New Brunswick's Mountainous Escapes

New Brunswick is one of Canada's Maritime provinces, with a significant seacoast and a large interior. The province is entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range, which has created river valleys and low, gently rolling hills throughout. The northern reaches of New Brunswick are dominated by mountains, including Mount Carleton, which, at 809m (2,654 ft) or 820m (2,690 ft), is the highest peak in the province. The Appalachian Range features stunning parks for outdoor activities such as canoeing, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and camping. Sugarloaf Provincial Park, for example, offers beautiful views of the City of Campbellton and is one of only two lift-service mountain bike parks in Atlantic Canada.

Mount Carleton: New Brunswick's tallest mountain at 817m (2,680 ft)

Mount Carleton is New Brunswick's tallest mountain, standing at 817 m (2,680 ft) above sea level. It is located in Mount Carleton Provincial Park, in Restigouche County, and is named after Thomas Carleton, New Brunswick's first lieutenant governor and a British military officer. The mountain is part of the Notre Dame Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and is estimated to be around 400 million years old.

The peak offers a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape, stretching from Maine to Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula. Two hiking trails lead to the summit, which takes about 1.5 to 2.5 hours to reach. The mountain is accessible by road, and the park offers camping and cabin facilities for overnight stays.

Mount Carleton is a monadnock, an erosional remnant of resistant igneous rocks that remained after the uplift of an ancient Mesozoic peneplain surface in the Cenozoic era. It is composed of 400-million-year-old rhyolitic and basaltic volcanics, which have been weathered over time into its current softened form.

The mountain is a highlight of the Canadian portion of the International Appalachian Trail and is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including over 100 bird species and 30 mammal species. The park features more than 10 hiking trails and is known for its natural beauty and remote location, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Hiking trails to the summit

New Brunswick is a hiker's paradise, with a plethora of trails that offer everything from rugged wilderness to scenic waterfalls and coastal views. Here are some hiking trails that will take you to the summit:

Mount Carleton Summit Trail

Located in Mount Carleton Provincial Park, this trail leads to the highest peak in the Maritimes at 820 metres above sea level. The loop trail is 9.9 km long and is rated as moderate in terms of difficulty. It is recommended to ascend via the West Trail and descend via the East Trail. The trailhead is at the parking lot at the end of Bald Mountain Road.

Turtle Mountain

This challenging hike in the Loch Alva Nature Preserve offers a rewarding view of five lakes: Turtle, West, Elizabeth, Labrador, and Little Sherwood. The trail is 13.6 miles long and takes about 6 hours and 10 minutes to complete. It involves a steep climb over massive rocks and is shared by ATVs and hikers.

Mount Douglas Bald Trail

A shorter but sweet hike is the Mount Douglas Bald Trail in Welsford, New Brunswick. This trail is 1.3 miles long and takes approximately 58 minutes to complete. While it may not have the same elevation gain as the previous trails, it still offers a satisfying summit experience.

Summit Hayward Pinnacle

For a quick hike to a pinnacle, try the Summit Hayward Pinnacle trail in Hillsborough, New Brunswick. At 2.6 miles long and with a 770 ft elevation gain, this trail will take you about an hour to complete. To get to the trailhead, cross the Riverview bridge from Moncton and follow Coverdale Road until you reach Route 885.

Chamcook Mountain Trail

The Chamcook Mountain Trail is located just an hour's drive from Saint John. This trail is not the clearest marked, but it is easy to follow once you're on it. You'll climb 128 metres to panoramic views from the peak. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash.

Appalachian Mountains: the range to which New Brunswick's mountains belong

New Brunswick is home to a diverse and complex landscape, including the Appalachian Mountains, which form the most mountainous region in the province. The Appalachian Mountain Range is a chain of ancient, eroded mountains that have created river valleys and low, gently rolling hills. This range is part of a larger system of mountains known as the Appalachian Mountain Range Region, which spans across North America, from Maine to Newfoundland.

The Appalachian Range in New Brunswick offers a plethora of outdoor activities and natural wonders. It features stunning parks where visitors can canoe, hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, and camp. One notable park is the Mount Carleton Provincial Park, which is home to the province's highest peak, standing at 809m (2,654ft) in elevation. This park boasts a diverse ecosystem, with 100 different bird species and 30 mammal species. It also offers peak trails that showcase spectacular views of the forests and lakes below.

Sugarloaf Provincial Park is another highlight of the Appalachian Range in New Brunswick. This park offers beautiful views of the City of Campbellton and is unique for its lift-service mountain bike park, one of only two in Atlantic Canada. The trails cater to all skill levels and are packed with exciting features such as berms, table tops, and drops. For those seeking a longer journey, the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) offers a challenging and rewarding experience, with the New Brunswick leg stretching from Tide Head to Perth-Andover.

The Appalachian Range Route, spanning 278 km (172 mi), is a road trip that takes travellers through the heart of these ancient mountains. Along the way, one can experience hiking, biking, and paddling, while also enjoying the unspoiled vistas and outdoor adventures that the region offers.

Mountainous regions: home to the Canadian Appalachians

New Brunswick is one of Canada's Maritime provinces, with a significant seacoast and a large interior. The province is entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range, a chain of ancient, eroded mountains that have created river valleys and low, gently rolling hills. The mountainous regions of New Brunswick are home to the Canadian Appalachians, with the northern reaches of the province dominated by mountains that are part of the Appalachian Range.

The Appalachian Mountain Range is the most mountainous region in New Brunswick. The range features stunning parks where visitors can canoe, hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, and camp. Mount Carleton Provincial Park, home to the highest peak in the Maritimes, features an impressive array of wildlife with 100 different types of birds and 30 species of mammals. Sugarloaf Provincial Park, meanwhile, offers beautiful views of the City of Campbellton and is unique for its lift-service mountain bike park, one of only two in Atlantic Canada.

The Appalachian Range in New Brunswick offers a variety of trails for all levels of hikers. For seasoned long-distance hikers, the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) provides a challenging and rewarding experience. The Appalachian Range Route, stretching from Perth-Andover to Dalhousie, offers scenic vistas and photo opportunities throughout the journey. Simpson Hill in Saint Andrews is another family-friendly option, with a peak that reaches almost 600 feet and offers a panoramic view of the Canadian side of the St. Croix River.

In addition to the Appalachian Mountains, New Brunswick also contains a small section of the Notre Dame Mountains subrange in the northwestern part of the province. The Notre Dame Mountains feature varying elevations, with numerous small lakes and steep slopes. The New Brunswick Highlands, another mountainous region in the province, includes the Caledonia, St. Croix, and Miramichi Highlands.

Mountain ranges: the Notre Dame Mountains

The Notre Dame Mountains are a portion of the Appalachian Mountains, extending from the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec to the Green Mountains of Vermont. The range runs from northeast to southwest, forming the southern edge of the St. Lawrence River valley and following the Canada–United States border between Quebec and Maine. The mountainous New Brunswick "panhandle" is located in the Notre Dame range, as well as the uppermost reaches of the Connecticut River valley in New Hampshire.

The Notre Dame Mountains are protected by several parks, including Forillon National Park, Frontenac National Park, Lake Témiscouata National Park, Gaspésie National Park, and Mount Carleton Provincial Park.

The mountains are geologically old, with an average height of around 600 metres (2,000 feet). They are characterised by rolling hills and dense forests and contain a total of 485 mountains. The range is named after the French term for "Our Lady", a Catholic reference to the Virgin Mary.

The Chic-Choc Mountains are a primary subrange of the Notre Dame Mountains, located in the northeastern part of the Gaspé Peninsula. Mont Jacques-Cartier, the tallest mountain in the range, rises to an elevation of 1,268 metres (4,160 feet). The Massif du Sud is another major subsection, found in the southern part of the range, southeast of Quebec City, reaching an elevation of 915 metres (3,002 feet).

The Notre Dame Mountains are a rich source of mineral resources, which has resulted in a unique mining landscape. The range also boasts significant biodiversity, with a high number of plant and animal species calling the mountains home.

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