Bay of Fundy (Alma)

A fishing village on the Bay of Fundy, home to the world's highest tides, and gateway to Fundy National Park; at low tide you can walk at the base of the "flowerpot" rocks at Hopewell Rocks.

The Bay of Fundy lies between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and is famous for having the highest tides in the world, with the twice-daily rise and fall exceeding 15 metres in parts of the bay. Alma is a fishing village of just a few hundred people right by the entrance to Fundy National Park, making it the most convenient base for exploring the New Brunswick side of the bay. There are three main routes: first, the waterfall trails, the Point Wolfe covered bridge, tide-pool coves and stargazing within Fundy National Park; second, heading east along Route 114 to Cape Enrage lighthouse, birdwatching at Mary's Point and the flowerpot rocks at Hopewell Rocks, where you can walk the ocean floor at low tide and kayak at high tide; third, heading west to the Fundy Trail Parkway, Walton Glen Gorge and the St. Martins sea caves, or north to Moncton for Magnetic Hill and the tidal bore. The best season is June–September, with brilliant fall colours from late September to mid-October; most facilities close in winter. The nearest airport is Moncton, about an hour's drive from Alma, and a car is almost essential. Plan to stay 2–3 days and keep a tide table handy when planning: the same spot looks completely different at high and low tide, and if you go down to the sea floor, always keep track of when the tide comes in.

Top sights

• Hopewell Rocks – An iconic landmark of the Bay of Fundy, where tides can exceed ten metres. At low tide you can walk on the seabed beneath the flowerpot-sha…
• Fundy National Park – A coastal forest national park beside Alma, with more than 25 trails linking waterfalls, river valleys and intertidal beaches.
• Cape Enrage – A white lighthouse on a clifftop above the Bay of Fundy. You can go rock climbing and ziplining, and at low tide you can walk down to the b…
• Fundy Trail Parkway – A scenic road built along the cliffs of the Bay of Fundy, with dozens of lookouts, suspension bridges and waterfalls linked along the way.
• Dickson Falls – The most popular short trail in Fundy National Park, where a wooden boardwalk leads through a moss-covered gorge to tiered waterfalls.
• Laverty Falls – A wide waterfall at the end of a forest trail, with a deep pool below that is a popular swimming spot in summer. The round trip is about 5…
• Third Vault Falls – The tallest waterfall in Fundy National Park, dropping about 16 meters at the end of a deep gorge. The round trip is about 7.4 km.
• Point Wolfe Covered Bridge – A red wooden covered bridge spanning a river-mouth gorge, the most photogenic sight in Fundy National Park, with a tidal beach nearby.
• Herring Cove – A small bay within the national park. At low tide, large areas of rocky tide pools are exposed, where you can find starfish, crabs, and sea…
• Alma Wharf & Village – A small fishing harbor where boats 'run aground' on the seabed at low tide. Enjoy lobster by the wharf, then treat yourself to the famous s…
• Mary's Point (Shepody Bay) – A bird-watching paradise where hundreds of thousands of semipalmated sandpipers rest in late summer. When the tide rises, the flocks take f…
• Walton Glen Gorge – A deep gorge known as the 'Grand Canyon of New Brunswick,' with a viewing platform overlooking cliffs about 100 meters high and the narrow…
• St. Martins Sea Caves – Red sandstone sea caves beside a fishing village at the western end of the Fundy Trail. At low tide you can walk into them; at high tide th…
• Magnetic Hill (Moncton) – A famous optical-illusion slope where a car in neutral appears to roll uphill. Nearby are a zoo and a water park.
• Tidal Bore Park (Moncton) – Twice a day, a tidal bore surges upstream along the Petitcodiac River, and surfers can ride the crest to surf continuously.

Where to eat

• Alma Lobster Shop – A beachside lobster stand with dine-in and takeaway options. Its lobster roll is a must-try for visitors to Fundy Natio…
• Tipsy Tails – A seafood bar at Alma's harbour, with a deck facing the fishing wharf. It ranks first among local restaurants on Tripad…
• Octopus Garden Café – A small café on the main street known for house-made fresh pasta with local seafood. It often has live music and craft…

Itineraries

• Maritime Provinces Clockwise Grand Loop – A grand loop through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, connecting the South Shore, the Bay of Fundy…
• Fundy Coast: Moncton to Saint John – A one-way road trip along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy to chase the tides, see the Hopewell Rocks, lighthouses…
• Quebec to Maritimes by Ocean Train – Explore Montreal and Quebec City, take the overnight train to Moncton, then drive to the Hopewell Rocks, PEI, and Halif…