Day Tripping at Fundy National Park, N.B., Canada

Earlier last week, my sisters, one brother, and our significant others went on an end of summer day trip to Fundy National Park. It wasn’t our first visit to the park, we only live about an hour away, so we try to make it up at least a couple of times a year.

When our kids were young, we were there more often, as we often camped at one of “Fundy’s” campgrounds.

Red Adirondack chairs at Bennett Lake.

“Looking for that special place where all your worries melt away? At 12 enchanting locations throughout Fundy National Park, you can find big red Adirondack chairs waiting to be discovered. Some are easy to find, while others require more of an adventure!

They have been placed in quiet, scenic locations carefully selected by Parks Canada staff because these places inspire the truest sense of ‘awe’.”  Source

Fundy National Park is located in New Brunswick on Canada’s Atlantic Coast. It features 20 kilometres of dramatic shoreline along the Bay of Fundy, famous for having the world’s highest tides. Twice a day, up to 12 metres of water or more rush in and out, roughly equal to the height of a four-floor building. This offers visitors exceptional sightseeing, not to mention a unique chance to explore the ocean floor at low tide.

The park also offers more than 100 kilometres of hiking and biking trails that wind through 206 square kilometres of Acadian forest, leading to waterfalls, freshwater lakes, and scenic river valleys.

For all its wild charms, Fundy is also uniquely accessible and family friendly, with multiple well-equipped campgrounds (some with comfy yurts, rustic cabins, oTENTik tents, and Goutte d’Ô), a solar-heated saltwater swimming pool, kayaking and canoeing opportunities and a nine-hole golf course on site.

Two of several yurts located in the Headquarters Campground.

This is the view from these Yurts. Pretty spectacular! The tide is quite far out and on the left side, you get a little glimpse of the nearby village of Alma.

There are so many amazing things to see and do at Fundy National Park, that I couldn’t possibly list them all here but some of my favourites are:

CAMPING

Front Country Camping

Fundy National Park has three front country campgrounds, each providing a unique camping experience. You will find amenities such as washrooms, showers, electrical, sewer and water hookups all within close proximity to other Park services and facilities.

Front Country Campgrounds:

• Chignecto
• Headquarters
• Point Wolfe

Backcountry Camping

For a challenging way to enjoy Fundy National Park’s beauty, try camping at one of the 8 backcountry campsites. You will be able to experience natural wonders seen only by a small percentage of visitors. Backcountry Camping is located at:

• Goose River
• Marvin Lake
• Tracey Lake
• Chambers Lake

On our most recent visit, the deciduous trees were just starting to show their glorious fall colours!

HIKING TRAILS

Hiking is one of the most popular activities in Fundy National Park and a personal favourite of mine. There are over 100 kilometers of trails ranging from an easy half-kilometer loop to a demanding 50-kilometer circuit around the park.

Trails:

Easy

These trails are somewhat flat and have a hard packed surface. They are suitable for all visitors, regardless of hiking experience. Fundy also has some trails that are wheelchair accessible.

• Caribou Plain *
• MacLaren Pond
• Shiphaven*

Dickson Falls is the most photographed waterfall in the park. Trust me, seeing this beautiful waterfall is well worth climbing up and down some stairs.

Moderate

Moderate trails will have some elevation gain with short steep sections. It is recommended that you have some basic hiking experience for these hikes.

• Blackhorse
• Coppermine*
• Dickson Falls*
• Dobson Link
• East Branch*
• Herring Cove Beach*
• Kinnie Brook*
• Laverty Falls*
• Maple Grove*
• Matthews Head*
• Point Wolfe Beach*
• Tracey Lake

Snapped this photo at one of the many lookouts in Fundy National Park.

Difficult

Difficult trails can have lots of elevation gain, be steep or even have obstacles. These trails are for those who have hiking experience. You need to come prepared with the proper equipment. (You can submit a trip plan using AdventureSmart and someone will check to make sure you arrive safely.)

• Bennett Brook
• Black Hole
• Coastal (East)*
• Coastal (West)
• Foster Brook*
• Goose River
• Marven Lake
• Moosehorn*
• The Forks*
• Third Vault Falls*
• Tippen Lot (North)*
• Tippen Lot (South)
• Upper Salmon River
• Whitetail*

In addition to camping and hiking, Fundy offers visitors the opportunity to kayak, canoe, golf, swim, fish, explore beaches, go geocaching, tobogganing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, visit the natural playground, the Salt and Fir Centre and the nearby village of Alma. You can picnic in the park, attend festivals and special events, see covered bridges and take in spectacular views from a variety of lookouts. And much, much more!

Fundy National Park truly does offer something for everyone!

And, no trip to Fundy would be complete without a quick side trip to the nearby village of Alma. Here you can browse some quaint shops, have a sticky bun from Kelly’s, visit the beach, have lobster at one of the restaurants and maybe even book into one of the local establishments and stay for a night or two.

Beach in nearby Alma.

Point Wolfe covered bridge.

This covered bridge was originally built in 1908 and because of damage, was rebuilt in 1992.  It is the only red bridge in the province.

 

SOME FUN FUNDY FACTS 

1 saltwater swimming pool

2 covered bridges

4 campgrounds with 550+ campsites

5 waterfall trails

8 backcountry campsites

9 to 12-metre tides, twice a day

15 plus special events

38 different mammals

100 moose

260 species of birds

844 adult salmon released in 2016

Information contained in this post was obtained from the Fundy National Park website, as well as, the 2017 Salt & Fir guide to Fundy National Park.

“We were here.”

If you are ever in or near the New Brunswick, Canada, I strongly urge you to visit this spectacular place. I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

If you would like more information, I have included links to Fundy National Park’s social media accounts.

~ Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~

 

 

*These are the trails that I can recall hiking.

If you are ever in New Brunswick, be sure to also check out these other great places and spaces that you will want to visit:

Day Tripping on the Fundy Trail, N.B., Canada
Kings Landing Historical Settlement, New Brunswick, Canada
New River Beach Provincial Park in New Brunswick, Canada
A Visit to Beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick, Canada
Our Visit to Minister’s Island, St. Andrews, New Brunswick
A Girls Trip to Fundy National Park
The Twisted Sisters Visit Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick
The Twisted Sisters Visit Cape Enrage, New Brunswick

 

Have you ever visited New Brunswick, in Eastern Canada?

If so, did you visit any of the places I have listed here?