10 Low-impact ways to connect with nature in your provincial parks

From Canada’s warmest saltwater beach to the Maritime’s highest peak, the nine provincial parks of New Brunswick offer unique opportunities to connect with nature beyond the typical activities many enjoy at parks, like skiing, golfing, or camping. The provincial parks are designed to protect ecosystems and biodiversity while offering opportunities for outdoor recreation, education, and tourism. Each park is home to diverse wildlife, vibrant foliage, and stunning views, all waiting to be experienced by you!

For your next trip to a provincial park, try one of these activities to enjoy nature and catch a breath of fresh air.

1. Hit the trails

Map by Parks New Brunswick/Parcs Nouveau-Brunswick

Explore the Fundy coastline at New River Beach or reach the summit of Sugarloaf Park’s mountain. Whether you’re visiting the campgrounds or making a day trip, don’t miss out on the wilderness of New Brunswick! Remember to check out Tourism New Brunswick’s information on trails or download the Explore EcoNB mobile app to browse the nature-based attractions in the province.

2. Identify invertebrates

If you’re visiting a coastal park, don’t forget to take a walk along the beach and look for signs of life under the sand. Wetlands in the provincial parks are also teeming with small wildlife. Remember: all plants and animals have an important role to play in the ecosystem and need to be left in the park. Even empty shells could be the perfect new home for a hermit crab!

3. Binoculars and birding

Little Explorer, Photo by Tim & Selena Middleton, Creative Commons License 2.0

If you’re out on a hike or taking a stroll around a park campground, don’t forget to listen and look for all sorts of birds: songbirds, birds of prey, waterfowl, and more. Bring a pair of binoculars to get a closer look and try using the Merlin Bird ID app to identify what you hear and see.

4. Get out on the water

Many of the provincial parks offer opportunities to get out on or into the water. Go for a swim at Parlee Beach, the warmest salt water in Canada. Put in your kayak or canoe for some low-impact boating here or at Mactaquac Provincial Park. If you’re visiting Mount Carleton Provincial Park, bring your rod and reel for some catch-and-release fishing. Remember to have your fishing license ready if you’re out on the water.

5. Go for a ride

Did you know that Sugarloaf Provincial Park offers Atlantic Canada’s only lift-service mountain bike park? République Provincial Park also offers cycling trails, so be sure to bring along your bikes, helmets, and re-usable water bottles for a fun ride.

6. Fresh oxygen exercise

Take advantage of the fresh oxygen made by the trees and plants in the parks and get some exercise in. Take on an early morning trail run, find a quiet space for some outdoor yoga, or create a body-weight circuit with some friends. You’ll feel refreshed and energized after feeling the morning dew, smelling the sweet grass, and hearing the gentle wind in the trees.

7. Chase waterfalls

Third Vault Falls, Photo by Sean McGrath; Creative Commons License 2.0

If you want to get strategic about which trails you visit in the provincial parks, consider chasing some of New Brunswick’s most breath-taking waterfalls. Dry Brook Falls and Williams Falls in Mount Carleton Provincial Park are waiting for you to discover them. See this Tourism New Brunswick blog post for a list of the top ten waterfalls in our province.

8. Create a nature search

As a fun kid-friendly activity, create a nature scavenger hunt! Have your group search for different pieces of nature: a smooth rock, a pine cone, an ant hill. You can incorporate different senses, too: describe a nature smell or list three nature sounds. Remember that all nature needs to stay in the ecosystem, so avoid activities like flower or leaf picking.

9. See nature up close

If you’re out with your family, bring along a magnifying glass or two to explore nature up close. Take a look at the shell of a snail or the hooks of a burdock. The microscopic natural world is an amazing sight to see!

10. Take an island adventure

Hop on the ferries and visit Grand Manan or Campobello Islands this summer, then make your way to the Anchorage Provincial Park or Herring Cove Provincial Park. Hit the trails of The Anchorage and take in the remarkable geology of the island or put in a kayak from Herring Cove for a true Fundy experience. Keep your eyes peeled for the blow of whales; both of these parks offer awe-inspiring wildlife experiences.

CPAWS-NB hopes you’ll take advantage of the provincial parks to get closer with nature with each visit. Remember that the parks are meant for all New Brunswickers and visitors to enjoy, and that we are responsible for taking care of our environment. When you visit, be sure to take all garbage and refuse with you when you leave, keep dogs on a leash and clean up after them, and respect nature by leaving it in the park. The provincial parks offer ample opportunities, some year-round, to explore the wilderness. Start planning your next adventure today!

Visit here for more information on New Brunswick Provincial Parks.