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Eel River Bar First Nation Park adventures

Eel River Bar First Nation Park Adventures

Eel River Bar First Nation Park is a culturally significant and ecologically rich coastal area offering visitors opportunities to explore pristine shorelines, experience Mi'kmaq heritage, and engage in traditional outdoor activities.

600
Acres Protected
10
Miles of Trails
8,000
Annual Visitors
2015
Year Established

About Eel River Bar First Nation Park

 

Eel River Bar First Nation Park is located along the northwestern coast of New Brunswick, Canada, near the community of Eel River Bar. The park encompasses diverse natural environments including expansive tidal bays, beach fronts, salt marshes, and mixed forests. These coastal habitats support an abundance of wildlife and offer vital nesting grounds for migratory birds. The Eel River itself feeds into the Bay of Chaleur, creating estuarine ecosystems rich in fish and shellfish, which have sustained the Mi'kmaq people of the Eel River Bar First Nation for generations. Visitors to the park gain direct insight into the cultural traditions of the Mi'kmaq through interpretive signage and community-led programming focusing on heritage, language, and environmental stewardship. Outdoor recreation here includes hiking along coastal trails, birdwatching, fishing in salt and fresh waters, and exploring the shoreline's rich marine life. Kayaking and canoeing on the calm waters of the Eel River estuary provide peaceful ways to experience the area's natural beauty. The park serves both as a locus for cultural preservation and as a protected natural space, offering educational and recreational activities while prioritizing the conservation of sensitive habitats. Seasonal events and guided tours foster visitor connection to Mi'kmaq history, traditional land uses, and the ecological value of this protected coastal environment.

Highlights

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Eel River Estuary – rich in birdlife and prime for kayaking

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Traditional Mi'kmaq cultural interpretation sites

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Scenic shorelines with tidal flats teeming with marine life

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Salt marsh habitats hosting diverse plant and animal species

Notable Natural Features

Eel River Estuary

A richly biodiverse tidal estuary supporting fish, shellfish, and migratory birds, critical to local ecosystem health and Mi'kmaq traditional harvesting.

Coastal Salt Marshes

Extensive salt marsh habitats that provide breeding and feeding grounds for numerous bird species as well as unique coastal plants.

Mi'kmaq Cultural Learning Sites

Interpretive areas developed by the Eel River Bar First Nation offering educational insights into their cultural practices, history, and stewardship of the land.