Oromocto

Paddle through river systems, see deer and waterfowl and discover the military history of southeast Canada at this riverside town.

Oromocto sits along the Oromocto and Saint John rivers and is surrounded by woods and countryside. This rural and waterside setting hosts a diverse mix of outdoor recreational activities. The town is also home to one of the largest military bases in Canada. Cruise along waterways, hike nature trails and pick up insights into the area’s association with the armed forces.

Oromocto has hundreds of miles of river systems to navigate. Paddle along the water in a kayak or canoe or charter a sailing boat. You can also arrange guided tours of the rivers.

Another way of staying close to the water is to hike or bike the network of riverside trails. The Deer Park Nature and Trans Canada Trail System has four principal routes which surround a waterfowl reserve and are also available for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. One of the access points to these trails is the Sir Douglas Hazen Park trailhead. Get some more exercise by playing the 18 holes of the Gage Golf and Curling Club.

Oromocto is home to 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, a large Canadian Forces base that was built in the 1950s. However, the area's military history goes back much further. Explore some of this fascinating past at the Fort Hughes Military Blockhouse located in Sir Douglas Hazen Park. This blockhouse is a model of Fort Hughes, which was constructed by the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. The city’s military history is also revealed at the New Brunswick Military History Museum, the Gagetown Military Museum and the Canadian Military Engineers Museum.

Oromocto is easily accessible by road, and by air via the nearby Fredericton Airport, which serves many major cities in the USA and Canada. If you are sailing into the area, you will moor your boat at Oromocto Marina. It is operated by the Oromocto Boat Club, which provides numerous amenities, including dock attendants, Wi-Fi and washrooms.