Discover Northumberland County

Northumberland County combines a distinctive history with varied ways to shape your stay around cultural or outdoor interests. A covered bridge, Doaktown’s salmon heritage and historic sites in several communities offer different ways to explore the area. When planning your trip, it helps to start by deciding what matters most to you: architecture and engineering history, the history of Atlantic salmon, or time spent on the region’s trails?

Covered Bridge and Salmon History

Nelson Hollow Bridge is considered the oldest covered bridge in New Brunswick and is also the only standing covered bridge in Northumberland County. Its significance is therefore both province-wide and specifically connected to the county.

The Atlantic Salmon Museum in Doaktown explores the importance of Atlantic salmon as a resource worth protecting. It also looks at how the beauty and elusive nature of this fish have captivated anglers around the world. The focus is not only on fishing, but also on the value of salmon and its cultural significance.

The museum’s Hall of Fame exhibit in the basement features more than 200 people who have been inducted since 1983. Doak House explores another historical theme: the protected Classical-style home was built by Robert Doak around 1820. MacDonald Farm in Bartibog adds another point in time: it was built between 1815 and 1820 and designated a protected historic property in 1977. These two buildings highlight different details—Doak House its architectural style and builder, and the farm its construction period and historic designation.

Historic Sites in Derby Junction and Red Bank

In Derby Junction, Enclosure Park served as a refugee camp after the Acadians were expelled in 1756. In Red Bank, Augustine Mound, a historic ceremonial site, connects with the culture and spirituality of the early Mi’kmaq. Oxbow Site was an old fishing village and home to the ancestors of the Miramichi Mi’kmaq for thousands of years. The two sites in Red Bank therefore speak to different historical themes: ceremony and spirituality on the one hand, and a long history as a fishing village and home on the other.

Trails and Activities in the Wider Region

The Trans-Canada Trail runs through and around Doaktown and is used by hikers, ATV riders and snowmobilers. If you’re planning a specific outing, it’s a good idea to check local conditions, as they can change.

In the wider region, two trails differ in both length and scenery. A 4 km trail loops around historic French Fort Cove and starts at the corner of Cove Road and King George Highway. The Strawberry Marsh Trail is 2 km long, runs along the Miramichi River through marshland with numerous waterfowl, and starts on King George Highway beside Towne Mazda. The distances offer a guide to the length of the outing, while the trails provide different experiences: a historic cove and riverside marshland.

River activities are also part of what the region offers: in the Miramichi River Road Trip area, you can fly-fish and float down the river on an inner tube. Providers and seasonal conditions may vary. When planning your trip, you can choose from both trails and activities on the water, each with its own focus.

Choosing a Vacation Rental to Suit Your Trip

In the information presented here, Doaktown brings together the salmon museum, Doak House and the route of the Trans-Canada Trail. If you’re more interested in architectural history or historic sites, you can focus on other places, such as MacDonald Farm in Bartibog or the sites in Derby Junction and Red Bank. If trails and river activities are important to you, consider those interests as you look for a location. That way, you can choose your accommodation based on the kind of trip you want, rather than a general impression of the county.

Explore More Places

Neguac, Chelmsford, Miramichi, Derby, Blackville, Beaver Brook.

Discover more destinations: Charlotte County, Westmorland County.

Go to the main travel overview: New Brunswick.