Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park – Bay of Fundy, Canada

These stunning rock formations have been shaped by the world’s highest tides. At Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park in New Brunswick, Canada, we explore the coastal ocean floor at low tide. It is an unforgettable experience as we walk among the towering rock formations before the tide returns to flood the area once again. Learn how the earth tides are created by the moon’s gravity, also affected by the sun, and frequency of the tides.

These stunning rock formations in the Bay of Fundy, have been shaped by the world’s highest tides. Exploring the ocean floor at low tide is an unforgettable experience, as we walk among the towering rock formations - before the tides return to flood the area once again. Embark on a captivating journey to with Haswell Travelled's Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park YouTube video, and how the earth tides are created by the moon’s gravity, also affected by the sun, and frequency of the tides.

Connecting to the Atlantic Ocean, the bays geography gives it the highest tidal range in the world, reaching up to 16 meters. With the time it takes the ocean water to fill it, aligned with the timing of the ocean tides, the bay has a perfect length to create a resonance which amplifies the rise and fall at the end of the bay. These highest tides can be found at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park in New Brunswick, Canada.

The tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon causing the oceans to budge, both towards the moon and on the opposite side of the earth. This causes the tides to dramatically rise and fall twice a day at a given location as the Earth rotates and the moon passes by. The highest tides occur during the full and new moons when the sun is also in alignment with the moon. In contrast, the lowest tidal range is during the first and third quarters of the moon (which look like a half-moon) when the sun and moon are at right angles, creating high tides can be 3 to 5 meters lower than during full and new moons.

The average time between each high tide is about 12 hours and 25 minutes. And the time it takes the tide to change from lowest point to highest point is about 6 hours and 13 minutes. Each day, the timing of the tides will shift 50 minutes due to the moon’s gradual rotation around the Earth.

At Hopewell Rocks, the rock formations are formed by erosion of the cliffs due to wind, water, and waves. Over time, softer rock wears away, leaving these impressive columns. The narrow bases are where the tide rises up and down, creating what’s called a “flower pot”, with a wide top where the water cannot reach. The green algae add a beautiful color against the reddish-brown rock. The seaweed on the rocks is primarily rockweed, a type of brown algae with green hues, that clings to the lower areas that always get submerged.

Walking along the shore can be tricky, as it's best to stick to the drier areas, and avoid your shoes sinking in the mud. Visitors generally have about 3 hours either side of the lowest tide time to explore the area. Park employees are deployed along the bay and will herd people back before the tide comes in. And it is always good to ask the park staff how much time you have before needing to return to higher ground.

Visitors should plan ahead prior to arriving to Hopewell Rocks. Its most important to lookup the tide schedule for the day they wish to visit, and also when the park is open. I recommend starting a walk along the base of the rocks around the time of low tide. The visitor center can be viewed before or after.

If you have time, consider returning at high tide to see the area flooded. The visitor center also has a restaurant with a large deck to hang out at. For added enjoyment, between early June and early September, you can also reserve a kayak tour to paddle around the rock formations at high tide. These need to be booked well in advance. The park is open seasonally from mid-May to late October.

Visiting Hopewell Rocks is one of the most visually stunning destinations in the Bay of Fundy. And for us, it was a highlight of our time in the area. Immerse yourself in the captivating episode of Hopewell Rocks on the Haswell Travelled YouTube channel. The video is also easily accessible via the website’s Canada - Eastern web page, allowing viewers to explore this enchanting content alongside other fabulous destinations.