Prior Issue (Archive)
Rivers, Valleys, Hills and Streams
See Beautiful New Brunswick

The super highways are ideal for making time - to getting you from one place to another in the shortest time possible - but you don't see much. In New Brunswick that is a shame because it is a beautiful province with a quantity of rivers, streams and brooks, hills and valleys with broad sweeping views and then the coast line of the Bay of Fundy. The following drive is for visitors who want to see the real New Brunswick.

Our journey begins and ends in Saint John. If your time is limited, you do not have to drive the entire route, we have included exits along the way. The full drive with stops for photography would take a day. On this drive, the roads are well maintained and except when going through the villages and towns, the speed limit is usually 80 - 90 km. Be sure to bring your camera. If you are a bird watcher this is a must do drive.

We have also included a few covered bridges. Unfortunately they are a rapidly disappearing part of our heritage. In 1975, there were 113 covered bridges in New Brunswick. In 1992, there were 75 and in 2006 there are only 61 covered bridges still standing. These structures are vanishing for many reasons, they are especially vulnerable to the flooding and ice from the spring freshets; others have been knocked down by accidents and sadly some have been destroyed by vandalism. However they disappeared, most were not rebuilt but were replaced by a stronger but less picturesque structure.

We begin on Route I going east, travel 19 km. Take exit 142 to route 100 east. Look for the Blue and white sign "Covered Bridge", Station Loop Road, Darlings Island. Then turn left onto Darling Island Road. Go over new bridge, turn round on other side and go onto covered bridge.

Darlings Island is on the Kennebecasis River. It is named for Benjamin Darling who traded there with the Indians before the American Revolution. The Darlings Island Bridge is at Nauwigewauk which was the Maliseet name for what is now called Hammond River. It was built in 1914 and is 41.7 m or 137 feet long. The Province planned to destroy the covered bridge and replace it with the one that is now there. The residents fought and won the battle to preserve the Darlings Island Covered Bridge.

Return to route 100, turn left going east. Turn left to Hampton and follow route 121 towards Bloomfield.

Hampton is a picturesque village where you can stop and shop or have something to eat. There are also some roadside stores which sell ice cream and fresh fruit in season.

Continue onto 121. Turn right at Bloomfield Station Road

Go through the Bloomfield Creek Covered bridge. It was built in 1917 and is 28.9 m (95 feet ) long. There is an interesting old cemetery to the right just before you enter the bridge.

Return to Route 121, turn right going east towards Norton

There are wayside signs offering antiques for sale and on fine days there are always lots of yard sales.

At this point if you want to return to the highway, turn right at Norton . After passing through Norton, turn right for route I east or west.

To continue our drive, continue to go east on 121.

You will pass through the village of Apohaqui, pronounced A-po-hawk. This is the Maliseet Indian word for junction of two streams. Then into Sussex, known as Dairy Town. Sussex is the central town in Kings Co. Barbour's Foods and Sussex Cheese and Butter Company are the two major industries of this dairy town. It was also once the main military compound for our militia. It is located between the three major cities of South/Central New Brunswick. The highway to the west leads southwest to Saint John, east to Moncton and northwest to Fredericton. It has great shopping and eating facilities and is surrounded by farms and forests. Kings County is the ‘Covered Bridge Capital of Atlantic Canada'.

Again there is access to Route 1 east or west from Sussex.

To continue our drive, go though town on Main Street, (121). At Sussex Corner, pick up route 111 to St. Martins. To see two very photogenic covered bridges, turn right from route 111 onto 121 Road to Poley Mountain Ski Hill.

At the covered bridge sign, turn left to Trout Creek for the Urney Road Bridge. This bridge was built in 1905.

Turn round go back to 121, turn left to Waterford

Turn left at DeForest Road to view Moores Mill Bridge over Trout Creek 13.35 kms. This bridge was built in 1923 and is still in use. It has a carrying capacity of up to 15 tons.

Return to Sussex Corner and turn left onto Route 111.

The average speed limit on this road is 70 km. an hour. It crosses over streams and brooks, through rolling farm lands between mountain ridges. In the summer you can usually buy fresh vegetables, eggs and butter from farms. There are also huge blueberry fields. Just outside of St. Martins, on a clear day you have a very clear view of Nova Scotia across the Bay of Fundy.

After an approximate drive of 50 km. turn left into St. Martins Village. Drive through the village to the tourist bureau in a lighthouse. St Martins has always been involved with shipping and fishing. Near the lighthouse, fishing boats are anchored if the tide is high, or sitting on the mud if the tide is low. There are two covered bridges right there as well.
Both of these bridges go over the Irish River #2 Hardscrabble Bridge and Vaughan Bridge Irish River #1

Go through the Vaughan Bridge, follow the road and you will be on St. Martins Beach. If the tide is low, you can walk out and explore some caves. Remember the tide comes in very fast so check whether it is going out or coming in. Check out the beautiful coloured rocks on the beach. From here you can continue your drive up the hill and come to the Fundy Trail. Time permitting be sure to go there and walk along the trails. The views are spectacular.

When leaving St. Martins go west on route 111. You can take this route right into Saint John or if you want to drive around the coast, turn left onto Route 825 at the Shore Road.

Continue on that road until you reach the Tynemouth Creek covered bridge. This bridge was built in 1927 and is 28.7 m or 94'2".

Route 825 wends its way along the shore of the Bay of Fundy. You can go down Duck Pond Road, which is on the left hand side, to a very nice beach for beachcombing. At Black River, the road runs adjacent to the Beach.

Continue on and pass through Garnett Settlement. Then turn left onto Route 111 and you are back to Saint John. The entire route is between 185 km. to 210 km.

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