Off the Eastern Coast of North America, the Bay of Fundy extends from the northern tip of Maine to Nova Scotia. It boasts the greatest tidal fluctuations in the world, where visitors can watch the water levels rise and fall up to 40 feet in a single day. With two parks dedicated to the Bay of Fundy’s dramatic tides, visitors can walk on the ocean floor and then return in a few hours and kayak next to islands. Here are the Top Things to do at the Bay of Fundy.
Top 9 Things to Do Bay of Fundy
See the Tidal Fluctuations
Walk on the Ocean Floor
Take a Hike
Find a Red Chair for an Incredible View
Take a Swim
Go on a Beach Walk
Stargaze at Night
Do the Xplorer Program
Camp in a Yurt
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Is the Bay of Fundy Worth Visiting?
For those yearning to spend more time outdoors, the Bay of Fundy is an excellent gateway. During our visit, my kids were really excited to see the tidal fluctuations on the Bay of Fundy.
They walked on the ocean floor, then saw the same area covered in feet of water. I recommend you visit one of its parks at high tide, then return at low tide for the most dramatic effect. Travelers can visit the Parks Canada Fundy National Park and the New Brunswick Provincial Park.
Where is the Bay of Fundy Located?
The Bay of Fundy is a vast area that runs from northern Maine by Quoddy State Park to Nova Scotia and along New Brunswick. It is a beacon for nature lovers, with both wildlife and marine life flourishing.
This area is ideal for road-tripping. The Fundy Trail Parkway offers lookouts and beaches along the bay. Since we are from Texas, we continued to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
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Fundy National Park
As the Parks Canada site dedicated to the Bay of Fundy, this is one of the top things to do at the Bay of Fundy. It offers lots of outdoor activities, seasonal interpretive activities and camping.
Hiking Trails for Families
The Fundy National Park offers 100 kilometers of hiking trails. For family-friendly trails, try one of the following. There is also moderate and difficult hiking trails at Fundy National Park.
Alma Beach–A 100-meter walk to a viewpoint and beach access.
Caribou Plain—A 2.1-km loop for a beaver pond.
MacLaren Pond–.A 5-km loop trail to a pond.
Cassiopeia–A .9-mile one-way trail through a forest.
Cygnus–A 1.5-km trail to a forest
Shiphaven—A1.0-km roundtrip hike with a covered bridge.
Parks Canada Red Chairs
Dedicated to showcasing the best views, Parks Canada has over 200 red Adirondack chairs scattered across its parks. Each encourages visitors to slow down and sit.
Fundy National Park offers 12 chairs across the Fundy National Park to sit and savor a special view in a Red Chair. Some of the easiest chairs to find are located at MacLaren Pond and Headquarters Bluff.
Swimming at the Fundy National Park
The bay’s water is a tad too cold for swimming, though the Fundy National Park offers more opportunities to swim.
Pool—Cannonball into the heated saltwater pool near the park headquarters. It is open from June until early September. Additional admission. Lifeguard on duty.
Lake swimming—Head to Bennett Lake or Wolfe Lake for swimming.
Take a Walk along the Beach
A must for everyone, take a walk along the beach and the seafloor during low tide. See barnacles, rock crabs, whelks, limpets and periwinkles.
One of the best places to walk along the beach is near the Park Headquarters at Alma Beach. Another spot is on Chemin Point Wolfe Road and the Coastal East Trail. Point Wolfe Beach is another option.
Stargazing at the Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a Dark Sky Preserve, so look above during your trip. The lighting is kept at a minimum to retain the area’s dark skies.
Kids at Fundy National Park
Similar to the National Park Service’s Junior Ranger Programs in the U.S., Parks Canada offers the Xplorer Program. Kids receive a booklet at the visitor center to complete. It takes about an hour, and kids receive a collectible dog tag charm with the park’s name imprinted on it.
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Other Activities at the Fundy National Park
The Parks Canada unit offers many activities, especially during the summer season.
Golf
Tee off at the 9-hole, par-70 golf course at the Fundy National Park. The course was designed by Stanley Thompson.
Paddling at Fundy National Park
Bennett Lake Boathouse rents out kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. Wolfe Lake is also open for paddling.
Historic Molly Kool Home
Located at the entrance of the Fundy National Park, this is the childhood home of the Maritimes’ first female sea captain.
Cabins and Camping at Fundy National Park
Parks Canada sites offer unique camping options and Fundy National Park features several options.
oTentiks—A-frame structures featuring sleeping for five or six, including a series of platform beds, along with a table and four chairs and a bench.
Yurts—Traditional round dwellings from Central Asia that include a bunk bed with a double and twin bunk along a propane heater and solar lights.
Oasis–A round teardrop structure keeping it cozy with just enough space for a sofa bed and a hammock above.
Rustic cabins—One-room structure with a pair of twin-sized bunk beds and a central wood-burning cooking and heating stove, along with a table and two benches. Firewood is provided.
Find the permanent structures across four Fundy National Park campgrounds.
Headquarters–154 camping spots
Cannontown–i30 camping spots
Chicinecto–261 camping spots
Point Wolfe—154 camping spots
Lakeview--15 camping spots in a remote location with electricity only.
Campgrounds feature sites with electricity and water, electricity, water and sewer, or no services. Find a central area with a bathhouse with showers, toilets, self-service laundry, and kitchen shelters. Most camping sites include a picnic table.
Fundy National Park is open 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. From June 19 to September 7, 2026, admission is free for everyone and camping is 25% off.
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Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park
For the best place to walk on the ocean floor, head north of the Fundy National Park. Near the town of Moncton, Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is home to the highest tides in the world, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
This is the spot to get to before and after photos. It is also the place where you can kayak around the rock formations that temporarily become islands each day.
First, stop by the Visitor Center to learn more about the tides. See how marine life adapts to the changes in water level. Then, you can walk to the beach area or take a shuttle bus (additional fee). During our visit, we walked downhill and took the shuttle back.
Since Hopewell Rocks is featured in a lot of educational programming, my carful of kids were very excited to visit. Both Fundy National Park and Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park are excellent places to learn more about the Bay of Fundy tides.
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Climb down a series of rugged industrial staircases and enjoy the view. During our visit, the tide was completely out.
During low tide, the Bay of Fundy is about 50 feet lower than at high tide. On the ocean floor, we found plants, marine life and shells.
If the kids need a break, visit the High Tides Café at the Visitor Center or the Low Tides Café for snacks close to the beach.
Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is located at 131 Discovery Road, 27 miles east of the Fundy National Park. Before arriving, take a look at the tidal charts to find low tide so the kids can walk on the ocean floor.
Admission is good for two days. From mid-June to mid-August, Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. From mid-May to mid-June, the park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the month of October. For From mid-August until the end of September, it is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult admission (19+) is $18.15 CAN, and kids (5 to 18) are $10.37 CAN.
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Lodging Near the Bay of Fundy
When we visited the Bay of Fundy National Park, we originally planned to stay in an oTENTik. However, a Parks Canada Ranger called to tell us that our reservation had been canceled due to hurricane-force winds.
As a courtesy, the ranger called the closest hotel to ensure we had an alternative place to stay. Then, Parks Canada issued a full refund.
Parkland Village Inn
We found the charming Parkland Village Inn in the town of Alma. Next to the Fundy National Park entrance, Alma offers a self-serve laundry, a fish and chips shack and a couple of souvenir shops.
The Parkland Village Inn along the shore of the Bay of Fundy features 15 rooms with views of the bay. Watch the fishing boats bob up and down with the tides from the windows at the neighboring Fisherman’s Wharf.
Located at 8601 Main St.
Where to Eat
When visiting the Canadian Maritimes, I recommend sampling seafood from across the region. At the Parkland Inn, we dined at the Tides Restaurant, serving up local seafood. During our visit, we enjoyed a date night, leaving the kids upstairs with a babysitter-certified big sister, cartoons and some fish and chips.
We love seafood, and that’s what’s on the menu. I ordered the local scallops, and my chef-husband sampled the local lobster. Both were exceptionally fresh and satisfying.
The owners and staff of Parkland made our evening most enjoyable. The weather was crummy, but our view was lovely, and we made the best of it and enjoyed lobster and scallops for an impromptu date night.
Know Before You Go
Check the tide times before you arrive.
Wear water shoes with good traction.
Lyme Disease
The Black-legged tick is found throughout the Canadian Maritimes. To prevent Lyme disease, which ticks carry, take the following precautions.
Wear light-colored clothing, including long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
Use insect repellent with DEET.
Stay on trails and avoid long grass and brush.
Take a shower shortly after hiking.
Put clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes to kill ticks.
Our 2014 Trip
It was the Road Trip from not Heaven…
We got a car stolen in Montreal. Seriously, we rented a car to finish the trip. My husband’s passport got stolen. He flew to another state to get a new one.
A few days later, a hurricane hit. Nearly all the airports shut down on the East Coast. He got the last flight into the area.
Then the dog ran away. Our neighbor found him.
Throughout the whole event, we persevered and continued with our trip.
We drove through sideways rain in the pitch dark of a moonless night to get to New Brunswick from Portland, Maine, but we got there.
We really wanted to see Fundy National Park for the crazy tides. So the inclement weather wouldn’t get in our way, even if its name is Hurricane Arthur.
He came ashore across the Bay of Fundy at Meteghan, Nova Scotia. Knocking out power and blowing down trees the night before our arrival.
Our hotel’s power made it through the night, but the roads flooded in spots. After checking the weather and calling the Bay of Fundy National Park, we loaded up and made our way to Alma.
Over ten years later, this trip is forged into my family’s personality. We gained confidence by addressing each issue as it appeared. We learned to weather obstacles with resilience and calm. That and we renewed our appreciation for good insurance, both car and travel.
