August in New Brunswick can get sticky fast — humid air rolling in off the Bay of Fundy, city sidewalks radiating heat, and that particular kind of stillness that makes you want to disappear into the woods. Luckily, the province is 80 percent forest, laced with waterfalls, river trails, and shaded old-growth canopy that stays noticeably cooler than the open trails elsewhere. Here’s where to go when the thermometer climbs.
1. Third Vault Falls, Fundy National Park
If you want a genuine plunge pool at the end of your hike, this is the one. The moderate route drops through spruce, birch, and maple forest thick with ferns and moss, crossing Upper Vault Brook a couple of times before reaching New Brunswick’s tallest waterfall in the park — a 52-foot horsetail cascade with a natural swimming hole at the base. Pack water shoes; the crossings and the post-hike dip are half the appeal.
2. Laverty Falls, Fundy National Park
A shorter, family-friendlier waterfall hike than Third Vault, Laverty Falls follows the Upper Salmon River through mixed forest before ending at a waterfall with its own cool-off pool. If you’ve got two vehicles, park one at headquarters and the other at the Laverty Falls trailhead for a one-way hike instead of an out-and-back.
3. Odell Park’s Old-Growth Loop, Fredericton
You don’t have to leave the city to escape the heat. Odell Park’s roughly 300 forested acres include a rare stand of old-growth Acadian forest — hemlocks and sugar maples that have been standing for over 400 years, throwing enough shade to make the whole loop feel several degrees cooler than the open street outside the gates. It’s an easy, well-maintained network of gravel paths, so it works whether you want a brisk 45 minutes or a longer wander past the botanical gardens.
4. Gordon Falls, near Moncton
About 45 minutes outside Moncton, Gordon Falls is easy to reach right from the road, which makes it a great low-effort, high-reward option on a scorching day. Locals treat it as an unofficial swimming hole, and it’s a solid pick if you want the payoff of a waterfall without a long approach.
5. Walton Glen Gorge, Fundy Trail Parkway
Sometimes called “New Brunswick’s Little Grand Canyon,” Walton Glen Gorge along the Fundy Trail Parkway keeps you in dense forest cover for most of the approach before opening up to dramatic gorge views. The Parkway itself has 21 lookouts and several waterfalls, so you can turn this into a longer day of stop-and-go exploring, ducking back into the trees whenever the sun gets aggressive.
6. Nashwaak and Gibson Loop / Riverfront Trails, Fredericton
For an evening or early-morning option when the heat is at its worst midday, the riverfront trails connecting Fredericton’s north and south sides via the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge stay breezy thanks to the St. John River. It’s flat, shaded in sections, and easy to shorten or extend depending on how much heat you’re willing to tolerate.
7. Kelly’s Beach Boardwalk, Kouchibouguac National Park
Not a forest hike, but worth the detour: a 1.2 km boardwalk leads out to warm, shallow water that’s ideal for a proper swim once you’re done hiking elsewhere in the park’s 60+ km of trails. July and August are peak season for exactly this reason.
Beat-the-heat tips
- Start early. Trailheads like Third Vault Falls and Laverty Falls get busy and hot by midafternoon; an early start means shade, quiet, and cooler air.
- Pick water-adjacent trails. Anything ending at a waterfall or riverbank (Third Vault, Laverty, Gordon Falls) gives you a built-in way to cool off.
- Favor old-growth and river-valley trails over open coastal routes on the hottest days — the Fundy Trail Parkway’s coastal lookouts are gorgeous but offer little shade, while inland forest trails run several degrees cooler.
- Bring more water than you think you need. Humidity off the Bay of Fundy can make August hikes feel hotter than the thermometer suggests.
Whether you want a five-minute city escape or a full day chasing waterfalls, New Brunswick’s forests make it easy to dodge the worst of the summer heat without giving up a good hike.
