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Exploring New Brunswick One Paddling Route at a Time

Kennedy Lakes Natural Protected Area

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Hampstead Wharf to Palmer Creek

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Quick Facts

Features historic wharf, river
Access boat launch
Route Difficulty easy
Water Body Type river
Current Type minimal
Route Type linear
Route Distance 3.3 km one-way
Portage Distance none
Estimated Time 3 to 4 hours return
Elevation Change 3 metres
Scenery Rating beautiful
Cell Reception minimal
Fees none

Description

Note: These waterways are fairly well protected by surrounding trees but wind conditions can still drastically vary the speed and difficulty of your trip. Please plan accordingly.

There are 13 old steamboat wharves in the Lower Wolostoq (St. John) River valley that are maintained by the St. John River Society. There are several more maintained by local municipalities. These steamboat wharves provide important public access points to the river. The Hampstead Wharf provides several paddling adventure options.

Turn right at the wharf and you can head down river towards Spoon Island. This is the main channel of the Wolostoq (St. John) River so boat traffic can be busy. Use caution while crossing. The main channel is also more exposed to the wind. Spoon Island is a long narrow island with a small wetland in the middle. You can find the channel that accesses the wetland at the far end of the island. Another option for accessing Spoon Island is from Gerows Wharf on the other side of the river. This way you don’t have to cross the busy main channel.

A Ducks Unlimited logo carved into Long Island in the Wolastoq (St. John) River

The better options from this wharf are to go left into the channel up along Long Island. Fun Fact: there is a Ducks Unlimited logo carved into this lower part of Long Island that you can only see from the air. You can continue in this channel along Long Island all the way to the Queenstown Wharf. After about 4 kilometres you will come to the channels in Long Island (to the right) that take you into the lakes and wetlands on the island. These are always amazing places to explore full of wildlife and birds. Although this is not the main river channel, you may still run into boat traffic and windy conditions, so use caution.

A third option, and the one we chose, was to head left into the channel along Long Island. In a short distance (less than a kilometre) we turned left into Little River and Palmer Creek. Before entering the river and creek we watched several osprey diving in the water for fish. We continued into Palmer Creek. We were planning to visit Clay Design Pottery studio. It was quite breezy on our paddle but the large hardwoods lining the channel provided good shelter. The creek would make a great paddling option for kids.

After paddling for 2.5 kilometres in the creek, we found a large beaver hut at the mouth of a small dugway (channel) on the right. Directly across from it we found a gravel boat launch in the grass. The boat launch was a bit hard to see. We parked our kayaks on the boat launch and walk up the hill to the studio. On our visit we learned all about pottery from David Eastwood and bought a couple of amazing mugs. I am drinking coffee out of one right now as I write this.

The boat launch to access Clay Designs studio in Hampstread from Palmer Creek

The channel continues for another 1.5 kilometres past the pottery studio. We had planned to explore the rest of the channel and Little River but spent a lot of time at the studio. Little River runs along between the road and an open meadow. It passes under a bridge on route 102 and opens into a larger wetland with several ducks unlimited features. How much of the wetland you can explore may depend on the tides.

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Directions

From Route 2 near Gagetown, take exit 330 and turn towards Gagetown. Drive south for 34 kilometres on Route 102 and look for the Hampstead Ferry Road on the left. The road is between a white house and a barn that are close to the road. Turn into the road and you will see the Hampstead Wharf Lighthouse. Continue past the lighthouse to the wharf.

If you are coming from the Saint John area, take route 102 from Grand Bay-Westfield and drive north for 40 kilometres. Look for the Hampstead Ferry Road on the right.

Hampstead Wharf on the St. John / Wolostoq River

From the Sign

Lighthouses of the St. John River

Although we often associate lighthouses with coastal navigation, on the St. John River they are found as far inland as Fredericton. In the 19th century, when steamboat traffic on the river was common, the lighthouses served as beacons in the darkness, warning of unseen hazards and guiding those afloat to safe anchorages.

Early lights were little more than an oil lantern on a pole, lit at sunset and extinguished at dawn, usually by a nearby farmer. After confederation, with river navigation a federal responsiblity, actual lighthouses began to be constructed and staffed. By 1914, the network had reached its peak of 21 lighthouses, one of very few inland lighthouse systems in Canada.

Today, a dozen of the original buildings remain, and seven of them continue as operating lights, still guiding navigation on the St. John River.

Gallery

Palmer Creek looking back towards Hampstead Wharf

From the Sign

Preserving Historic Link to the River

This wharf was one of many stops for an impressive fleet of steamboats that plied the Wolastoq / St. John River from 1816 to 1947. Before railways and highways, these steamers formed a vital network between communities along the river. In 1999 the St. John River Society began the rehabilitation of 13 wharves, which today serve as public access points to the recreational waterway section of The Great Trail, guaranteeing that the river continues to link people for future generations.

Trail Last Hiked: July 20, 2024.

Page Last Updated: December 26, 2024.