Paddling in Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada

Kouchibouguac sits on the Acadian Coast of New Brunswick where tidal rivers drain through salt marshes and empty into shallow lagoons sheltered behind long sand dune barrier islands. The Northumberland Strait lies just beyond those dunes.

The paddling here is flatwater — lagoon crossings, tidal river meanders, and creek exploration — shaped by wind, tide, and the geometry of the barrier system rather than by current or gradient.

The Kouchibouguac River is the main corridor into the park's interior. Ryans, on the river's south bank, is the practical launch point: docks are installed there for visitors arriving with their own canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards.

Heading west from Ryans along the Kouchibouguac River, paddlers reach a leaning pine growing horizontally from a sandstone outcropping — a landmark worth the roughly 20-minute paddle to see properly from the water.

The Kouchibouguacis River is the other named tidal river in the park, and night-time boating on both the Kouchibouguac and Kouchibouguacis is restricted to marked channels.

The lagoons — Saint-Louis Lagoon to the south, Kouchibouguac Lagoon to the north — are the park's open-water paddling ground. Shallow and generally wind-protected, they reward a slow pace.

The excursion south from Ryans to Major Kollock Creek passes under the Kellys Beach boardwalk, follows the lagoon shore to an opening at Major Kollock bridge, and pushes up the creek until it narrows down; plan two to three hours for the return.

The dune islands hold bird sanctuaries protecting nesting plovers and terns — watch for posted closures and stay off those shores. A few rules matter here. Personal watercraft are prohibited in all park waters at all times.

Certain activities require a personal use permit under the National Parks General Regulations — check with Parks Canada before launching. Stay within the barrier islands: the currents outside them are dangerous for small craft.

Two primitive campgrounds, Sipu and Pointe-à-Maxime, are accessible by canoe for those wanting to extend a trip overnight.

Rental canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards have not been available at Ryans since the third-party operator arrangement lapsed; as of 2026 that situation continues, so bring your own gear.

The water and the routes are still there — the same ones the Mi'gmaq traveled for thousands of years before this stretch of coast became a park.