The best walks and hikes around Douglas Parish

Ferris Street Forest and Nature Preserve spans 22 hectares of mature forest and wetland. The preserve protects white pine forests, marshy lowlands with creeks and cattails, and homes for beavers, muskrats, deer, owls, and threatened songbirds. The gentle trails are open to walking, jogging, birdwatching, or snowshoeing in winter, with dogs allowed on leash. The preserve is maintained through a partnership between the city and the Nature Trust of New Brunswick, and has a lot of help from the volunteer group Friends of Ferris Street.

The Northside Trail in Fredericton spans 17.4 kilometers across Fredericton's north side, loosely following the St. John River. It’s an easy, mostly flat path that winds through residential areas and green spaces, and is perfect for walking, running, biking, or dog walking. The trail connects to other nearby paths and is open year-round with multiple access points. You won't find rugged wilderness; instead, you'll find convenience, accessibility, and urban beauty.

The Ferris Street Forest and Nature Preserve has a small strawberry farm right in the middle of it. Near the south end of the preserve, there is also a small strawberry shop. Here you can pick your own strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries during the growing season or buy pre-harvested fruit.

Heading south on Greenhill Lake Road, pass the last few homes and park right before the thick cluster of trees as far off to the side of the road as you can, or in the little dirt lot. Once you begin your hike, keep an eye out for signage marking the start of the loop and the optional spur trails.

Vultures Bluff Trail is a short but scenic trail with about 75 meters of elevation gain up to a great viewpoint. The trail circles through mixed woods and leads to a rocky bluff lookout. The main loop has an optional “climber access” spur down the bluff, which involves steeper terrain, some scrambling, and rope-assisted sections, so stick to the main trail for a leisurely walk.

Vultures Bluff is the top of a hill looking over Greenhill Lake, and the surrounding thick forests and rolling hills. There are a few incredible viewpoints from the top of the bluff where the forest breaks, and there are some small caves to explore carefully.

The Saint John River—known traditionally as Wolastoq, meaning “the beautiful and bountiful river”—is the defining waterway of western New Brunswick. Flowing through Fredericton, it creates a broad, calm corridor bordered by open floodplain, forest, and riverside neighbourhoods. Along the north and south riverfront paths, you’ll find long, level stretches ideal for walking, running, and cycling, with clear views across to the opposite bank.

A long, mostly level multi-use route that traces the quiet corridor of the Nashwaak River on Fredericton’s north side. The compacted-gravel surface makes it easy to walk, run, or cycle, and the trail moves between shaded woodland, open stretches, and short riverside clearings. Views of the Nashwaak appear steadily along the way, especially near bridge crossings and wider bends in the river. The trail takes its name from the Nashwaak River itself, derived from the Wolastoqey (Maliseet) word Nekawäk—often interpreted as “slow current” or “still water,” a fitting description of the calm, steady flow that defines this part of the valley.