Christmas In New Brunswick
After more scenic woods riding ( right ) we made it to the beach ( below ) at Stonehaven .
Day Four : Beach Day
Being in the Maritimes , heading toward the Atlantic Ocean ’ s salt water seemed like the thing to do . It also seemed like it might be a very cool photo opportunity to have somebody sitting on a sled at the sea level . So we headed east in search of the beach . The also-recommended ice bridge would have to wait for another trip because a few weeks earlier a ship went through and broke it up .
Heading out on Trail 19 east in search of the shore , the route actually heads south for a while and is a combination of powerline and alongside-the-highway trail . As is common on powerline trails found in many areas , it featured typical sharp turns with quick drop offs .
When it did veer away from the highway , it turned to a more wetlands look – a wide trail slicing through forested sections with low growth . We also came across gravel pits and railroad crossings . The signage remained plentiful , always informing us which trail we were on . The intersections were also clearly marked .
After a short ride east on the combined Trail 23 / 19 , we headed in a northern direction while staying on 19 east . A short section with active logging taking place was the only area with moguls or whoops . The rest was in fine shape . The terrain eventually flattened out and the trails became straighter , appearing to be former rail lines . Despite how little snow was on the ground overall , the conditions were amazingly good .
We turned east onto local club Trail 331 , which the app said hadn ’ t been groomed recently but it featured windswept , fluffy snow . The map showed that the trail parallels Nepisiguit Bay and Chaleur Bay , meaning it might be our best chance for a
visit to the beach .
After a few miles we could tell we were near the water . We first spotted farms have fishing vessels in the yards , and then started to catch glimpses of open water . Wanting to get closer , we rode on , constantly looking to our left . We passed a group of riders that was re-entering this main trail from a rabbit path . We pulled over to let them pass , then doubled back to use their trail .
Bingo ! We found the waterfront . The GPS said we were in Stonehaven . We were greeted by a wicked , cold wind blowing off Nepisiguit Bay , but it was a unique sensation being at sea-level on a sled and facing frozen salt water .
Maritime mission accomplished , we followed Trail 331 east as it hugged the coast and then turns sharply to the right / south to reconnect us back with Trail 19 . From there we swept to the west and enjoyed a scenic ride back to the hotel .
The New Brunswick Way
It was a tremendous four days of riding , and hands-down well worth the long drive . My group and I look forward to revisiting New Brunswick and discovering more of this hidden gem . Because we were trying to see as much as possible , we stuck to many of the main routes , but there are many smaller club trails in this area that can keep riders busy for an entire vacation .
When you hear of the Bathurst area having “ white gold ,” they are not kidding . After witnessing many places outside the truck window on the way up featuring a brown and gray terrain , New Brunswick truly delivered and made last winter another winning season .
NOVEMBER 2024 / SNOWGOER . COM / 41