Visiting Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick Canada is just plain amazing. It is hard to describe what it feels like to walk on the seafloor knowing that within a few hours there could be upwards of 45 vertical feet of water in the same spot.
The amount of water flowing into the Bay of Fundy during 1 tidal cycle is equal to the outflow of all the freshwater rivers in the world combined! How crazy is that! It is hard to imagine that much water being moved multiple times a day.
Hopewell Rocks, Bay of Fundy, Canada
We took a walk on the ocean floor with a fantastic guide from Hopewell Rocks. He pointed out the names of the rock formations and made sure we knew where the tide was coming in at first. There are interpretive specialists and guides spread out along the shoreline to make sure you do not get in danger while the tide is coming in. There are also signs designating the time in which the beach needs to be clear for the tide.
We started our tour in the interpretive center which gave us a great guide for what we would be seeing on the ocean floor. The videos and displays are set up nicely. You can learn a lot about the area without being overwhelmed with a ton of information. The exhibit guides you through the ecosystem of the site along with the natural phenomenon of the Bay of Fundy and why the tides are so extreme.
Visiting Hopewell Rocks was one of the highlights of my trip to New Brunswick. I could have easily spent the entire day exploring the park. I called John and told him that we need to plan a return trip to New Brunswick so he can experience Hopewell Rocks. It would be so cool to visit during both low and high tides to see both. I can't imagine what it is like to watch the tide go out.
Travel Tips
Wear comfortable shoes that can get a bit muddy. Also, wear pants/shorts you are not worried about getting mud on them. The seafloor is well muddy and depending on the type of shoes you are wearing the mud may coat the back of your legs.
Check out the Hopewell Rocks website to confirm the times of the low and hide tide when you plan to visit.
There are 2 restaurants/cafes on-site that offer everything from Lobster Rolls to grilled cheese sandwiches and pretty much everything in between.
There are quite a few stairs to get down to the seafloor area. Be prepared for a minimum of 30-40 stairs if not more. There is a section that only has 20 or so stairs but it is down the beach from the main entrance. There are lookout platforms if you do not want to walk down the stairs or if the tide is too high. You can view the bay from the lookouts at multiple spots in Hopewell Rocks.
You can pay $2 CDN for a ride up the hill on a golf cart if you do not want to hike up the hill this does not save you from the stairs though.
The park entrance fee is good for two days so you can plan back to back trips and experience both low and hide tide.
The trails and tidal area is not lit. Make sure and plan your trip before it is dark.
Pets are welcome but must be on a leash at all times and cleaned up after.
Additional New Brunswich Travel Articles
Things to do in Saint John, New Brunswick
Check out all of our New Brunswick Travel Guides
Lauren Harmon
What a beautiful place to visit, the scenery looks absolutely breathtaking and I love that you were able to learn about the area from the interpreter/guide! What an awesome experience, I'll definitely be adding a trip to New Brunswick to my bucket list for traveling!
Melissa
The New Brunswick Falls in Canada are beautiful! I had no idea! This is definitely on my bucket list! Thanks for all the the tips too!
Erin
What a beautiful place to visit! I think I need to add this to my bucket list!
Krystal
I was happy to see that you can bring your pets. I travel with my dogs a lot, and it can be stressful to find a place to go that allows animals! It is a nice thing to allow our furry family members to come too.
Angela Weight
What an incredible place!!! I've never heard of Hopewell Rocks. But it looks like a place I should add to my bucket list. Love your photos.
Tiany - Social Savvy Mom
Absolutely breathtaking! With so much ugliness happening in the world, to visit a place like this is heaven on earth. Thank you for sharing this, I would not have known such a place even existed!
CourtneyLynne
I've been all over Canada but never to New Brunswick. Looks like you had a lot of fun. I need to make a trip some day!
Dina
wHAT AN AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL place. I'm so impessed with the amount of water flowing there in a day's time. That's unreal.
Ron
What a truly awesome trip. How I wish I can visit this place too soon!
Lynndee
WOW! Those rocks are amazing! I think this is the first time that I've seen them and heard of them. Wish I will be able to see them in person someday.
jo
I haven't been to Canada but I bet this is one of the places I would love to visit. I guess I am going to take a lot of selfie's there! 😉 Love nature! 🙂
Michele D
Your pictures are absolutely beautiful. Now that is a place I wouldn't mind seeing. It's picture perfect!
Annemarie LeBlanc
Amazing rock formations! Nature did a good job in creating these rock sculptures. Thank you for sharing pictures of your amazing adventure.
rika
This place looks amazing! Canada is on my bucket list. My husband even want to move out there
Tanya C.
This sounds like a fun adventure! Now you get to tell everyone that you walked on the ocean floor and stayed dry 😉
Jaime Nicole
This looks like a wonderful adventure. I would really enjoy getting to go take a walk on the ocean floor. It's crazy how much water moves through there, and it's awesome that you would get to work with an interpreter that was so knowledgeable about the experience!
Ashleigh Walls
This would be perfect for a weekend trip, it's so close to us. I would want to see it in both high and low tide.
lisa
The pictures are gorgeous! What beautiful beaches and rock formations. I would love to check this place out if I ever get to Canada.
Megan Elford
We visited Hopewell Rocks about 5 years ago, and would love to go again. It's so neat to be able to walk around under the towering rock formations that look like islands when the tide is in!
Nancy
I lived so close to New Brunswick growing up, I still haven't made it over there. I want to go see those natural arches/bridges, they're incredible looking aren't they?! However, now I live SUPER far away (in Northern California). Hope you have Newfoundland on your radar to visit - that's where i'm from, and it's equally as gorgeous.
Tammilee
I have heard so many great things about Newfoundland. It is definitely on my list of places to visit. I was so impressed with New Brunswick.
Cynthia
Oh my goodness, I am adding visiting there to my bucket list. Thanks so much for the travel tips, I can imagine comfortable shoes are a must. The photo's are breathtaking.
Jeanette
I would LOVE to go here! This looks pretty cool and with all the stuff you can normally see on the sea floor this HAS to be one of the most interesting spots around! I wish I lived closer to this I would love to see it!
Dee
You have beautiful and stunning photos. I love that you have given tips out to people who are thinking of visiting Hopewell Rocks. I find it interesting that people like to wear their best clothes to an outside attraction. I like that you suggested that they were clothes that they don't mind getting a little muddy.
Stacie
That terrain is absolutely amazing! I've always been fascinated by rock formations like that, especially when they have plants growing on the top. I always look at them and think it would be so cool to see a time lapse of the thousands of years it took to make that happen.
Margarita Ibbott
I love New Brunswick. I was there with my family about 8 years ago. My kids keep wanting to go back there and PEI too. If you've never been to PEI go, you'll love that too.
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma)
My family and I love to travel. And we love nature. THis looks like the perfect place for us, traveling to see some beautiful nature. Your pictures are amazing and make me want to be there. That water, the landscape, its almost like I can smell the freshness of it. I love being waterfront!
Robin (Masshole Mommy)
That sounds like a fun place to visit. I am not all that far from there, so maybe someday I will get up there and see it myself.
Ourfamilyworld
I love your photos as usual. The rock formations are simply amazing! I will never get tired of exploring Hopewell Rocks. Getting down the stairs is definitely worth it. I hope to be back soon.