Article Kouchibouguac National Park

Kouchibouguac National Park is a park located in the Canadian province of New Brunswick on road number 11 leading from Miramichi to Moncton about 100 km north of the latter city. It was founded in 1969 and it must be said that the birth was not easy due to the forced expropriation of land from the local inhabitants of the Acadians (descendants of French immigrants from the 17th and 18th centuries). Residents living here protested, and due to their opposition, the rules for establishing new national parks subsequently changed. This park shows an area of 239 square kilometers on the one hand individual species of forest stands (pine forest, cedar forest) and on the other hand coastal natural creations such as original beaches, dunes, bays associated with the possibility of observing various species of birds (tern, whistling). Seals, dolphins and whales can also be seen at sea, and in terms of flora, the park boasts asteries from St. Lawrence Bay. Arrival from road number 11 is very well marked, at the entrance to the park there is a toll booth, where the entrance fee to the park is usually paid (but not in 2017, when Canada celebrates 150 years of its existence and all national parks have free admission). The toll booth was closed, however, for information the card (so-called Discovery Pass, which is valid for about 80 national parks and places of interest in Canada) costs about 70 CAD for one year, can also be purchased for young people or families, more at http: / /www.commandesparcs-parksorders.ca. Young people under 17 still have free entry. Admission to the park also means entry by motor vehicle, because to make a park accessible in North America to such an extent that it would be necessary to walk everywhere from the entrance would be business suicide. Not far from the toll booth is the information center, where you can get a map of the park, brochures and other attractions of New Brunswick, and of course souvenirs and simple snacks. As with virtually every Canadian information center, they will ask you what you plan to see, how long you intend to stay, and advise you on what is best and most important, and will they not forget to ask where you are from? Equipped with a map and advice for the trip, we set off to the first point, where it is said to be the most beautiful to Kellys beach. Roads in the park are in excellent condition, asphalt, there is a speed of 50 km. The beach and parking are located about 14 km from the entrance to the park. You will find refreshments here (but it is already after the main season, the end of September, so it is closed), the necessary conditions for a picnic and for relief for a rich lunch. From the parking lot, we set off along the attic sidewalk with railings over the shallows to the beach. The route is here and there equipped with niches with boards of the nature trail, often in the shape of a book. The beach is popular not only among tourists, but also due to the relative remoteness and tranquility among naturists. Today it rains gently, but even so, you can find several enthusiasts here, who will spread out the screens protecting them from the wind and enjoying the rest. There really is peace, which is interrupted only at regular intervals by the rustling of the waves and the singing of birds here and there. Kellys Beach is several kilometers long, but the outskirts are closed for animal protection. We return the same way (total length is 1.2 km), but to have more walking, we will go along the coast to Ryans. (2.0 km). Along the way, we look at the slowly colored leaves of the trees and also take photos here and there with views of the opposite barrier islands. The road leads along a kind of peninsula. The water washing the banks gradually changes from sea water to freshwater, when we come to the mouth of the river Kouchibouguac (river of long tides). On the opposite bank you can see the yacht dock and on the river itself we watch kayakers who enjoy the surrounding beauty from the water. There is a campground in Ryans, where you can really survive for a relatively long time, there is also a shop and laundry. We return to the car on the road so that we do not follow the same route. We move vertically about 4 km further to La Source, from where the second recommended route begins is called Bog (Swamp, swamp). The attic path first leads us through the forest to the lookout tower at the edge of the forest. From here you can walk a few hundred meters between the swamps for the last rest, equipped in addition to the board of the nature trail also two chairs in red for occasional rest. Needless to say, these beach chairs are almost everywhere, they are installed for 150 years of Canada and it must be said that even carefully locked before … well, probably collectors. We return the same way back, the total length was about 4 kilometers and we drive further, respectively we return and after the bridge over the bay we turn onto an unpaved road (one of the few in the park) to the beach Callanders. Here again, it is a necessary place for a picnic, several motorhomes are parked here and there are also examples of Indian teepees. Here we first choose a 1.3 km long route through a cedar grove, which in one place approaches the beach and after returning we go a little back, to the bridge over the bay on the Salt March trail, a salt marsh. The path leads again to the sea overlooking the opposite dunes of Kellys Beach. I must also mention that along the way we passed a relatively wide range of edible mushrooms right on the road. We return the same way and move back towards the info center. There are 2 short trails waiting for us, one called Beaver, 1.4 km long and the other called Pine with a length of 0.9 km, which presents an example of a pine forest. There are significantly more hiking opportunities in this national park, but we are running out of time, we have been here for more than 5 hours and we have to go back to Moncton. I would also like to mention that there are also possibilities for mountain bikes in the park, there is a special one-way route in the middle of the park. Kouchibouguac National Park is very well accessible for tourists without large elevations, the most interesting routes can be completed in one day, but sightseeing activities can be developed during a multi-day stay.

Across the salt shoals will take you to a quiet beach, suitable for both relaxation and watching many species of birds

A trail called Bog crosses the swampy landscape

On the way across the bridge to the trail called Solná Bažina

The individual trails will guide you through different ecosystems. This is, for example, called the Salt Marsh.