Nashwaak River

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Nashwaak River
The Nashwaak River from the Gibson Trail footbridge, a former railway bridge.
Etymology	Wolastoqey: Disputed between several original words and meanings, though most common are slow current, halfway-place, and strong undercurrent
Location
Country	Canada
Province	New Brunswick
Physical characteristics
Length	113 kilometres (70 mi)
Basin features
River system	Saint John River

The Nashwaak River, located in west-central New Brunswick, Canada, is a tributary of the Saint John River. It is 113 kilometres long. The river rises from Nashwaak Lake (southeast of the village of Juniper) and flows south and east through uninhabited land and rapids to the community of Nashwaak. From Nashwaak, the Nashwaak River flows southeast to Nashwaak Bridge and Taymouth, then south through several rural communities such as Durham Bridge, the historic town of Nashwaak Village and Penniac before it reaches the town of Marysville. It flows into the Saint John River opposite downtown Fredericton.

It was used heavily by the Wolastoqey people as a transportation route to northwestern New Brunswick. A French fort, Fort Nashwaak, was built at the river's mouth in 1692 (near present day Barker's Point, New Brunswick) and was the first European settlement in the Fredericton area. It was captured by the British in 1696, and land along the river was later granted to United Empire Loyalists during the American Revolution. Further settlement occurred through the 19th century.

A rail line (the former Canadian National Nashwaak subdivision) and Route 8, both important links from southern to northern New Brunswick, were built along the river's shore. The Nashwaak subdivision's rails were removed in 1995, and it is now an ATV and walking trail. In addition to the Nashwaak subdivision, the Minto subdivision passed from South Devon to Minto, crossing the Nashwaak near its mouth, has since been converted to a walking trail (in-city) and ATV trail (out of city), and the short line that followed the river on its east bank from Barkers Point to the then Marysville Cotton Mill has also since been converted into a recreational walking trail.

Today, the river is popular for recreational paddling, fishing, and tubing.