The Tour de Fat: Exploring New Brunswick's Winter Trails - Destination Showcase

It’s been quite the winter for weather in Eastern Canada. We've had our fair share of unbelievably freezing temperatures followed by some milder days that make us question, “Does this mean I'll finally get to ride my bike soon?” Well, if you find yourself in New Brunswick and don’t mind your tires extra wide, the answer is, you already can!

New Brunswick’s cycling scene is on a steady rise thanks to the trails that have been appearing in and around its major cities in recent years. There are many efforts across the province to design trail networks that conform to land restrictions and are also challenging enough to keep riders interested in return visits. The recent push has now been carried into the province’s winter months giving outdoor enthusiasts another option than cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

Our little Tour de Fat began at Sugarloaf Resort before heading south to Fundy National Park and then ending in Edmundston. We had the opportunity to enjoy a small portion of daily life in each location and even got to spend time with a few locals before throwing a leg over our fatties.

SUGARLOAF // CAMPBELLTON



We were guided into the city of about 8000 by the light of a full moon. We were then greeted with the glow from the night skiing at Sugarloaf Resort. Campbellton rests on the southern side of the Restigouche River that divides Quebec and New Brunswick.

Once off of Highway 11, it isn’t long before you find yourself on the main strip and heading towards one of two major hotel chains. It was very obvious from the beginning that Campbellton, along with the surrounding areas, was built on industries of pulp mills and fishing. Artifacts from the production of these goods lay dormant along the coast and neighboring towns. It wasn’t until about a decade ago where a change in economic focus turned towards forestry and, most notably, tourism.





Sugarloaf Provincial Park is a vast summer playground but now there’s a new reason to visit in the colder months. If you’re not roaring through it on your snowmobile, you’re probably on the slopes. Luckily, you can rent out a fat bike from the same spot you get your skis from at the base lodge.



The network of trails is perfect for anyone being introduced to the winter side of cycling. There are no heavy descents or massive climbs and you can access the grounds straight from the parking lot. The map is fairly straightforward and will keep you occupied as you make your way around the loop connecting different trails. The trails are, however, open to hikers and are maintained by snowshoeing so expect some traffic and narrow bits.








ALMA // FUNDY NATIONAL PARK


The drive down from Campbellton towards Fundy took us through Moncton and passed the famous Hopewell Rocks on a twisty road along the coast. The town of Alma sits at the gates of Fundy National Park and its population fluctuates almost as much as the tides do. Roughly 200 residents live there year round but because of the influx of people in the summer months, that number nearly doubles once the weather gets warmer.



The slower pace of life in the town makes for a very friendly environment. We were welcomed to dine at the Octopus’s Garden. It was the only restaurant open during the off-season but we couldn’t complain one bit. The food was fantastic and well portioned and Joel, the owner, treated us like family.


Joel Cadieux and his wife run the business. While talking to them over dinner, they told us about their time spent across both coasts and how they ended up staying in Alma. They were also quick to mention that once they opened, the locals were confused about the size of their coffee as they've never had an espresso before!

We finished our plates clean and skipped across the street to the Holy Whale; a church cleverly converted by Peter Grandy and his brother into a microbrewery serving arguably the smoothest and tastiest beers this side of the Pacific.


Since camping in a conventional tent outdoors wasn’t really our thing considering the outdoor temperature, our accommodation for our stay in the Park was a bigger, warmer tent-like structure complete with a propane heater and bunk beds. They’re called oTENTiks and can be reserved along with an array of yurts on the campgrounds. There are also a couple rustic cabins that are found on the trails if you’re feeling adventurous.



Before I tell you about the groomed fat biking trails that are more like groomed roads than anything else, I’d like to start out by explaining that Fundy has invested a lot into their mountain biking campaign and are currently building a centre that will cater to just that. Over the fall months, Fundy worked with trail builders to create an extensive trail map that features flowy trails, traditional XC loops, and something for the more advanced rider. There’s also a big pump track placed between the trees just beyond the trailhead. All of the trails and changes made to the existing network have sustainability and the natural environment in mind. Bike rentals at the moment are being supplied by Outdoor Elements in Sussex, about 40 minutes out from Alma on the north side of the National Park, but will soon be a permanent service within the new outdoors centre.





We came across one of the rustic cabins that can be accessed right off the trail at about the mid-way point and stopped in for a snack while the fire warmed us back up. On a clear day, the Bay of Fundy would have been visible from the porch.




The Park's staff are always there to help with any questions concerning the trails and any plans you may have. Everyone we spoke to was super enthusiastic about the future of both mountain biking and fat biking on the grounds. The addition of the outdoors centre and improved trail network is putting Fundy on the map as a new destination to go ride. Until everything is set up, bike rentals are being supplied by Outdoor Elements in Sussex, about 40 minutes out from Alma on the north side of the National Park, but will soon be a permanent service within the new outdoors centre.



MONT FARLAGNE // EDMUNDSTON



In the final leg of our trip, we headed back north towards Edmundston. It’s the biggest city featured in our tour and, if you’re coming from Quebec City, most likely your first stop.

We had planned to meet up with Marc-André Martin, the manager at Jessome's Source for Sports, who would give us a tour of the trails up above Mont Farlagne. At a five minute drive from the base of the hill, Marc-Andre’s shop has got everything you need to make sure you’re all set up for your adventures. He’s a pretty popular guy, too! People stopped us a number of times to chat with him out on the trails.


If you’re keen to get the heart going straight away, you can head straight up a green run to the trailhead… or take the lift while your bike gets escorted to the top for a small fee. The trails above the ski centre were a better example of what you should expect when out fat biking. The mountain has multiple grooming attachments that hang out at the back of a snowmobile and they are big on maintenance. The loops are nice and wide and take you through different types of forest before shooting you back down on a designated fat bike downhill trail. You can also opt to take the same easy ski run that you climbed downwards for some sideways action!







The small collection of attachments the crew uses to maintain the trails might look homemade, bu they do the job well. There's a piece for widening the tracks, another for packing it all down, and even a weighted device that is used to crunch up the base when it gets too icy.



The beer was flowing before one last Tetris fiasco packing the car. It was great to see the efforts taken to turn fat biking into an accessible winter sport. While some places are prepared to handle the maintenance and growth task better than others, all three of the places we visited had rental services and detailed trail maps available, making the experience much more enjoyable than simple rocking up to a wooded area and hoping for the best. It's exciting to think of the possibilities that will arise in the province as the sport grows and irons out the kinks. The ease of access to trails in Sugarloaf, the new outdoor facility that has riders in mind in Fundy, and the big push that Marc-André and the crew in Edmundston are driving are all contributing factors to fat biking's success in the region. With that being said, New Brunswick is definitely a destination worth checking out. Don't forget to take in some of the East Coast beauty while you're at it!

New Brunswick mountain biking trails

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