To see the best of Fundy National Park, you need to put in a little more effort than I did. If you’re simply driving through the park, you’re not going to see much. And if you’re looking for the Hopewell Rocks, you won’t find them here.
Location
Fundy National Park is located on the coast of the Bay of Fundy, about halfway between Saint John and Moncton. New Brunswick Route 114 cuts through the middle of the park, providing access to some trails.
My Visit
If you don’t have a plan for what you want to see and do in Fundy National Park, you may want to think twice about paying the admission fee. You’re allowed to bypass the toll booth if you’re just passing through the park, and not stopping to use any of the facilities or trails. And if you don’t know exactly where you’re headed, you probably won’t find much of interest. Highway 114 cuts through a wall of trees until you get near the coast…
… at which point, there’s one viewpoint that overlooks the Bay of Fundy…
… and some of Parks Canada’s increasingly famous red chairs. You can see the whole route in the Drivelapse video, down the page.
So here’s what I missed, by not paying my admission fee and doing some extra exploration. Just before you reach the town of Alma and exit the park, if you turn on Point Wolfe Road, you’ll cut back into the park. You’ll be closer to the coast, and when the road ends, you’ll be at the Point Wolfe River Estuary. There’s also a covered bridge there, along with some trailheads. You will be able to walk on the ocean floor at low tide — but again, this is not the place where you’ll find the famous Hopewell Rocks. That’s at a separate, private attraction, further up Route 114. If you want to arrive at Hopewell Rocks for low tide, you’ll want to time your visit accordingly — and perhaps, if you need to burn off some time while waiting for the tides, you can spend it here.
Drivelapse Video
Here’s a look at the time-lapse drive through Fundy National Park:
The Bottom Line
Arrive with a plan, to properly enjoy Fundy National Park — and make a decision about how much time you want to spend here, and how much you want to do, before paying the admission fee. It could save you some money.
No comments