Gibson Trail is a family-friendly 5km paved and partial white gravel trail, taking on average 15 minutes to walk. Stretching from Station Street in Devon to the Marysville Heritage Centre at 11 McGloin Street, the Gibson Trail offers views of the Nashwaak River, which it crosses via a converted railway ridge. In fact, the entire trail is located on the railbed of the former Alexander “Boss” Gibson line. Midway on this trail is the Hyla Park Nature Preserve, Canada’s first Amphibian Park and home to the Gray Tree Frog.
Parking is available at both ends of the trail and beside Hyla Park, across the trail behind the Greenwood Drive Baptist Church, and at 150 Greenwood Drive. Within sight of the former Gibson cotton mill are riparian lands rehabilitated by the Nashwaak Watershed Association. Flooded fields on the upland side of the trails support a variety of waterfowl in the spring. Habitat along the trail includes mixed forest and marshland. Several warblers and flycatcher species may also be found along this trail.
The Gibson Trail is a pure delight for nature lovers and bird photographers, as it follows and showcases one of the city’s natural attractions, the Nashwaak River. After traversing tall stands of pine trees and valleys of ferns between Devon and Canada’s only intact 19th-century mill town, Marysville, many trail users link up with the Nashwaak Trail to make a 9km loop on Fredericton’s northside.
Note: Hyla Park contains high levels of heavy metals and is unsafe for drinking or recreation. Visitors should stay on the trail and keep children and dogs out of the water.