Mount Carleton Provincial Park | Parks | Explore New Brunswick's Provincial Parks | NB Parks
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Address

7612 Route 385, Saint-Quentin

Phone

 (506) 235-0793

Email

ac.bng@notelrac.tm

Please note, the park closes for a transition period from end of March to mid-May and again from October to January 1. Please contact the park if you are traveling during those times to confirm if we are open.


A challenging mix of Acadian woods and mountain peaks, Mount Carleton has more than 17,000 ha (42,000 acres) of pristine wilderness waiting for today’s explorer. Our habitat is home to more wild animal species than any other part of the province. At least 100 different types of birds and 30 species of mammals live here. A botanist’s eye will also discover a number of rare plants, including Alpine blueberry and Bigelow’s sedge on the slopes of Mount Carleton itself.

Hiking is a must-do at this provincial park. From a wheelchair-accessible trail at Williams Falls, to challenging mountain hikes, our 11 trails are waiting to be explored. On a clear day, from the top of the Maritimes’ highest mountain, you can see 10 million trees.

• Mount Carleton, 820 m (2,690 ft) the highest peak in the Maritimes

• Mount Head, 792 m (2,589ft) off the beaten track, but worth it!

• Mount Sagamook, 777 m (2,549 ft) our most challenging hike

• Mount Bailey, 564m (1,850 ft) an easier climb and great view.


Designated Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Mount Carleton Provincial Park is committed to protect and preserve the night sky by reducing light pollution and energy consumption to maintain dark skies and promote star and planet gazing on clear nights.

 Camping

Mount Carleton Provincial Park Campground

Mount Carleton Provincial Park is home to 4 different campgrounds for campers at every experience level, plus 2 heritage cabin sites.

Heritage Cabins: Nictau Cabins (Pine, Maple, Cedar, Spruce, Ash, Fir) with capacity ranging from 2-12 people total; Bathurst Cabins (Raccoon, Otter, Beaver, Porcupine, Bear) with capacity ranging from 4-9 people total and mattresses included in all cabins. There is also bathrooms with showers, and a large kitchen. These are common to all people who rent the cabins.

Armstrong Campground: Mount Carleton’s largest campground with 88 sites for trailers and tents. This campground boasts spectacular views of Nictau Lake and Mount Sagamook as well as a pristine beach, washrooms, showers, dry toilets, a kitchen shelter and a dumping station for trailers.

Williams and Franklin Campgrounds: 17 large, secluded tenting sites on both sides of Nictau Lake. Dry toilets, garbage bins and recycling bins are included.

Group Camping: This site can accommodate up to 75 campers and includes a kitchen shelter, garbage and recycling bins.

Headwaters Campground: For a more extreme camping experience, hike partway up Mount Carleton Trail. There are 4 sites with only pit toilets and tree food storage as on-site amenities.

Lodge-Café: A convenience store is open during camping season for all your camping needs. Enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee while surrounded by the serene beauty of nature at the Lodge-Café.


Campground Map

Site Types Cabins, Non-Serviced, Group Camping

 Trails

Legend

Easy Easy
Moderate Moderate
Difficult Difficult
Very Difficult Very Difficult

1 - Bald Mountain Brook

Travel through the Bald Mountain Brook valley between the Mount Carleton Plateau and Mount Bailey. Pass by beautiful, large waterfalls and a boardwalk over beaver dams on Bald Mountain Brook.

Length :4.7 km/2.914 mi. (Linear)
Estimated Time :1.5 h
Difficulty : Very difficult trail

2 - Caribou Brook

This moderately flat trail travels across a hardwood ridge. The trail drops down towards Caribou Brook (named after the caribou which roamed the mountain until the early 1900s) where you should see plenty of signs of moose before coming out near Bathurst Lake.

Length :5.7 km/3.534 mi. (Linear)
Estimated Time :1.75 h
Difficulty : Moderate trail

3 - Mount Bailey

Travel through mixed forests on your way to the rocky cliffs with views of Mount Sagamook and Mount Carleton. Keep going to the peak for views of Bald Mountain Brook below.

Length :7.4 km/4.588 mi. (Mixed)
Estimated Time :3.0 h
Difficulty : Moderate trail

4 - Mount Carleton

The west trail follows a lush, mossy stream up the mountain. Cross a long, rocky ridge to the peak where you will find a tower that marks the highest point in the Maritime provinces. The tower was once used to look for forest fires. The east trail descends along an old access road that passes a fireman's cabin.

Length :9.6 km/5.952 mi. (Loop)
Estimated Time :4.0 h
Difficulty : Difficult trail

5 - Mount Sagamook

Follow the old logging route established by Admiral Spruance, an American sportsman who frequented the park. Rocky outcrops provide iconic views of Nictau Lake and are widely considered the best views of the park. Don’t forget to check out the lookout and ridge on the eastern section for views of Bathurst Lake and surrounding forest.

Length :6.6 km/4.092 mi. (Loop)
Estimated Time :4.0 h
Difficulty : Difficult trail

6 - Mount Head

Mount Head is halfway across the plateau between Mount Sagamook and Mount Carleton. The peak provides the best views of Mount Carleton, Bathurst Lake and Pine Point.

Length :4.8 km/2.976 mi. (Linear)
Estimated Time :2.0 h
Difficulty : Moderate trail

7 - Pine Point

A fire burned through this point of land in 1933 and it regenerated to mostly red pine. Follow along the edge of Bathurst Lake through these red pines before looping back.

Length :2.0 km/1.24 mi. (Loop)
Estimated Time :0.5 h
Difficulty : Easy trail

8 - Portage

This restored ancient portage trail between the Nictau and Bathurst lakes connected the Saint John River and Nepisiguit River watersheds. It had been used by the Maliseet and Mi’kmaq for centuries and by early explorers and missionaries in the 1700s and early 1900s. The forest trail follows the flattest route between the two lakes, making it one of the easiest in the park.

Length :4.2 km/2.604 mi. (Linear)
Estimated Time :1.5 h
Difficulty : Easy trail

9 - Williams Falls

Stand on the bridge over the top of the falls or the lookout platform below to see the falls from every angle. A short walk to an amazing place.

Length :0.3 km/0.186 mi. (Linear)
Estimated Time :0.16 h
Difficulty : Easy trail

10 - Dry Brook

This trail begins at Bathurst Lake and heads west through stands of pine, birch, poplar, maple and spruce. The path follows the brook up the steep-sided valley, passing a number of waterfalls (one of which is 10 metres (32 feet) high). The stream, which headwaters are on the Mount Carleton Plateau, disappears underground in places, earning it the name ‘Dry Brook.'

Length :11.8 km/7.316 mi. (Linear)
Estimated Time :8.0 h
Difficulty : Difficult trail

11 - Big Brook

Embark on a long journey with this trail, beginning at Bathurst Lake and following the shore. You will discover an old fireplace and other remnants of a log cabin built by Buckley, an early Mount Carleton outfitter. The trail then turns inland and follows old logging roads through impressive forests with pristine streams. It joins Mount Carleton Trail just below the ranger cabin.

Length :10.8 km/6.696 mi. (Linear)
Estimated Time :5.0 h
Difficulty : Moderate trail
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