Go with the flow—or fight the current.
Every river has two sides. Down current and up. And both are worth exploring—it just depends on the kind of mood you're in. Go ahead and amble lazily along with the flow of the water. Take it slow and take it all in. Or, be bold, and challenge yourself to an upriver, whitewater fight. No matter what, like a river cuts through the earth and finds its way through the landscape, it has a way of getting under your skin, and finding its way into your very soul.
Rivers run in every direction across the province, creating everything from gently swirling currents to rushing rapids. Casual family stroll on the bank? Daredevil kayaker? From canoeing to tubing, sailing, boating or fishing to freshwater beaches, there’s a river experience you’ll love diving into.
Your own pace
Where to start? The Saint John River twists and turns from the Edmundston region – near the border of Quebec - then through Victoria County where you can visit the spectacular Grand Falls Gorge, on to the riverfront capital of Fredericton, and then finally the city of Saint John, where it transforms from serene to powerful as it collides with the Bay of Fundy. The Miramichi and Restigouche Rivers are world-famous for salmon fly fishing and spectacular scenery. Looking to go paddleboarding, paddling, or tubing lazily with the fam? Head to the Kedgwick, Tobique, Nepisiguit, Kennebecasis and St. Croix rivers.
A running tradition
Today, our rivers mostly feed our desire for leisure and fun. But historically, they were used by the Mi’gmaq, Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), and Peskotomuhkatiyik (Passamaquoddy) First Nations as travel routes and rich source of food. The Canadian Heritage Rivers System conserves and protects the best examples of Canada’s heritage rivers, of which New Brunswick has three—the Upper Restigouche, Saint John, and the St. Croix.
