Mersey Road Trail

Trail Overview

The Mersey Road Trail in the Medway Lakes Wilderness Area is a well-maintained former logging road. It starts at Albany New Road as "New Mersey Road" because the original 1.4 km south section is blocked by private ownership. The new two-lane gravel road section at the south is on crown land. As you proceed, the road narrows slightly into a hard-packed dirt road. While the road is generally well-maintained, it narrows further as you go south past the former Bowater Mersey base camp. Be cautious of mud ruts, small washouts, and fallen trees along the way.

Photos of Mersey Road Trail

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Difficulty

There may be the occasional mud rut or small washout to be cautious of. Otherwise, this is a well-maintained former logging road.

History

The Medway Lake area has a rich history tied to the Bowater-Mersey logging roads. Large-scale lumbering began in Nova Scotia in the late 1700s, driven by the Napoleonic War, which forced the British to source lumber from the Americas. The Bowater Mersey Paper Company Limited later owned extensive tracts of land in the Medway Lakes area, constructing a network of logging roads for timber extraction. Despite significant clearcutting, some old-growth forests remain. In 2012, the province purchased 224,600 hectares from the insolvent Bowater Mersey, leading to the creation of the Medway Lakes Wilderness Area in 2015. This transition opened previously restricted roads and lands for public access, supporting diverse habitats and species at risk, including turtles, moose, and various bird species. Today, the area is popular for recreational activities like hiking, fishing, and off-roading.

Technical Rating

Mersey Road Trail can be accessed by the following ride types:

• High-Clearance 4x4
• SUV
• SxS (60")
• ATV (50")
• Dirt Bike