moderate |
| Whale Watching | Wildlife lovers | Easy |
| Fundy National Park | Hiking & camping | Easy–Hard |
| Aerial Adventures | Adrenaline seekers | Moderate |
| New Brunswick Road Trip | Travellers & explorers | Flexible |
Make Your New Brunswick Adventure More Memorable
You don’t have to choose between seeing New Brunswick and experiencing it.
Do both.
Walk the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks. Hike through the mountains. Paddle a quiet river. Watch for whales in the Bay of Fundy. Search the forests for moose.
And if you want to experience the backcountry from behind the wheel, come ride with us.
Ride From Mud to Moose
At Mud to Moose Trail Adventures, our guided ATV and side-by-side tours take visitors beyond the pavement and into the rugged New Brunswick wilderness.
Our tours are designed for visitors who want more than a sightseeing stop.
You’ll get mud.
You get forest trails.
You’ll get water crossings.
You get wildlife country.
And most importantly, you get an experience you’ll remember.
Ready for your New Brunswick adventure?
Book your guided ATV or side-by-side adventure with Mud to Moose Trail Adventures.
Where the pavement ends, the adventure begins.
Explore More New Brunswick Adventures
Looking for more ideas?
Wildlife
Where to See Moose in New Brunswick
Discover where and how to look for moose and other wildlife during your New Brunswick adventure.
Adventure Planning
New Brunswick Adventure Road Trip
Build your own route through New Brunswick’s mountains, forests, rivers and coast.
Things to Do
25 Best Things to Do in New Brunswick
Explore attractions and experiences to add to your vacation.
Cruise Visitors
Best Saint John Cruise Excursions
Visiting New Brunswick aboard a cruise ship? Discover some of the best ways to spend your time in Saint John.
Multi-Day Trips
3-Day New Brunswick Adventure
5-Day New Brunswick Adventure
7-Day New Brunswick Adventure
Plan the perfect length of New Brunswick adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best outdoor adventures in New Brunswick?
Some of the best outdoor adventures include ATV and side-by-side riding, hiking Mount Carleton, exploring the Bay of Fundy, visiting Hopewell Rocks, whale watching, kayaking, exploring Fundy National Park and driving the Fundy Trail Parkway.
Where can I go ATV riding in New Brunswick?
New Brunswick has more than 10,000 kilometres of ATV and side-by-side trails. Visitors can ride independently where permitted or book a guided experience such as a Mud to Moose Trail Adventures tour.
Where is the best place to see moose in New Brunswick?
Moose can be found throughout New Brunswick’s forested wilderness. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but remote forest and backcountry areas can provide opportunities to see moose in their natural habitat.
What is the best outdoor adventure near Fredericton?
Visitors near Fredericton can explore Mactaquac Provincial Park, the Saint John River, local hiking trails and the wider New Brunswick backcountry. A guided ATV or side-by-side tour in the Ripples area is another way to experience the wilderness.
What are the best things to do in New Brunswick for families?
Family-friendly options include Hopewell Rocks, Kouchibouguac National Park, Mactaquac Provincial Park, wildlife watching, paddling, scenic drives and selected hiking and aerial adventure experiences.
When is the best time for outdoor adventures in New Brunswick?
New Brunswick offers outdoor adventures throughout the year. Summer is excellent for paddling, ATV riding, camping and coastal activities, while fall is particularly popular for hiking, scenic drives and foliage. Winter brings snowshoeing, skiing, fat biking and other snow-based activities.
Is New Brunswick good for an adventure road trip?
Absolutely. New Brunswick’s combination of mountains, forests, rivers, coastline, national and provincial parks makes it an excellent destination for an outdoor road trip.
Can I combine an ATV tour with a New Brunswick vacation?
Yes. A guided ATV or side-by-side tour can easily be added to a New Brunswick road trip, Fredericton vacation, wildlife trip or Saint John cruise excursion.
Start Planning Your New Brunswick Adventure
New Brunswick isn’t a destination you should simply drive through.
Get outside.
Explore the trails.
Follow the rivers.
Climb the mountains.
Walk the ocean floor.
Watch for wildlife.
And when you’re ready to get dirty, ride with Mud to Moose Trail Adventures.