NATURE MONCTON FIELD TRIP TO THE MAPLETON ACADIAN FOREST TRAIL IN ELGIN

Last spring, we enjoyed an outing on this trail, but it’s worth a visit in every season. October will
bring highlights not seen in May, especially an abundance of wild mushrooms and the beauty of
the fall colours. This will be a full day outing, so bring a lunch. As some of you may remember,
the trail winds through a superb example of a mature Acadian forest characterized by a mix of
evergreen and deciduous trees growing in a relatively humid environment. This creates fertile
soil and good habitat for all kinds of living things that will be waiting for us there, and much to
investigate for mushroom lovers.


The Mapleton Acadian Forest Nature Preserve was established in 2016 to conserve in perpetuity
this otherwise endangered habitat in the province. The preserve is the result of a partnership
between The Elgin Eco Association and the Nature Trust of New Brunswick. It covers 160 acres
and boasts an excellent 3 km nature trail with several interpretive panels which will help us
understand the natural beauties and also historic aspects of the preserve, like an old manganese
processing plant from the 1930’s, a sugar camp, and some remnants of old time forestry. On the
nature side there will be much to see like huge mature trees of several species, in particular a
stand of towering hemlocks several centuries old.


How to get there and difficulty level
The entrance to the Mapleton Acadian Forest Trail is located 4.4 km down the NB-895 after
turning off the NB-905 just before Elgin. We will meet first at the Elgin Country and Kitchen
General Store in Elgin which is located at # 4 River Rd. Take exit 233 from the Trans Canada
highway onto NB-905 and follow it down until it changes to River Rd. From the store, we will all
go together to the trail entrance, so no one gets lost.

The trail is rated as moderate with difficult sections. There are some hills to be climbed, so
please be sure you are in good physical shape. Appropriate footwear and clothing are advised.

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