Mount Carleton Summit Trail

Hiking trails & Routes

Canada

New Brunswick

Northesk

Mount Carleton Summit Trail

Moderate

5.0

(2)

hikers

Mount Carleton Summit Trail

02:54

9.29km

380m

Hiking

The views are excellent from the old fire watchtower that adorns the apex of Mount Carleton. The highest peak in the three maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island is your main objective in the 9-kilometre (5.5 mi) Mount Carleton Summit Trail. This is one of New Brunswick’s designated dark-sky preserves, offering a perfect place to observe and enjoy the night sky.

From the trailhead, you’ll follow a stream that flows over moss-covered rocks and winds through lush forest. The 400-metre (1,300 ft) ascent to Mount Carleton’s rocky ridge is straightforward to follow, and you’ll enjoy idyllic scenery. Once up onto the ridge, New Brunswick’s wooded hills unfurl below and the old fire watch tower provides the foreground for some great photo opportunities. The descent is via a gravel road that leads past a wooden hut, once used as a secondary shelter for the fire watchers.

Mount Carleton Provincial Park is usually closed in November and December. If you’re planning a visit at this time, call the park shortly beforehand to inquire about opening hours. Saint Quentin is the nearest town, around 45 minutes from the trailhead.

by New Brunswick

Last updated: September 28, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Mount Carleton Provincial Park

Waypoints

Start point

Get Directions

12 m

Mont Carleton Trailhead

Highlight • Parking

You can start the ascent to Mont Carleton from this parking lot. The forest trail takes you in 5 kilometers to the highest summit of Canada's three maritime provinces.

Showing Translation

Tip by

4.26 km

Mount Carleton Summit

Highlight • Summit

At 820 metres high, Mount Carleton is not only the highest mountain in New Brunswick, but also in the Maritime Provinces, which also include Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Thanks to its prominent location, you have a clear panoramic view of the forested hills and dark blue lakes below you from the rocky mountain top.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

4.36 km

Fire lookout tower on Mount Carleton

Highlight • Monument

The fire watchtower on the summit of Mount Carleton, built in 1923, was used until 1968 to spot fires early during the forest fire season from May to October. It was manned by two observers at a time, who used binoculars to search the area for clouds of smoke.

Today the tower is no longer in use, but is still a good photo opportunity. The tower is unlocked and can be viewed from the inside, but the outside view is more beautiful.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

9.29 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

9.26 km

Surfaces

9.26 km

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (780 m)

Lowest point (400 m)

Weather

Today

Tuesday 6 October

7°C

1°C

80 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 30.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

September 12, 2024

The views are excellent from the old fire watchtower that adorns the apex of Mount Carleton. The highest peak in the three maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island is your main objective in the 9-kilometre (5.5 mi) Mount Carleton Summit Trail. This is one of New Brunswick

Showing Translation