Story and photos by Deborah Carr
This article is a sneak preview of our upcoming special issue. See details at Exploring Our Trails.
There was a time when I dreaded winter and everything about it: the cold, the snow, the shoveling, scraping, shivering, slogging through slush. Each morning, as I climbed in my cold car for the half-hour drive to work in the dark, I muttered, “I hate this part.”
My grumpiness didn’t contribute much to my well-being. I soon decided if I was going to live in the Maritimes, I’d better find something to like about winter. Enter snowshoeing, downhill and cross-country skiing.
This article is a sneak preview of our upcoming special issue. See details at Exploring Our Trails.
There was a time when I dreaded winter and everything about it: the cold, the snow, the shoveling, scraping, shivering, slogging through slush. Each morning, as I climbed in my cold car for the half-hour drive to work in the dark, I muttered, “I hate this part.”
My grumpiness didn’t contribute much to my well-being. I soon decided if I was going to live in the Maritimes, I’d better find something to like about winter. Enter snowshoeing, downhill and cross-country skiing.
My attitude and outlook improved with each activity. And I discovered Albert County provides plenty of enjoyable opportunities for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skating, fat biking, trail walking/running and sledding.
Now, no matter whether I’m exploring or hitting the trails during daylight hours, or at night with a gentle snow falling past my headlamp, I’m grateful to live in such a marvelous place. Albert County has many beautiful areas to explore if you don’t mind making your own path (e.g., follow any of the marsh dykes!), but here are just a few of the more well-travelled winter trails.
Start off your winter fun in Hillsborough. Park behind the Post Office, don your snowshoes or cross-country skis and head to the Wetland Trail system which circles around three ponds and out to the gypsum silos by the Petitcodiac River. Return on the road to the water tower, or travel the dykes towards Edgett’s Landing or to Grey’s Island. These paths are ungroomed, but chances are someone was there ahead of you to break trail.
Now, no matter whether I’m exploring or hitting the trails during daylight hours, or at night with a gentle snow falling past my headlamp, I’m grateful to live in such a marvelous place. Albert County has many beautiful areas to explore if you don’t mind making your own path (e.g., follow any of the marsh dykes!), but here are just a few of the more well-travelled winter trails.
Start off your winter fun in Hillsborough. Park behind the Post Office, don your snowshoes or cross-country skis and head to the Wetland Trail system which circles around three ponds and out to the gypsum silos by the Petitcodiac River. Return on the road to the water tower, or travel the dykes towards Edgett’s Landing or to Grey’s Island. These paths are ungroomed, but chances are someone was there ahead of you to break trail.
Another level snowshoe trail begins just past the intersection of Golf Club Road and Fairview Drive. This circles the roadside pond, rejoining the Golf Club Road just before the White Rock Recreation Parking area. This trail is ungroomed, but well used.
On many occasions, I’ve headed to the White Rock Recreation Area adjacent to the Golf Club Road for a real workout. Thanks to the dedication of the Codiac Cycling Trails (CCT) group (www.facebook.com/pg/CodiacCyclingTrails), we now have a network of well-marked trails to enjoy year round.
On many occasions, I’ve headed to the White Rock Recreation Area adjacent to the Golf Club Road for a real workout. Thanks to the dedication of the Codiac Cycling Trails (CCT) group (www.facebook.com/pg/CodiacCyclingTrails), we now have a network of well-marked trails to enjoy year round.
With 38 kilometres of named trails, there’s something for everyone. This year, Mike’s Bike Shop employee and biking enthusiast, Cody Jorgensen, who wanted to see the White Rock utilized as an all-season biking destination, purchased a Snowdog for trail grooming. The Snowdog is a nifty little machine resembling an oversized lawn mower on a snowmobile track. It hauls its operator on a sled and cuts a path about 2.5-feet wide. Very cool. He and co-worker, Josh Thibodeau (who does most of the grooming), have made these trails a pleasure for fat biking and snowshoeing.
The White Rock Area itself is an exceptional and fascinating landscape. Once an industrial gypsum quarry, the forest has since grown up and around the hills and hollows, gullies and sinkholes, ponds and rocky outcroppings. Towering poplars and mature softwood stands create habitat, so watch for tracks of coyote, raccoon, deer, snowshoe hare and squirrels. Can you figure out the stories in the snow? Several years ago, we found the ventilation hole of a hibernating bear and this year, we discovered a pair of raccoons nestled together and sound asleep in the hollow of an aged poplar.
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The CCT have kindly provided full trail descriptions online at Trailforks.com as well as a winter update on the groomed trails. Groomed snowmobile trails circle the White Rock area. These are good for those who may want a more level walking surface with less vertical climb, although please be safe and step off to the side when you hear snowmobiles coming. |
QUICK TIP: Take a photo of the trail map (large one located at the parking area off Golf Club Road and smaller ones positioned at some of the main trail junctions) with your phone to keep as reference until you get used to the network. Another tip is to set your phone on ‘airplane mode’ while travelling to both save battery power AND enjoy your walk/ride/snowshoe without binging, dinging and ringing. |
Clair Collins and Rob Barron of Salisbury are well suited up to enjoy Albert County trails, as is their dog, Danger. And winter is simply not winter without Fundy National Park. Take toboggans to slide with the kids in the bowl, then move on to the Chignecto Recreation Area. With more than 18 km of groomed cross-country ski trails and a beautiful new kitchen and warming facility with washrooms, wood stove and picnic tables, it’s easy to spend the entire day enjoying the park!
The trails are perfect for snowshoeing too, but pay attention to trail etiquette (see below). Check for maps and rules here. Snowshoeing is also possible on other park trails, although not groomed. Caribou Plain, East Branch, and part of the Upper Salmon River trail (around Headquarters Campground) have been "flagged" for snowshoeing.
There are also over 23 km of trails for fat bikes in the Chignecto Recreation Area. These are shared trails and riders should yield to people on snowshoes and skiers. Fat bikers are permitted on the snowshoe side on the groomed trails only. Trail maps and rules here.
Want to try Fat Biking? Mike’s Bike Shop in Dieppe has fat bike rentals. Outdoor Elements in Sussex has both fat bikes and snowshoe rentals.
The trails are perfect for snowshoeing too, but pay attention to trail etiquette (see below). Check for maps and rules here. Snowshoeing is also possible on other park trails, although not groomed. Caribou Plain, East Branch, and part of the Upper Salmon River trail (around Headquarters Campground) have been "flagged" for snowshoeing.
There are also over 23 km of trails for fat bikes in the Chignecto Recreation Area. These are shared trails and riders should yield to people on snowshoes and skiers. Fat bikers are permitted on the snowshoe side on the groomed trails only. Trail maps and rules here.
Want to try Fat Biking? Mike’s Bike Shop in Dieppe has fat bike rentals. Outdoor Elements in Sussex has both fat bikes and snowshoe rentals.
Winter Trail Etiquette
Mechanically groomed trails take many hours of labour after every snowfall, often by volunteers. Respect their dedicated work. When the snow is soft, no foot traffic please...use snowshoes so the trails remain in good shape for others. Also, keep in mind that walking or snowshoeing on top of parallel cross-country ski tracks makes it difficult for skiers.
Please use common sense when meeting others on the trail. If it’s easier for you to step off the trail and yield to someone else, then do so.
Keep pets on leash and pack out any garbage or dog droppings.
Mechanically groomed trails take many hours of labour after every snowfall, often by volunteers. Respect their dedicated work. When the snow is soft, no foot traffic please...use snowshoes so the trails remain in good shape for others. Also, keep in mind that walking or snowshoeing on top of parallel cross-country ski tracks makes it difficult for skiers.
Please use common sense when meeting others on the trail. If it’s easier for you to step off the trail and yield to someone else, then do so.
Keep pets on leash and pack out any garbage or dog droppings.
Deborah Carr is a local freelance writer and author who loves all things Albert County.
For more information on Trails, see Exploring Our Trails.
For more information on Trails, see Exploring Our Trails.
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