Trails and parks: Fredericton’s superpower

120+ km of non-motorized trails, 36 km paved and plowed all winter. The Green riverfront, the Nashwaak rail-trail, Odell Park’s 400-year-old forest, the UNB Woodlot, and Killarney Lake’s beach and MTB network, with every trailhead mapped.

Updated August 8, 2026

Outdoors

Quick answer

Fredericton runs 120+ km of non-motorized trail (150+ region-wide), and 36 km of it is paved and plowed year-round, the flat riverside “Green” that locals walk daily. Beyond the pavement: the stonedust Nashwaak rail-trail, Odell Park’s 16 km of old-growth forest paths, the under-the-radar UNB Woodlot (~13 km of walking and mountain-bike trails), and Killarney Lake’s beach plus 35+ km of trails and a singletrack MTB network. All free, all four seasons, trailheads mapped below.

Last verified July 14, 2026

Pick your trail

Fredericton’s trails sort into three surfaces, and knowing which is which is the whole game: paved for daily walks, runs, strollers and road bikes (and the only trails plowed in winter); stonedust rail-trail for flat, forgiving gravel-bike distance; and natural singletrack for forest immersion and mountain biking. Here’s the honest breakdown, surface, length, and exactly where each one starts:

Trail / park	Where it starts	Surface & length	Best for
Riverfront Trail (“the Green”)	The Lighthouse, downtown south bank	Paved · ~5 km riverside loop	Daily walks, runs, strollers, road bikes
Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge	Downtown south landing ↔ Carleton Park	Paved · ~0.6 km span	The sunset photo; car-free river crossing
Lincoln Trail	South riverbank toward Lincoln	Paved · Trans Canada Trail	Quiet, uncrowded long runs & rides
Gibson / Nashwaak Trail	Gibson, heading up the Nashwaak	Stonedust rail-trail · flat	Gravel bikes, long straight distance
Odell Park	350 Rookwood Ave	Natural · 16 km (+2.8 km arboretum)	Forest bathing, shade, XC skiing
Fredericton Botanic Garden	Off Prospect St, beside Odell	Natural · gentle woodland paths	Slow strolls, gardens, quiet
Killarney Lake Park	Killarney Rd, 8 min north	Natural + singletrack · 35+ km	Beach days, family loops, mountain biking
UNB Woodlot	100 Knowledge Park Dr (by Corbett Centre)	Natural · ~13 km	Mountain biking, trail running, birding

Every trailhead, mapped

Half the battle is knowing where to leave the car. Every anchor above is pinned below, tap a pin for its surface, distance and turn-by-turn directions, and use the filter to show only paved routes, forest trails, or the mountain-bike networks. The gold loop is the paved Riverfront Trail.

All trailheads

🚶 Paved & plowed

🌲 Forest trails

🚵 Mountain biking

The interactive map needs JavaScript. Every trailhead is described in “Pick your trail” below, or open the city’s trail map.

The gold loop is the paved Riverfront Trail. Pins are the trailheads, tap for surface, length, and directions. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

The paved spine: 36 km, plowed all winter

The number that matters most to newcomers: of the 120+ km network, about 36 km is paved asphalt, and plowed and maintained straight through winter. That’s the difference between a trail system you use twice a year and one you use every day in February. The paved spine is the riverside Green, running both banks of the Wolastoq (Saint John River) and stitched together by two crossings.

The Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge is the centrepiece: a former Canadian Pacific rail bridge, converted to a walking bridge in 1997 and renamed in 2008, carrying roughly 650,000 crossings a year over its ~0.6 km span. It’s flat, railed, and fully stroller- and wheelchair-accessible. Cross it and you loop back over the Westmorland Street Bridge for a ~5 km downtown circuit, the single most-walked route in the city.

From that core the pavement keeps going: the Lincoln Trail heads south-east along the river toward Lincoln as part of the Trans Canada Trail’s Fredericton-to-Oromocto run, wider, quieter, and the move when the downtown loop feels too social. All of it is flat, all of it is lit where it counts, and none of it needs a car to reach if you’re staying downtown.

The forest parks: Odell & the Botanic Garden

Off the pavement, the city’s crown jewel is Odell Park, 333 acres of Acadian forest with 16 km of natural trails, some of the trees more than 400 years old (older than the city itself). The 2.8 km arboretum trail threads past 41 sites planted with examples of every native New Brunswick tree species, a self-guided botany lesson under a canopy that stays genuinely cool on the hottest July afternoon. The main lot, gazebo and washrooms are at 350 Rookwood Ave, off Waggoner’s Lane between Smythe Street and Hanwell Road. In winter the trails are groomed for cross-country skiing, the hills fill with toboggans, and there’s a small outdoor rink.

Tucked right beside it, off Prospect Street, the Fredericton Botanic Garden is the contemplative end of the network: soft woodland paths, a duck pond, and themed gardens at their peak in June and July. Gentle grades, no hurry, no fee. For the deep-dive comparison of the city’s three big green spaces, see our Killarney vs Mactaquac vs Odell guide.

The UNB Woodlot: the network’s best-kept secret

Ask ten visitors about Fredericton trails and none will mention this one, which is exactly why locals love it. The UNB Woodlot is roughly 13 km of mapped walking and mountain-bike trails inside the University of New Brunswick’s 632-hectare Creighton Conservation Forest, on the south edge of the city. It’s a working teaching forest first and a recreation area second, which keeps it wild in a way the manicured riverfront isn’t.

The riding and walking is mostly flat-to-rolling doubletrack and rooty singletrack winding past ponds, wetlands, and Corbett Brook, which has its own small waterfall. It’s classic Acadian forest habitat, good enough that birders come for the flycatchers, warblers, and even the endangered Canada Warbler. Trail runners and snowshoers use it year-round.

How to find it: the practical trailhead is off 100 Knowledge Park Drive, by Corbett Centre and Costco on the south side, park there and the trails start into the trees. A few things to know: it’s unsanctioned, so you ride at your own risk and trail conditions are variable; it’s UNB private property managed for conservation, so leave no trace; dogs are welcome on leash; and there are no fees and no signage, so download the network on Trailforks before you go or you will get gently lost.

Killarney Lake & mountain biking

Eight minutes north of downtown on Killarney Road, Killarney Lake Park is the do-everything outdoor spot: a supervised sandy beach (lifeguards through the season), 35+ km of trails, and a real mountain-bike network of singletrack looping the lake. The near-the-water loops are flat and family-friendly; push into the trees and the terrain gets rolling and technical. It’s also home to a seasonal off-leash dog area.

Between Killarney and the UNB Woodlot, Fredericton is a genuine mountain-bike town, and that’s before you count the trail-running/riding nodes locals trade tips about: Marysville Place (MVP) for technical singletrack that dries fast, Claudie Road on the north side, and the Tower Trails. The Fredericton Trails Coalition maintains much of the connective network; Trailforks has the live MTB maps.

Winter, dogs & the fine print

Winter: this is where Fredericton’s trails earn their keep. The 36 km paved spine is plowed all winter, Odell’s trails are groomed for cross-country skiing, Killarney turns into pond hockey and sledding, and the walking bridge stays open and lit. The system doesn’t hibernate, see the first-winter guide for how locals dress for it.

Dogs: Killarney Lake has a seasonal off-leash area (May 1 – Nov 30); the UNB Woodlot allows leashed dogs; elsewhere, leashes are the rule. Waste bags are stocked at major trailheads irregularly enough that you should always bring your own.

Accessibility: the paved riverfront and the walking bridge are flat, firm and stroller- and wheelchair-friendly. The forest and Woodlot trails are natural surface with roots and grades, good boots, not wheels. The city’s open-data trail map is genuinely good if you want the entire network at full detail.

Go deeper: the guides

When a summary isn’t enough, the long-form local-truth deep dives:

🥾

The real trail guide

🏖️

Killarney vs Mactaquac vs Odell

🛶

Getting on the Wolastoq

🐕

The dog guide

📸

Photo spots

❄️

Winter bucket list

Common questions

How many kilometres of trails does Fredericton have?

Over 120 km of non-motorized trail within the city (150+ km region-wide), of which about 36 km is paved and plowed year-round. The rest is stonedust rail-trail and natural forest singletrack.

How much of the Fredericton trail network is paved?

About 36 km, the riverside “Green” along both banks of the Saint John River, including the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge and the Lincoln Trail. It’s flat, accessible, and the only part cleared and maintained through winter.

Where is the UNB Woodlot and can I mountain bike there?

The UNB Woodlot sits on the south edge of the city inside UNB’s 632-hectare Creighton Conservation Forest; the practical trailhead is off 100 Knowledge Park Drive by Corbett Centre. It has ~13 km of walking and mountain-bike trails past ponds, wetlands and Corbett Brook’s waterfall. Riding is welcome but unsanctioned (ride at your own risk); it’s private conservation land, so leave no trace and keep dogs leashed.

How long is the Fredericton walking bridge?

The Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge is about 0.6 km (roughly 600 m), a former CPR rail bridge, a walking bridge since 1997, carrying around 650,000 crossings a year over the Wolastoq / Saint John River.

Can you mountain bike in Fredericton?

Yes, the two main networks are Killarney Lake (singletrack around the lake) and the UNB Woodlot (~13 km, off Knowledge Park Drive), plus locals’ spots like Marysville Place, Claudie Road and the Tower Trails. Trailforks has the live maps.

Which Fredericton trails are stroller- and wheelchair-friendly?

The paved riverfront trail and the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge, flat, firm and level. The forest parks (Odell, the Botanic Garden) and the UNB Woodlot are natural surface with roots and grades, better on foot than on wheels.

Are Fredericton trails open in winter?

Yes. The 36 km paved spine is plowed all winter, Odell Park is groomed for cross-country skiing, and Killarney becomes pond hockey and sledding. The network is built for four-season use.

Official sources

Hey Freddy is independent. For official confirmation, these are the primary sources this page was verified against:

Get the Hey Freddy week ahead, every Monday

Fredericton’s events for the week, in one short email. Free, unsubscribe anytime.

One email every Monday. Unsubscribe anytime.