Miramichi River Route: See New Brunswick’s fishing heritage

Did you know New Brunswick has five designated tourist drive routes that connect to create a network across the province? One of those drives is the Miramichi River Route, which follows the Miramichi Valley between Miramichi, the largest city in northern New Brunswick, and Fredericton, the provincial capital.

The bright purple roadside markers depict a salmon leaping out of water, an apt preview of what you’ll find along the Miramichi River Route. The Miramichi River is one of the best sport fishing rivers in North America. It’s also a historically critical waterway central to the province’s fishing and logging heritage, and it’s been home to Indigenous nations for millennia. Here’s what you’ll find when you set out to explore New Brunswick’s Miramichi River Route.

Our road trip on the Miramichi River Route was hosted by Tourism New Brunswick. Have questions about planning your own visit? Join our Facebook community!

How to follow the Miramichi River Route

The Miramichi River Route is a 180-kilometre drive through central New Brunswick. It follows NB Route 8 for most of its length and connects the cities of Miramichi and Fredericton. In between, a series of small towns and villages each carry a unique legacy of the fishing and logging industries that brought this area to life.

NB Route 8 is the best-defined north-south route through central New Brunswick. Driving the Miramichi River Route without stopping takes roughly two hours. A half to full day allows plenty of time to follow the route while exploring the stops along the way.

If you’re passing through this section of the province as part of a longer road trip, chances are good you’ll find yourself following this route by accident. To explore it on purpose, we recommend making it part of a longer circle route. We flew into Moncton and drove north on NB Route 11 to Miramichi. From there, we followed the Miramichi River Route to Fredericton and returned to Moncton on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Check out the best things to do in Moncton, New Brunswick >

To extend the visit further, continue southbound from Fredericton to Saint John and join the Fundy Coastal Drive to return to Moncton along the Bay of Fundy coast.

Take a closer look at New Brunswick’s Fundy Coastal Drive >

We’ve detailed the Miramichi River Route below with the stops listed in the order you’ll encounter them when heading southbound from Miramichi. If you’re starting in Fredericton and heading north, you’ll pass these destinations in the opposite order.

Start your Miramichi River Route drive in Miramichi

Fishing enthusiasts flock to Miramichi for its world-renowned salmon and striped bass fishing. But there’s plenty more to do in Miramichi, especially for people who love to spend time outdoors.

Explore the river with a boat cruise, a hike to view waterfalls, or a zipline over French Fort Cove. Learn about the area’s varied history of migration by the Acadians, Scots, and Irish at the city’s many important historic sites. Engage with Mi’kmaq culture at Metepenagiag Heritage Park. You can even sample a variety of cuisines before sleeping in an upscale hotel, a cedar-log lodge, or a treehouse!

Check out these things to do in Miramichi, plus what to eat and where to stay >

First stop: Atlantic Salmon Museum

As you depart southbound from Miramichi along NB Route 8, the first major destination you’ll come across is the Atlantic Salmon Museum in Doaktown.

This museum contains two floors of exhibits and historical records of the salmon run on the Miramichi River, which put the city of Miramichi on the map. You’ll find exhibits displaying the types of rods and lures that have been used throughout New Brunswick’s salmon fishing history. There are also plenty of details on the historic fishing lodges that made the local fishing trade a success.

Nelson Hollow Covered Bridge: A historic hideaway

It takes a bit of a scavenger hunt to find, but covered bridge fanatics must seek out the historic Nelson Hollow Covered Bridge. This little-known structure is the oldest covered bridge in the province. It’s also one of just two built with a cottage-style roof, meaning it has four sides instead of two.

The Nelson Hollow Covered Bridge is no longer open to cars. To find it, you’ll need to leave Route 8 at Nelson Hollow Drive and follow the road for a short distance, then park and walk down a steep gravel-lined hill. It’s tricky to reach, but if you love covered bridges, it’s a must-see!

Priceville-McNamee Suspension Footbridge: New Brunswick’s longest swing bridge

The Priceville-McNamee Suspension Footbridge, the longest of its kind in New Brunswick, runs between the villages of Priceville and McNamee. It forms a critical connection between these two communities, but visitors can also walk across it. This is the best place along the Miramichi River Route to get out of the car and take a walk to enjoy the exceptional river views.

Discover New Brunswick’s forestry roots at the Central New Brunswick Woodmen’s Museum

Just outside community of Boiestown, you’ll find the Central New Brunswick Woodmen’s Museum. Discover what it was like to work in New Brunswick’s logging camps, from the equipment loggers used to cut and haul trees to how they lived when off-duty. You might catch yourself humming the Log Driver’s Waltz as walk through the displays!

Fredericton: New Brunswick’s capital

New Brunswick’s capital city of Fredericton marks the southern end of the Miramichi River Route. It’s well worth taking the time to explore Fredericton’s vibrant arts and food scene. The city also has a scenic riverside trail, great paddling opportunities, and the Fredericton Taproom Trail, which celebrates the city’s status as one of the top in Canada for number of taprooms per capita!

Explore these things to do in Fredericton, in New Brunswick’s capital >

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Miramichi River Route

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