Ride 8
Van Horne Trail
Scenic Beauty
Tourists flock to the town of St. Andrews for a reason–it’s pretty. So although you can’t expect to have the area to yourself, the superb coastal vistas and quaint historical streets make this ride worthwhile.
Safety
As of 2021, the Van Horne Trail only consisted of 5 km of paved and unpaved trail. The remainder of this loop utilizes, as much as possible, quiet streets and roads. As always, when sharing roads with vehicles, stay alert and keep your wits about you. For the very short section on busy Route 127, use extreme caution. As you cycle down Water Street (the main street in St. Andrews), consider taking the whole lane–tourist congestion ensures cars cannot travel quickly on this busy downtown street.
Fun
Riding across the ocean floor on a road that only appears when the tide recedes is pretty darn neat.
Lupines in bloom along the paved trail in June.
Road to Minister’s Island (only accessible at low tide)
If your tires are very narrow, the gravel tidal road might be difficult in a few spots.
The trail dead ends along Katy’s Cove (2021) but just backtrack and ride on the other side of the cove.
The town of St. Andrews produces a wonderful trail map. This is a photo of the map after it spent the day being folded and unfolded. In the pocket. Out of the pocket.
Driving directions
St. Andrews is roughly a one hour drive from Saint John or 20 minutes from Calais, Maine. From Saint John, drive approximately 80 km west on Highway 1. Take exit 39 and follow Route 127 south for approximately 20 km until you find the town at the end of the road.
Route description
Be sure to pick up a copy of the most current map from the visitor’s info centre or at the Trail Donor Kiosk. Navigating all the turns without one could prove troublesome.
Notes
1. Choices abound for indoor accommodations and restaurants. Unfortunately, camping options are not great. The one and only campground in St. Andrews packs ’em in like sardines.
2. If you plan to visit Minister’s Island, check their website for tide times, opening hours, admissions and current rules. When the historical Van Horne Estate is open for tours, admission to the island is $17 per adult (2021). Cyclists who just want to ride the island’s trails might find the price expensive. There is no charge to use the trails after-hours (donation appreciated) but you do so at your own risk. Be aware that if you don’t make it across before the tide comes in, you will have to wait for 6 hours for the road to reappear. There is never a fee for using the tidal road–admission is charged on the other side, just before going onto the island.
3. Do NOT ride on the cart paths of the golf course. Verboten!!
4. Take in all side trips, both historic and scenic.
5. The trail is new and still in transition. The website is currently not working.
6. The entire St. Andrew’s area has a very high tick population. Stick to the trail and stay out of the long grass.
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