A nature park in the heart of Saint John, and a recreational jewel in the City’s crown. Located in the eastern area of the North End, Rockwood Park is one of Canada’s largest urban parks, at 890 hectares of forested hills, caves, and freshwater lakes. It was designed by Calvert Vaux, one of the designers of New York City's Central Park. 

Rockwood Park is a City hub for outdoor activities and entertainment year round. Over 55 trails and footpaths will guide you through unspoiled wilds. The park features a golf course, camping sites, stables, wellness spa, and freshwater lakes for fishing, swimming, boating, and skating. A Stonehammer Geopark site, Rockwood’s billion years of history can be seen in unique rock formations, caves, and waterfalls.  The park’s Interpretation Centre is the hub of information for all events taking place in the Park, trail maps, interpretive displays, and helpful  staff. Make a day of it!

NOTE: While visitors may enjoy the extensive duck population that calls Rockwood Park home, it’s important that you do NOT feed them. Feeding the ducks leads to their becoming dependent on humans; delayed migration; malnutrition; overcrowding; and lake pollution due to increased levels of duck feces.

Saint John is your destination for summer fun this season with the popular Passport to Parks program, and you’re invited to join in on all the free family-friendly activities.

Passport to Parks 2026 events will be hosted this summer in City-owned parks around Saint John. These include:

• Sunday, June 7th at Rockwood Park from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (No Rain Date)
• Saturday, July 11th at Dominion Park from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (July 12th)
• Saturday, August 8 at Glenn Carpenter Centre from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Rain Date: August 9th)
• Saturday, August 29 at Little River Reservoir from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Rain Date: August 30th)

This summer event series is a special way to bring the community together and build a sense of belonging. It highlights all of the beautiful green spaces we have here in the city and encourages residents and visitors to explore our many parks, beaches, trails, splash pads and other recreational options.

Saint John has five off-leash dog parks across the City. Dog owners are reminded to respect the rules of the parks by keeping their dogs leashed unless they are within the designated off-leash area. All owners must pick up after their dogs, and properly dispose of their refuse. For your convenience, City dog parks offer dog bag dispensers and garbage cans and pole baskets. 

JDI Westside Community Dog Park

701 Dever Road
(Located behind Peter Murray Arena)
Hours: Dusk until dawn. Open year round.

Rockwood Park

10 Fisher Lakes Drive
(Fisher Lakes/Hawthorne Street entrance to the Park.)
Hours: Dusk until dawn. Open year round.

Rainbow Park 

205 Sydney Street
Hours: 24 hours a day, year round.

Chown Park

50 Paul Harris Street
Hours: 24 hours a day, year round.

Little River Reservoir

1800 Loch Lomond Road
Hours: 24 hours a day, year round.

NOTE:

City By-law dictates that unless you are in a designated off-leash area, your dog must remain on a leash at all times. This By-law is enforced by fines, and offences are recorded.

If a person has been bitten by a dog, or if there’s an altercation with dog owners, contact the Saint John City Police.

A well-designed and well-maintained park or trail is a safe, fun, and healthy way for residents to get outside and be active. The City of Saint John operates and maintains over 2,200 acres of natural park space, 56 kms of general use and wilderness trails, and 30 acres of community parks for citizens and visitors to enjoy—from large open green spaces, to cozy urban gathering places, to wild, forested parks that celebrate our natural world.

A reliable form of transportation. A fun form of exercise. A great way to explore and spend time outside. These are all great reasons to choose to get on your bike, and Saint John invests in the infrastructure to make it happen for residents. Saint John’s growing bikeway network includes 25 kms of dedicated or shared bicycle lanes in addition to an extensive trail system that includes our famous Harbour Passage and Rockwood Park.

The Trans Canada Trail

Saint John’s portion of the Trans Canada Trail extends from the towns of Grand Bay-Westfield to Rothesay.  It includes a mix of dedicated bike lanes, shared lanes, as well as off-road trails.  

Campus Harbour Connection

The Campus Harbour Connection provides cyclists in Saint John with a route linking the UNB Saint John campus and Saint John Regional Hospital area with uptown Saint John and points in between. It’s a 4.5 km long arterial of dedicated bike lanes and shared use and connects to Harbour Passage. It’s the first comprehensive bike route in the city.

Rockwood Park

In addition to 60 km of trails, Rockwood Park is home to a Mountain Bike Skills Park with a variety of obstacles and features designed to increase the skills and confidence of beginner mountain bikers. The skills park has been built to meet IMBA standards and provide a challenging and rewarding experience for mountain bikers of all ages and abilities.