New Brunswick Filming Permits on a Trail

A camera in your pack does not automatically make a ride a film production, but filming on a New Brunswick trail can raise questions about access, landowner permission, commercial activity, drones and other riders’ privacy. The key is to separate ordinary personal recording from an organized or disruptive shoot, then ask the right trail manager before you go.

When filming may need permission

There is not one blanket answer for every trail or every kind of filming. A short phone video made during an ordinary ride is different from a planned shoot with a crew, vehicles, lighting, tripods or a commercial purpose. The route, its manager, the land it crosses and the effect of the shoot all matter.

A riding permit or trail sticker should not be treated as permission to conduct a film production. A trail permit generally relates to riding access under the applicable trail rules; it may not cover closing a section, bringing extra vehicles, setting up equipment or using the route for organized commercial work. Before treating a ride as a filming location, confirm what the permit does and does not authorize.

The practical starting point is to identify who manages the specific trail section. A club may maintain or manage a corridor, while the land underneath it may belong to someone else. A route can also pass through different types of land, so one conversation may not settle permission for the whole planned shoot. If you are unsure, ask the club responsible for that section who else needs to be contacted.

Filming situation	What to check before riding
Taking personal photos or brief video during a normal ride	Follow trail rules, avoid stopping where you obstruct others, and respect other riders’ privacy
Recording a small group ride	Check whether the group needs advance coordination and make sure participants agree to be filmed
Setting up tripods, lights or other gear	Ask the trail manager whether equipment or a planned stop is allowed at that location
Filming for a business, client or promotional project	Ask about written authorization, landowner permission, insurance and any applicable conditions
Bringing a production crew or support vehicles	Get approval before scheduling; confirm access, parking, vehicle limits and how the shoot can avoid disrupting trail use
Using a drone	Check the applicable aviation rules and restrictions, as well as trail-manager and landowner permission

A shoot can become more than casual personal recording even when the camera itself is small. A sponsored video, paid assignment, tourism promotion or content made for a business may be treated differently from footage kept for private use. Monetization alone does not answer every permission question, but it is a good reason to describe the project clearly when asking.

The same applies to the production’s footprint. A rider filming from a machine while continuing along an open trail is not creating the same impacts as a team that parks several trucks, places equipment across the corridor or asks other riders to wait. The more a shoot changes how the trail is used, the more important advance approval becomes.

Do not assume that a trail open to riders is open for any production activity. Access permission and filming permission are separate questions. If you plan to advertise a business, feature a property, conduct interviews or use the location as a set, ask before you arrive rather than trying to sort it out with a camera already rolling.

Who to contact and what to ask

Start with the local club or trail organization responsible for the section you want to film. If it is unclear which club maintains the route, use the trail information available to riders or ask a nearby club to direct you. New Brunswick Clubs and What They Maintain can help explain why the local organization matters, while New Brunswick Trail Conditions Before You Go is useful for checking whether the intended route is operating as expected.

For trails crossing private land, the club may not be able to grant every permission you need. Ask whether it can authorize filming on the corridor or whether you must also contact a landowner. New Brunswick Trails That Cross Private Woodlots covers the importance of private-land access, and New Brunswick Crown Land Riding Rules is relevant when a planned route includes Crown land. The point is not to guess who has authority: ask the trail manager to identify the right contact for the specific section.

Explain the shoot in plain terms. “We want to film” is too vague to get a useful answer. Include:

• The trail section or access point you have in mind, with a map or route description if possible.
• The date, time window and expected duration.
• How many riders, crew members and support vehicles will be there.
• Whether the project is personal, promotional, commercial, documentary or for a client.
• What equipment you plan to bring, including tripods, lighting, microphones or drones.
• Whether you will stop, stage scenes, interview people or ask riders to pause.
• Where vehicles will park and how the crew will reach the location.
• Whether you plan to show identifiable riders, homes, camps or private property.
• Whether you need the route to be quiet or otherwise controlled while filming.

Ask directly whether permission is needed, who can grant it and whether any written approval or conditions apply. If the manager says another party must approve the request, get that referral before committing to a date. A response from one person may not cover other trail sections, different landowners or separate airspace rules for a drone.

If the project resembles an organized ride or brings a group together on the trail, ask whether an event process applies. New Brunswick Event Permits for a Ride is a useful related reference, but a filming request and an event request are not automatically the same thing. The club can tell you whether your plans trigger a separate process. Likewise, [New Brunswick Group Size on Club Trails] may help you think through the effect of a larger crew, though the manager should confirm the rules for the specific route.

For a commercial shoot, ask what documentation the manager wants to see before approving access. It may ask about liability coverage, a safety plan, vehicle details or a contact person who can be reached during the shoot. Do not presume that a personal policy or ordinary riding coverage protects a production, crew or business activity. Confirm coverage with the insurer and ask the trail manager what evidence, if any, is required. New Brunswick Insurance Proof at a Trailhead explains why riders should be prepared to clarify insurance documentation, but filming may involve questions beyond those for a routine ride.

Save the approval and any conditions in writing. A clear email or other written record can help prevent misunderstandings about which trail segment, date, equipment and activities were approved. It also gives the crew a practical reference if the contact person changes or if conditions need to be clarified.

Planning a shoot without disrupting the trail

A filming plan should be built around normal trail use, not the assumption that other riders will make room for a crew. Trail users may not know that filming is scheduled, and a public or club trail is not necessarily a controlled set. Keep the route open unless the manager has explicitly authorized a different arrangement, and never block a corridor with a tripod, vehicle or equipment case.

Choose a location where the group can stop safely without narrowing the trail or obstructing a junction, bridge or access point. If that is not possible, ask the club whether there is an appropriate staging area. Keep support vehicles at an authorized parking location; do not drive them onto a trail simply because they are carrying equipment.

Plan for changes in trail conditions. Rain, washouts, closures or maintenance work can make a location unsuitable or inaccessible. Check again close to the shoot date and be prepared to postpone or choose another approved section. New Brunswick Trail Closures After Rain and New Brunswick Trail Signage Explained are helpful reminders that access and conditions can change, and posted directions should not be ignored for the sake of a planned shot.

A few practical measures reduce conflict:

1. Appoint one person to communicate with the trail manager and handle questions from the crew.
2. Brief everyone on the approved route, stopping places, parking and any restrictions before leaving.
3. Keep the crew compact and bring only equipment that has been approved and can be handled safely.
4. Pause filming and clear the trail when other users need to pass.
5. Do not pressure riders to appear on camera or identify themselves.
6. Stop if the route is closed, conditions are unsafe or the approved plan cannot be followed.

Privacy deserves attention even when the shoot is allowed. A person’s face, voice, vehicle plate, home or camp may be recognizable. Ask before featuring identifiable riders, and avoid recording private property in a way that could expose a location or resident without consent. If someone objects to being included, the simplest approach is to stop recording them or leave that footage out of the final edit.

Drones require an extra check. Trail permission does not substitute for compliance with aviation rules, and a landowner’s permission does not automatically make a flight lawful. Check the current requirements that apply to the aircraft, pilot, location and type of operation through the appropriate official aviation information. Also ask the trail manager and landowner before launching or landing on or beside a trail. Avoid flying over riders or wildlife, and do not let a drone create a hazard or distract people operating machines.

If your production involves a road or public access area, do not assume trail approval covers that location too. Separate permissions or restrictions may apply. The same is true if you want to place signs, direct traffic, use a sound system or control where people can go. Describe these plans in the original request so the manager can assess the whole activity.

Use the ordinary riding rules while getting to and from the filming location. A camera does not change where a machine may be ridden, what documents or permits may be required, or which routes are open. New Brunswick Registration Before Your First Ride and Four Things to Carry on a New Brunswick Trail can help with routine ride preparation. For etiquette around other trail users, see New Brunswick Trail Etiquette Locals Expect.

A simple permission checklist

Before you publish a shoot date, make sure you can answer these questions:

• Have you identified the manager of every trail section you intend to use?
• Have you explained whether the project is personal or connected to a business, client or promotion?
• Have you listed the crew size, support vehicles and equipment?
• Do you know whether a landowner or another organization must also approve the activity?
• Have you asked whether written permission, insurance documents or an event application are needed?
• Is there a safe, authorized place to park and stage equipment?
• Can other riders pass without being blocked, directed or recorded against their wishes?
• Have you checked current trail access and any applicable drone rules?
• Do you have a backup plan if the route closes or conditions change?

Keep copies of any approval and follow its limits. Permission may be specific to a route, time, crew size or kind of activity. If the plan changes, such as adding a drone, extra vehicles or a commercial partner, ask again rather than assuming the original approval still applies.

If you cannot reach the right contact, do not treat silence as approval. Choose a location where permission is clear, reduce the scale of the shoot or reschedule. That may be less convenient than improvising, but it protects trail access and avoids putting a club, landowner, crew or other riders in an awkward position.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.