Red Bank Lodge

Metepenagiag means “from the high banks of our river,” and that’s exactly where you’ll find the Metepenagiag / Red Bank Lodge, high above the confluence of the Little Southwest Miramichi and the Northwest Miramichi rivers. Inside the cozy lodge on the riverbank, you’ll see local artists displaying their work. Feast on Aboriginal fusion cuisine that includes salmon, wild-game meatballs, fiddleheads and traditional bannock.

Outside, you can immerse yourself in nature, doing everything from Atlantic salmon fly-fishing to spotting deer and birds, to watching for bears and moose that roam the area. There’s also just sitting back and soaking up the view. “You have the gorgeous banks of the river, you see our 3,000-year-old archeological sites in the background and our lookout points,” says Patricia Dunnett, manager of Metepenagiag / Red Bank Lodge. “It’s beautiful.”

The Mi’kmaq of Metepenagiag has been enjoying the river for three millennia. “You have the nice swift current, and you can sit with your feet in the water,” says Dunnett, who has seen more than a few guests take lawn chairs down to plunk in the shallow water. “It’s so gorgeous; the river is clear and fresh and hundreds of little fish will come up and nibble around your legs and toes. It’s almost like a spa experience when you go down to the river.”