The Sentier Nepisiguit Mi'gmaq Trail - Remote Backpacking in New Brunswick

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137km. No Resupply. Description and GPS track link below.
The Sentier Nepisiguit Mi'gmaq Trail is a difficult 137, 147 or 150 KM remote wilderness hiking and backcountry backpacking trail in New Brunswick, Canada that follows the Nepisiguit River from the Daly Point’s Nature Reserve in Bathurst to Mount Carleton Provincial Park. (Or in the reverse) Officially opened for hiking in 2018, the trail is a recommissioned ancient Mi'gmaq portage route dating back some 10,000 years.
GPS Track:
www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/f...
00:00 Intro
11:23 Day 2
24:30 Day 3
36:22 Day 4
53:06 Day 5
1:14:59 Day 6
1:27:58 Day 7
1:46:53 Day 8
2:05:51 Trip planning, Trail notes
2:16:08 Day 9
2:27:59 Howe's the hike?

[@maritimegirl3612]

What did you have for breakfast? Advil! I’m still laughing. Thanks for this video. Watched the whole thing. I leave to do the hike in 8 days.

[@HowestheHike]

Haha - thanks so much. And enjoy the hike!! Might do it again myself :)

[@Mandyanne31]

I did this trail last summer, well half of it. We jumped off at the resupply access point and walked until someone took pity on us and drove us to Bathurst. I “upgraded” my insoles and ended up horrific blisters. I could barely walk but the time we got to the resupply site. The insoles I had put in my shoes were thicker than the old ones which sounds good until you realize your feet have no room to swell. I had huge blisters under my big toes, under the toenails on my second toe, on the balls of my feet, on my heels.. I did a few multi day hikes in the shoes so I know it wasn’t the shoes. Planning to go back this summer and pick up where I left off.

[@HowestheHike]

Ouch!! Nothing worse than sore feet and blisters! And what a shame you had to find that out, with all that weight on your back on a beautiful trail! But, we all live and learn, don't we? And on the upside, you have another great hike to look forward to this year!! Thanks for watching, and for the comment, hope to see you out there!

[@daveysdash]

Awesome. Shut the curtains, open the surround sound, six pack...I love long format vids! Thanks for bringing us all along. Sorry to say, I truly loved seeing all the wasp/hornet/jacket nests...nature where nature should be. That river was exceptionally beautiful, and I could envision a pack rafting trip, or maybe that's the six pack...LOL!!! You guys look great together (when you weren't holding Jennie up that is) and I'm looking forward to the next one! Your next Dash is calling!!! - Davey.

[@HowestheHike]

Haha! And yes - pack rafting would make this pretty amazing and FAR a more historical type of experience. Great idea!

[@paulrushton206]

Great content as always! Your videos are a great resource for trip planning, always detailed and informative, with a good bit of fun mixed in. As a fellow maritimer I especially enjoy your “local” content, this hike has been on my list for a couple of years and I appreciate you bringing it to life. Keep up the great content, it’s truly appreciated!

[@HowestheHike]

Thanks SO much Paul! Your wonderful comment made my day!! Hope to see you out there sometime :)

[@hikingwithmel336]

Thank you for this! I am heading out solo on this trail in October and you set my mind at ease about bringing a hammock and helped me decide to walk from Mt Carleton to Bathurst instead of the other way :) Much appreciated! Great video!

[@HowestheHike]

You're welcome! Yes, the tent site situation is lacking in a lot of ways and a proper hammock setup would take all stress away about finding a place to random camp (or even a spot in a designated camp). With regard to direction, it may not be a huge change in elevation, but simply being back in "town" when completed is certainly a big thing for me. Hope you love it out there!!

[@shawnagoddard4999]

I'm so glad you did this trail. I poked my head on it last year when I was in Bathurst but didn't go further then a 1 km in. It's really neat to see the whole thing.

[@HowestheHike]

Thanks Shawna! Hope you will head out and add 136 more km sometime soon!

[@donchalunggd2324]

Always love yur vdo....

[@HowestheHike]

Thank you so much 😀

[@chiptaylor8364]

Good to see you back on the trail! For some reason, YT didn't notify me of your last two so I will have to go back and catch up!

[@HowestheHike]

Glad to be back out. It was a summer of not many opportunities. Odd about notifications! Happens to me sometime too.

[@douglasdoucette7352]

Awesome video. Loved your capture of each day & excellent tips. I've done the trail twice with a hammock, quilts & tarp - last time Bathurst to Mt Carleton in 6 days. Didn't notice the elevation at all however shared your "pain" about the technical middle sections. My fav section is also section F to D thru Middle Landing to Eagle camp. Great discussion of blisters, bugs (mosquitos, wasps) & bad weather (rain). I had similar issues with pruny feet on my first 2 days in water & mud. Made sure to remove socks & trail runners at midday & end of day, re-tape if needed. It is a wonderful trail, very challenging but enjoyable if you've prepared well. Look forward to more of your videos.

[@HowestheHike]

Thanks so much. Agreed on elevation. Not very noticeable, even though it is "generally" downhill to the ocean. For me, it is more about being back to civilization at the end, rather than a long drive back to it after a long day. SO glad to have done this one and agree a hammock is a better choice if you have a system that works. Hike on!

[@thegreatpistol45]

Great video. My friend and I seen you while you were out on this hike. I had a good chuckle when you mentioned about the gnats flying into your eye because I was having the same thing happening to me.

[@HowestheHike]

Thanks - was great to run into you guys! Yes, they gnats were EPIC!! Hope you enjoyed the hike!

[@stephenbouchard8075]

Thanks Stuart and Jenny!!

[@HowestheHike]

Thank YOU!

[@neillake1490]

Excellent video, thanks you. I hiked the trail in early August 2022, likely shortly before your hike. I'm having a laugh watching you camped on the platform at Otter knowing about the large wasp nest in the tree. I hiked Bathurst back to Mount Carleton as I preferred distance flexibility at the end vice the start. I was 53 for this hike and after watch too many Justin Outdoors videos I did 25 - 32 km days and nearly broke myself. I liked your talk about daily distance.

[@HowestheHike]

Sorry we missed you! And yes, those are long long days on that trail, oh my goodness me! I couldn't imagine doing those types of days and frankly I'm not sure why anybody does them. That said, I always say hike your own hike and everybody has their timeframe available. But now 56 in July, I'm gonna take my time :-)

[@xxmadworldxx506]

Hello. I am one of the guy from bathurst that slept in the teepee hehe i really enjoyed watching your video. Sure is a tough trail. Was a pleasure meeting you guys 😊

[@HowestheHike]

Loved meeting you guys. We are so appreciative of the hiker help with making sure we all had a place to camp on the rainiest day of the trip. Hope to see you again!

[@courtneyigoe2975]

Tough retiring hiking boots. I've kept all my old ones. My last pair had been to Europe, Colorado, Some AT, Cabot Trail (including Polletts), Greenwich PEI, and all over NB. Like your shirts- Hard to let go!

[@HowestheHike]

wow - what great mileage you've put on - congrats!! And yes - hard to let go indeed!! I think I'll just keep wearing the shorts until they fall apart - or Jennie burns them....

[@veedubrocks]

Awesome to see you guys made it. We met eachother. I was the young 43 year old guy that vomited on the 3rd day... Lol. Always help eachother out. Happy trails

[@HowestheHike]

That is awesome! Was great to meet you guys. We really appreciated the accommodation you guys made for us as well. and 43?? And I though I looked young - hahaha!

[@Fred-lz7vb]

Most of the firepit you've seen are on active ATV trails that the mi'kmaq trail uses. Awesome video!

[@HowestheHike]

Interesting. Every campsite we were at had signs of a fire pit - most were used very recently. Same with the teepees. Thought it odd, given that the trial is very very specific about the "no fires" rule in all publications and signage. (A odd rule for an entire trail which is likely why in is unenforceable)

[@karaokerich]

Thanks for the amazing video! Really curious if you’re going to do a gear breakdown - would love to know your meal plans and base weight for such a long hike!

[@HowestheHike]

Thanks so much! and that is a great idea for a video. I will add that to the list for the fall!!

[@douglasdoucette7352]

For hikers of this trail, know that you can get cell service from 30-35 km back to Bathurst. Not a chance from there out to Mt Carleton. I don't recall if you mentioned cell coverage in your video commentary.

[@HowestheHike]

Thanks for posting. We never thought to mention it, as I typically don't want outside world creeping in. That said, we DID use service a few times (to book a hotel, etc...) Service would depend on carrier I expect.

[@Reckoning1]

Another outstanding informative hiking video. Thank you for sharing. Can you add a GPS track of you hike?

[@HowestheHike]

Thanks so much! I just added a link of the GAIA GPS folder for the trip to the description area of the video. hope it helps!

[@fyiguitars]

Love watching you hike boss watching your video of the trail sparked a conversation that turned into a thru hike this September! I was curious on what your waypoints in Gaia looked like, I got the trail guide and input the coordinates but some of the way points look pretty far off trail? Cheers and keep the videos coming!

[@HowestheHike]

Thanks so much! And goof for you! If I have time this fall, I may do it again. myself to see the colours and have less bugs. I shared the Gaia tracks in the description of the video - so those should be helpful for you!

[@fyiguitars]

When I try and access them it says I do not have permissions to view even after I log into my account?

[@HowestheHike]

I think I just toggle it public again. It was public but for some reason became private. Would you mind trying again and letting me know?

[@fyiguitars]

Absolutely

[@fyiguitars]

Just tried and I can see it now….thank you!

[@andymytys]

“Gradual Climb” is right. Something like 0-300 meters in 140 km, mostly constant slope with exception to a hilly area between Nepisiguit Falls and Heath Steele Bridge, where the ups and downs will be present no matter which direction is chosen. With such a gradual incline, does direction of travel really matter with respect to those wanting a less strenuous hike?

[@HowestheHike]

I agree 100% on the gradual part of the westbound trip. It is not something I was aware of 100% when I started mentioning it in the video because we were learning as we went along. When I do look at the track from Mount Carlton to Pumphouse it is gradually downhill but nothing of any extreme significance. More important to me than that, he's having a car at the end of the trail close to civilization. We were able to get to a hotel and have a shower and go home the next day. Ending up at the other end of the trail means a long drive through the woods back to civilization which just delays everything that you want to do when you're finished. Like on the West Coast Trail, I tend to travel in the direction closest to where I have to end up eventually for travel back home.