How to experience the tides at Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick

Last updated on January 22nd, 2026

Want to see the power of the Bay of Fundy? We’re sharing how to experience the tides at Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick!

The Bay of Fundy is home to the highest tides in the WORLD! Due to the natural rocking motion of the water, called seiche, plus the shape of the bay, over 160 billion gallons of water flows in and out of the bay twice per day. To try to put that into perspective, that’s enough water to fill the Grand Canyon!

And one of the best places to experience this crazy tide is at Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick! Here you can find impressive rock formations, have the chance to walk on the ocean floor, and see one of the largest tidal ranges along the Bay of Fundy. While a typical tidal range in the open ocean is 1 meter (3 feet), the water level at Hopewell Rocks can see an increase of up to 16 meters (52 feet) during every tide cycle, with the highest tidal differences coming during a new moon or a full moon.

Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick Bay of Fundy

Visiting Hopewell Rocks was one of our New Brunswick bucket list items. And over 24 hours we got to experience low tide and high tide, including kayaking on the Bay of Fundy itself. It was an incredible experience!

And in this guide we’re sharing everything you need to know to visit Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick for yourself. Like how to know when the tides are, the different ways to experience it, and what shoes to wear (trust us, this is important)!

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Why trust us when planning a trip to Atlantic Canada?

We spent over 3 months traveling all around Atlantic Canada in our self-converted Sprinter van, visiting many of the popular sites, plus off the beaten path gems along the way. And instead of rushing through these areas like most people are forced to on vacation, we traveled slowly, allowing us to experience them more as locals. Because of this, we have tons of tips to help you plan your own Atlantic Canada adventure, whether it’s just for a week or for multiple months.

About Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park in New Brunswick

High tide at Hopewell Rocks Bay of Fundy

Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is located 35 minutes southeast of Moncton and is easily one of the best things to do in New Brunswick and all of eastern Canada!

The park is not only famous for the Bay of Fundy, but also for its 20+ free standing rocks, called flowerpots, which line the shoreline. These sea stacks stand 40-70 feet tall and have been formed over time through erosion from the tides. Because of the erosion, they are constantly changing, with large storms sometimes causing them to collapse.

These flowerpots all have unique shapes, with some being given some funny names, like Jay Leno Rock, Elephant Rock, ET, and Mother in Law to name a few!

What is special about Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick?

With many different places in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to witness the Bay of Fundy, you may be wondering what is so special about Hopewell Rocks. And for us, it’s almost less about the Bay of Fundy itself and more about the overall experience. Not only can you experience the highest tides in the world here, but you can also see unique geology, walk on the ocean floor, and kayak…all in the same day!

Visiting Hopewell Rocks is 100% worth it and out of the multiple Bay of Fundy experiences we personally had, it was easily one of our favorites! We do recommend going tidal bore rafting outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia too if you can!

What is the best time to visit Hopewell Rocks?

The best time to see Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick is at both low and high tide, which are 6 hours and 13 minutes apart. Tide schedules vary per day and which tide you decide to see first will likely be dictated by the timing of the tides.

Before you visit Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick, check out the tide table to help plan your time at the park. The ocean floor (which we’ll share more about in a bit!) is typically open from 3 hours before low tide to 3 hours after low tide, assuming these hours fall within opening hours of the park. Try to arrive around 2 hours before low tide, to ensure you have enough time to explore.

We chose to see low tide first, because it was not only the most convenient for our schedule, but we also thought it would be more dramatic to walk on the ocean floor first and then see it covered in water second. But regardless of what tide you choose to see first, it will be impressive!

Important things to know before visiting Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick

How much does it cost to visit Hopewell Rocks?

Visiting Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park costs $15.85 CAD per adult and $9.06 CAD for kids (ages 5-18), with discounts for other demographics. Your ticket gives you admission for two consecutive days and you can come and go as you please.

This means that if you are unable to see both low and high tide on the same day due to the tide schedule, you can return the following day to see whichever tide you missed. It also means that if you plan to see both tides on the same day, you’re able to leave the park to go get food, rest, or visit another nearby attraction, and then come back for the next tide.

You can either buy your ticket at the park or buy it in advance (use our code APLUSK10 for 10% off)!

When is Hopewell Rocks open?

Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park does have set hours and you are not allowed inside the park outside of these hours, unless you have a scheduled kayaking tour. And since the park does not have a campground or any lodging, you are unable to be in the park at night.

The park is open the following times in 2024:

May 17, 2024 – June 21, 2024 (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
June 22, 2024 – August 17, 2024 (8:00 AM – 8:00 PM)
August 18, 2024 – September 2, 2024 (8:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
September 3, 2024 – October 27, 2024 (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

Parking

Hopewell Rocks has two parking lots, which are located by the interpretive center. There is a larger lot, which is where most people park, plus a smaller lot where larger vehicles park, like RVs and vans. So regardless of your vehicle size, you should be able to find a spot!

Both parking lots have some picnic tables, in case you want to enjoy a meal while waiting between tides.

On Google Maps, you’ll also notice another parking lot, which is closer to the water. This parking lot is only for those going on a kayaking tour or those who need accessible access to the ocean floor.

Are dogs allowed?

Yes, they are! As long as they are on leash (and you pick up after them). However, with how muddy the ocean floor can be, we did not bring Kona down there with us.

Restaurants

There aren’t many food options in the area, but the park does have a restaurant called High Tide Cafe and a stand called Low Tide Canteen, with sweets and snack items. Since we were in our van, we cooked our own meals. But if you’re unable to cook or prefer to eat inside the park, these are two options.

About 35 minutes down the road in Alma you can find quite a few delicious dining options, like Buddha Bear Coffee Roasters, The Octopus’s Garden Cafe & Bistro, Alma Lobster Shop, Fundy Take-Out, Tipsy Tails Restaurant, and Kelly’s Bake Shop for sticky buns.

Lodging and Camping

As we mentioned above, there are no campgrounds at Hopewell Rocks or other lodging options. Here are a handful of places to stay nearby!

Vacation Rentals: Little Oak Hive and Forest SpaandThe Woodland Hive and Forest Spa

Campgrounds: Ponderosa Pine Campground

Boondocking: A great spot is this empty lot in the middle of town. It’s pretty popular with vans and RVs and seems to be allowed. Just make sure to be respectful and not leave any trash!

What to do at Hopewell Rocks during low tide

Walk the ocean floor

Walking the ocean floor is a must-do at Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick! There are three access points to the ocean floor, including the main deck, North Beach, and the Demoiselle Beach area. Here’s a quick rundown of each!

PRO TIP: Make sure to wear Chacos, water shoes, or shoes you don’t mind getting muddy (we saw people in nice sneakers…don’t do that!). The ocean floor and beach areas are extremely muddy and wet and you’ll likely get your shoes (and legs) covered in mud! While you could go barefoot, it may be uncomfortable, as there are some rocks. So we would recommend having shoes on. The good news is, at the top of the Main Deck, there are a few foot washing stations!

The Main Deck

The main deck is where most people will go first to see the Bay of Fundy at low tide. This metal deck is built into the side of the cliff, with about 100 steps to reach the ocean floor. It’s tall enough that the top of the deck is accessible during high tide as well!

To get to the main deck, you’ll follow a 0.8 km (0.5 mile) path from the Interpretive Center. This is a maintained gravel path that is mostly flat. There is also a shuttle from the Interpretive Centre to the main deck, which costs $1.74 CAD per person.

Once at the main deck, you can admire the flowerpot rocks from a couple different viewing points, before heading down the steps. Be careful walking on the ocean floor, as it can be very muddy! Some areas have extremely deep mud, the closer you go out to the water. In fact, Adam got stuck in knee deep mud and had to unsuction his way out!

Since many visitors will stick to the area right by the deck, which has the most popular flowerpot rocks, it can get a bit busy. To get away from the crowds, walk the beach in either direction. There are even more sea stacks, coves, and other interesting rock formations to explore. All with less people!

North Beach

At North Beach there is a gently sloping ramp down to the ocean floor, which makes it so those in wheelchairs or traveling with strollers can access it. You can walk to the main deck from here, but keep in mind that you cannot park here, unless you’re doing a kayaking tour with Baymount Outdoor Adventures or require accessible parking.

Demoiselle Beach

Demoiselle Beach is a more off the beaten path park destination and you may even have it to yourself! To get here, you’ll take a 0.7 km (0.43 mile) path that begins on the south end of the Interpretive Centre. You won’t have to take stairs or ramps to get to the beach, as the trail slopes down to it.

Here you can walk along the beach, but don’t head out too far towards the water, as walking on the mud flats is prohibited.

Check out the overlooks

Besides the main deck overlook, the park has a handful of other overlooks, like the Diamond Rock lookout platform. These overlooks can be reached from the same trail you follow from the Interpretive Center over to the main deck. While you cannot access the ocean floor from these, we highly suggest checking them out during low tide to see what other areas of the park look like without water!

We loved the views from here, but there’s stunning scenery just like this all throughout Atlantic Canada that you should visit in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island!

What to do at Hopewell Rocks during high tide

Check out the overlooks…again!

During high tide, you are not allowed to go down to the shoreline, so the best way to see it is from one of the many overlooks in the park! We suggest revisiting all overlooks you checked out at low tide, to see the difference in the water levels.

The best overlook to witness high tide is the main deck. Where you just walked around hours earlier is now completely covered in water. It’s wild to see! Although you cannot go down to the ocean floor, they do keep multiple levels of the main deck open, so you are able to get close to the water.

As you admire the high tide you may notice that the water is very brown. This is because as the tides flow over the muddy ground, it churns up sediments, which don’t get the chance to settle. It’s brown like this in some areas of the Bay of Fundy, but not all!

Kayak with Baymount Outdoor Adventures

What’s even better than seeing the flowerpot rocks at high tide from an overlook? Kayaking around them!

You are not allowed to launch a private kayak from the park. But thankfully Baymount Outdoor Adventures is located right inside the park and offers guided kayaking tours.

This will give you a different perspective of the rocks and the Bay of Fundy than you can get from the overlooks. Where you once walked during the low tide you now float above. It’s an incredible experience!

Baymount Outdoor Adventures has three different guided kayaking tours, their signature high tide tour, mid-tide tour, and an after dark tour. We went on the high tide tour and loved it! The guide shared interesting facts along the way and helped us paddle through tight coves and under arches, as well as up Shepody Creek.

Visit the Interpretive Centre

During high tide, or while you’re waiting for the tide to rise, head into the Interpretive Centre! Here you can learn more about the science behind the rocks and the Bay of Fundy, plus learn about the Mi’kmaq. There is also a playground right outside of the building, to help entertain the kiddos while you wait!

How much time do you need at Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick?

The tide at Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick comes in and out every 6 hours and 13 minutes. On many days you are able to see both high and low tides in a single day, during the park’s operating hours. This is what happened for us and we spent the entire day in the park, both exploring overlooks, walking the ocean floor, and also working and cooking in our van.

However, if you happen to visit when there is only one tide during the park’s operating hours, keep in mind that your admission covers entry for two days to give you the flexibility to see both tides.

While you can experience the Bay of Fundy in many locations, we think seeing both low and high tide in the same spot is the best way to truly grasp the magnitude of the tides. So even if you have to return to Hopewell Rocks on two separate days to see both tides, it is worth it! Then you can continue on with your Atlantic Canada Road Trip!

Looking for some other ways to experience the tides of the Bay of Fundy?
If you can’t get enough of the Bay of Fundy and want to experience it in more locations, visit Fundy National Park (a 35 minute drive from Hopewell Rocks), explore the St. Martins Sea Caves (a 2 hour drive from Hopewell Rocks), and go tidal bore rafting in Nova Scotia (our FAVORITE Bay of Fundy experience)!

Continue planning your Atlantic Canada adventures

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How to visit Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick