Are you looking for an easy hike in New Brunswick? Saint Paddy’s Falls is a short and family-friendly hike outside of the Town of St. Andrews. This unofficial trail offers scenic views of the waterfall and surrounding woodland, making it a perfect little nature escape.
When I lived outside Saint George, I loved the chance to explore trails in and around the beautiful Charlotte County. As one of the easy hikes in New Brunswick, Saint Paddy’s Falls offers a family-friendly and unofficial path through the forest and of course, ending with a waterfall. I visited toward the end of November 2022 and was completely alone. Not a bad place to stretch your legs in the shoulder season.
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About Saint Paddy’s Falls Trail
Location: Bocabec, New Brunswick (near St. Andrews)
Distance: 1 km
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 36 metres elevation gain
Time: 20 – 30 minutes
Dog-friendly: Yes, but please keep your dog on a leash.
Family-Friendly: Yes, but not stroller-friendly.
Features: Saint Paddy’s Falls is a short and family-friendly hiking trail near Bocabec, New Brunswick, not far from the popular St. Andrews by-the-Sea. Walk through the mixed cedar and pine forest passing by large boulders before discovering a rushing waterfall at the end. You can make your way to the top of the waterfall for a different viewpoint.
Saint Paddy’s Falls Trail Map
Finding the Saint Paddy’s Falls Trailhead
If you’re driving from Saint John, head west of the city on Route 1 as if you’re heading to St. Andrews or St. Stephen. Follow the highway for about 83 km, passing exits for Blacks Harbour / Grand Manan and St. George. After passing St. George, continue on for the final 13 km before taking Exit be on the lookout for Exit 39. Turn right onto Basin Road and then a quick left onto Basin Access Road.
A brief drive on this road brings you to a left turn onto Basin Access Road. Drive for approximately 2.5 km and park on the road shoulder on your right-hand side (after Basin Access Road turns into Kerrs Ridge Road). You can find a suitable parking place just beyond the guardrails after the road curves to the right. Cross the road to access the Saint Paddy’s Falls Trailhead with a subtle and unofficial trail sign.
Read next: Ministers Island Loop Near St. Andrews, New Brunswick
Saint Paddys Falls — An Easy New Brunswick
If you’re looking for a short trail with a decent reward, you can’t go wrong with Saint Paddy’s Falls in New Brunswick. As a family-friendly route, this 1 km out and back route will take most visitors 30 minutes or so. That being said, there are interesting things to explore along the way, especially the large boulders, moss-covered surfaces, and flora and fauna in the forest. And of course, checking out the bottom and top of Saint Paddy’s Falls can keep you occupied. The falls flows over a rugged rock face and is approximately 6 metres (18 feet) high. If you’re in the area, Saint Paddy’s Falls can be an excellent short hiking trail for families and forest-lovers.
After checking out the falls, I recommend heading over toward St. Andrews for the beautiful forest walk to Sam Orr Pond in Caughey-Taylor Nature Preserve (about 10 minutes from St. Andrews). Any time of the year, Sam Orr Pond is a well-maintained trail that offers stunning forest and lakeside scenery. Sam Orr Pond itself is slightly salty — or “brackish” — due to the mix of fresh and saltwater at high tide. It’s a unique ecosystem and well worth the visit.
Read next: Pea Point Lighthouse Hike in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick
Know Before You Go
Parking: No official parking area but parking is available on the road shoulder. Watch for vehicles on the highway and use caution when visiting with children.
Fee: No parking or entrance fee to visit this unofficial trail.
Toilet: You won’t find an outhouse or toilet at the trailhead or along the trail. Best to go before you arrive (or be prepared to use the forest and follow leave no trace practices).
Pets: The trail is dog-friendly, so you can bring your pets along for the hike. Please be considerate of other visitors and wildlife in the area and keep your dog on a leash. Bring a smell-proof bag to pack out any dog poo.
Family-Friendly: Saint Paddy’s Falls is a short and easy route, but watch for the roots on the rugged forest trail.
Safety: Be cautious around waterfall areas due to slippery surfaces and steep terrain. Bring a first aid kit to deal with minor injuries on the trail. The forest route is well-shaded but you may want to bring sunscreen. Depending on the season, bring bug repellant to stop those mosquitos and black flies from taking a bite.
What To Bring: I suggest bringing a day pack with a few hiking essentials, including a water bottle, snacks, a first aid kit, and evening hiking poles for the steeper areas. If you’re new to hiking, check out this article on Day Hiking Essentials.
Navigation: The trail is well-trodden and marked with pink ribbons. You shouldn’t have much trouble finding the waterfall. Download Saint Paddy’s Falls on AllTrails for offline use.
Wildlife: While you may not see any wildlife from the trail, please know that wildlife such as white-tailed deer, porcupines, coyotes, and even black bears live in the area. Never feed or approach wildlife, and make sure you pack your garbage out.
More New Brunswick Hiking Trails
Are you looking for more New Brunswick hikes? Here are a few for your list:
- Ministers Island Loop Near St. Andrews, New Brunswick
- Ganong Nature Park Near St. Stephen, New Brunswick
- Pea Point Lighthouse Hike in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick
- Barnaby Head Trail in New River Beach Provincial Park
- Sam Orr Pond Trail in the Caughey-Taylor Nature Preserve
- Split Rock Trail: One of the Best New Brunswick Hikes
Have you had a chance to explore Saint Paddy’s Falls? Do you have a favourite hike in the area? Let me know in the comments!
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Thomas Coldwell has always been fond of the outdoors. He loves hiking, paddling, and camping, and thoroughly enjoys creating outdoor adventure resources for people like you. Originally from Nova Scotia, Thomas has lived in four Canadian provinces (NS, NB, ON, AB) and has travelled in 20 countries and counting.
