Ride 10
To Dover
Scenic Beauty
In life, we easily find things about which to complain. Not so here. Not on this ride. It’s fantastic. It’s nature nicely preserved inside the confines of city limits.
Safety
90% multi-use path (crusher dust). 10% paved (bike lane + park road). Only one road crossing (traffic lights with walk signal).
Fun
Lots of diversity to keep us entertained. Undulating hills, tight switchbacks, viewing platforms, winding boardwalks and cute bridges. And even some single-track if you want it. The trail along the river is an out-and-back, but it’s nice enough to see twice.
Curvy boardwalk over the Petitcodiac River at high tide.
Driving directions:
Park your vehicle in the large lot at Rotary St-Anselme Park. The entrance to the park is off Melanson Road. When the pavilion is open, washrooms and a water bottle fill station can be found inside the building.
Route description:
Do a lap (or two) of the trails in Rotary St-Anselme Park before you head on down to the river. Follow the Dieppe Riverfront Trail to where it ends at Dover or turn around earlier if you want.
Notes:
1. The Petitcodiac River isn’t pretty in the traditional sense of the word. It isn’t a clear mountain stream. A certain adult beverage company will not be choosing it to cool drinks in their ads. Instead, it’s a red-brown muddy tidal river full of sediment. But wow, it’s unique, dramatic, interesting, and really, kind of amazing. At high tide, the river fills up to its banks. At low tide, mud flats are revealed. And during the switch, a tidal bore rushes in. To read more about the bore, check out the Tourism NB website.
2. Dieppe, Moncton and Riverview all have riverfront trails, and it is possible to cycle the entire network in a single outing. It does, however, make for a long day on the bike. So, instead, consider breaking it up into more manageable bits. The section presented here is one of the best “bits” but the others are pretty nice too.
3. The crusher dust trails make this ride an early spring favourite. Be aware, though, that the single-track trails in Rotary Park stay closed during the spring thaw.
Most of the mountain bike trails in Rotary St-Anselme Park are quite technical. There are a few, however, that even a gravel bike can handle. If you see something interesting, feel free to give it a go. You can always turn around and head back onto the wide gravel trails.
Riverfront Trail
If you haven’t ridden tight switchbacks before, walk them. Both going up and coming down. Signs alert riders when to dismount. Make sure you can safely navigate other trail users before you consider riding the steep switchbacks.
Stop at the viewing platform. Read about the historic dikes and abouiteax. Climb to the top to enjoy the views.
View looking south from the platform.
View looking north from the platform.
Playing on the mountain bike trails in Rotary St-Anselme Park.