Black Beach Trail
Rumor here with our latest hiking adventure, the Black Beach trail!
Starting a hike from a place as unique as Black Beach was exciting! The beach gets its name from its striking black sand, caused by the graphite deposits around the beach. I had never seen black sand before, but it felt just like the other beaches I’ve been to—perfect for sniffing around and getting my paws wet.
Trail Overview
Location: Lorneville, NB
Distance: 4.4 km loop (5 km from the Black Beach Parking Lot)
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog-Friendly: Yes!
Scenic Views: Definitely! The western side of the trail runs along the water with gorgeous scenic lookouts.
Trail Condition: Well maintained and clearly marked with red blazes.
The Hike
We started by exploring Black Beach, taking in the strange beauty of its dark sand. Then we followed the gravel path up the hill toward the trailhead. There were a few spots along the way where we paused for some photos, overlooking the beach and surrounding area—Mom loves her scenic shots!
Mom decided to keep me on leash. There were a lot of cars in the parking lot, and even though there weren’t any signs telling us dogs needed to be leashed, she figured we’d run into other dogs and humans—and she was right! Some of the other dogs were on leash, and some were not.
Once we hit the trailhead, we took the eastern side of the loop, heading toward Frenchmans Creek. This side of the loop was further inland away from the water. The day was warming up, and we expected it to be muggy in the woods so we decided it would be better to end the hike along the water.
The trail itself was well-maintained and marked with red blazes. While some sections had gravel, most of it was natural, with roots and mulch-covered paths. There are sections of trail with rocks but nothing you can’t easily step over. The eastern side was mostly flat, with some gorgeous, peaceful sections where the trail was lined with moss and the forest surrounded us.
The western side, however, was hillier, with some areas cutting close to cliffs. Mom was definitely right about the leash—I stopped to scratch my back, and before I knew it, I was rolling down the cliff! Don’t worry, I was fine, but it was a close call.
My sister, Keisha, found parts of the trail a bit challenging. Her eyesight isn’t what it used to be, and she has a condition called degenerative myelopathy, so her back legs sometimes give her trouble. She needed a little extra help on the hillier sections and over the bridges, especially on the western side.
The trail was boggy in places, but there were bridges—some made of rock, others of logs or boards—that helped us cross. There is one section with a longer bridge with handrails. Be careful on this bridge; Keisha’s leg fell through a hole in the rotted boards!
At the end of the loop, there was a metal staircase to climb back up to the trailhead—Keisha and I were ready for that final push! After we finished the hike, we headed back to the beach for some well-deserved playtime. I found these funny grey rocks that flew away whenever I got too close—Mom called them sandpipers. I chased one right into the water and had to swim back to shore, but it was so much fun! Those little rocks kept coming back for more, but Mom put me back on the leash so the rocks could land on shore and rest.
This trail is super flexible! If you’re looking for a shorter adventure, there’s a cross trail about halfway through the loop that lets you cut things short. But if you’re in the mood for a longer hike, you can easily combine this trail with the Split Rock Trail, or take the Lorneville Link Trail. That trail connects over to the Five Fathom Hole Trail for even more exploring options—so you can choose your own adventure!
Rumor’s Rating
Rumor has it, this trail’s got all the right moves—just watch out for those flying rocks!
Trail & Area Pics
Directions to Black Beach
From Saint John, NB, take Route 1 West, and take exit 112 towards Lorneville. After 8km, you will come to the Coleson Cove power station. Here the road will split and you will stay to the right on Black Beach Road. Follow the road to the end where you will arrive at the Black Beach Parking lot. Note that this is a gravel road and the end of the road near the beach is a bit rough.
From the parking lot, walk the path to the right. This path will lead up a short hill, and the trailhead is right there.
