Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, Canada was never on my radar. It wasn’t a place that I had ever heard anything about it. It isn’t on any “must visit” list that I have ever seen. By National Park standards Fundy is small (it is one of Canada’s smallest National Park). New Brunswick itself is highly underrated and most consider it a ‘drive-through’ province. But in my opinion, both New Brunswick and Fundy National Park should be on your list!
Fundy National Park is a national park of Canada located on the Bay of Fundy, near the village of Alma, New Brunswick. It was officially opened in July of 1950 (or 1948, I’ve seen both). The Park features a rugged coastline that rises to the Canadian Highlands and the highest tides in the world. The Park covers roughly 50,900 acres along Goose Bay, the northwestern branch of the Bay of Fundy. If you look across the Bay, you can actually see the northern Nova Scotia coast.
A little history:
While Natives most likely did call this area home, they left very little evidence of their daily lives or the way that they lived. Humans left little evidence of their passing in what is present day Fundy National Park until European settlements began in this area around 1825. This is incredibly late when you consider that Acadians arrived in the 1600s. And both the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet inhabited the area long before that.
What drew the European settlers to this area? The unspoiled wilderness soon became attractive as a source of lumber for the rapidly growing city of Saint John, and export to England, the Caribbean Islands, and New England. Several small communities grew within the current park boundaries, populated by immigrants from Scotland, Ireland, and England. Of course, the more desirable coastal land was the first to be settled. But many immigrants received land grants in the highlands where conditions were not good for farming, and many abandoned the land within a generation.
However, the coastal settlements fared better. Small sawmills, shipbuilding and fishing operations thrived during the 1800s. Point Wolfe village, with its sawmill at the mouth of the Point Wolfe River, became the main settlement in the area. Unfortunately, the easily accessible trees had all been cut by the late 1800s, creating a chain reaction of the area’s decline. You see, sawmill waste had clogged rivers and nearby coastal areas, which in turn harmed the fish populations and prevented the Atlantic salmon from entering these rivers to spawn. The fishing industry declined. Wooden boats and sailboats gave way to steel and steam. And by 1922 the large mills, river drives, and shipbuilding were no more.
Acadian Culture –
The name Acadia was given to the coastline of New Brunswick around 1524, when Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian explorer in the service of France, launched an expedition to the region. However, French settlers would not come to the area until 1601. Those French settlers remained in the area intermixing with the local aboriginal people until they no longer considered themselves French, but Acadians instead.
The removal of the Acadians by the British in the 1700s, when the people refused to pledge allegiance to the Crown, saw Acadians deported to various American colonies, England, and even the Caribbean. Others ended up much closer in Quebec, in fact, more than a million Quebeckers have Acadian ancestry. Others ended up elsewhere in Canada and some even ended up in France. Some Acadians went south to what is now Louisiana and founded the modern Cajun population. While others hid in the forests around Memramcook with help from their Mi’kmaq neighbors. It was there that the exiled people rebuilt their community.
While they are now a minority in Canada and have access to the outside world, they have been able to preserve their unique traditions, and their unique culture attracts visitors from all over the world.
1. Waterfalls – there are an impressive 25 waterfalls at Fundy and 5 of those are marked on the map and have easily accessible hiking trails. You will be given the map when you pay your park entry fee. Fortunately, some of them don’t require much hiking at all. Find out which one was my favorite here.
2. Location, Location, Location – Fundy is perfectly located. It’s an easy drive from Boston, Maine, Quebec, and Montreal. I would go as far as to say that if you live on the northeast coast of the United States and have already been to Acadia National Park, Fundy is the next most accessible National Park.
3. Lack of Crowds – Even in the summer Fundy wasn’t incredibly crowded. And that in and of itself is incredibly rare when speaking of National Parks (in either the United States or Canada). And in my opinion reason enough to visit. Having a place like this feel like I have it all to myself is one of my absolute favorite things, and it doesn’t happen very often. Enjoy it!
4. Natural Beauty – Although it may not be crowded and may be lacking in population, one thing that Fundy is not lacking in is natural beauty. Whether it’s the stunning coastline, those famous rock formations (see #10), gorgeous waterfalls, or stunning beaches, it’s got it all.
5. Hiking – Fundy offers you a chance to hike in unspoiled nature. There is a trail for everyone. There are 4 easy hikes, ranging from about a 10 min hike to 1.5 hours to complete. There are 12 moderate hikes (this is where I live…in the moderate hike zone). These generally range from 45ish mins to 3 hours to complete. And 14 difficult hikes that generally range from 1.6 to 6 hours. There are also several options for multiple-day hikes, these include the Trans Canada Trail, The Fund Circuit, The Dodson Trail and the Fundy Footpath.
6. Camping – Fundy offers many different options when it comes to accommodations. Don’t forget the deluxe accommodations include comfy yurts and oTENTik tents. Or just some good ole fashion camping at one of the 4 front country campgrounds that include 550+ campsites. I would love to go back and camp at the Point Wolf Campground. Backcountry camping is also an option, there are 8 backcountry campsites, but please follow tips and regulations suggested here. I would also LOVE to try some backcountry camping here, specifically at Goose River.
7. Star Gazing (or trying your hand at astrophotography) – Fundy National Park is one of New Brunswick’s Dark Sky Preserves. This essentially means that there is very little light pollution and that this is prime star gazing area. During the summer they even offer guided tours of the night sky! Or you can camp and take in the stars in all their glory!
8. Staying in a charming Fundy village – Alma is where I chose to stay during my trip, and it was charming. I would go as far as to say that it is the hub of Fundy National Park. If you aren’t taking advantage of the opportunity to camp, you will most likely find yourself staying in Alma. I wrote a blog post about this part of our trip here. There are restaurants, shops, a bakery, and beautiful scenery. It’s definitely worth a visit.
9.Friendly Locals – New Brunswick and Fundy National Park is home to some of the friendliest people I’ve met in a long time (there are certain places in New England, my current home state being one of them, that are NOT so friendly). We had conversations with pretty much every person we met while visiting, whether that be waitresses or gas station attendants or just people walking by.
10. Hopewell Rocks Park – this isn’t technically in Fundy National Park, but it is a 30 mins drive and part of the Bay of Fundy (did you know that the Bay of Fundy is on the shortlist as one of the new world wonders?). This particular spot sees the highest tides in the world. The difference between high and low tides here is a staggering 38 feet (12 meters). This creates a pretty dramatic change in scenery when visiting at high and low tide. The constant churning of the 100 billion tons of water in each tidal flow has sculpted the rocks, such as the famous, flowerpot rocks. Fundy’s claim to fame is the world’s largest tides and they are the highlight of any visit. You can hop in a kayak to paddle the surging waters at high tide or explore the fascinating mudflats left exposed at low tide. You are essentially walking on the ocean floor, pretty cool, right? Tidal information can be found here. If you want to read more about visiting Hopewell Rocks in summer check this out.
11. Bring the 4-legg’d kids – Fundy National Park is pet friendly! While pets are allowed on most trails there are a few that are not dog friendly. Make sure you pay attention to signage. Also, remember to clean up after them and that they should always be kept on a leash. Don’t leave your pet unattended in a vehicle, at a campsite, or anywhere else really, during your visit. And don’t allow your pet to chase any wild animal – it’s illegal and dangerous.
12. It’s a fantastic place for solo female travel or a mother/daughter trip – you can read more about that in my trip recap here. Or if you need a reason, here, are 8 reasons that you should take a mother/daughter trip. This was our first mother/daughter trip and we never once felt unsafe while on this East Coast Canada Roadtrip!
- Bring bug spray and tick spray!
- Fundy National Park charges a $7.80 per person daily entry fee for adults.
- Wear layers even in summer! We went in June and I was in long sleeves most mornings and sweating on our afternoon hikes!
- You can golf at a beautiful 9-hole golf course right inside the National Park.
- Cell phone coverage is very spotty so don’t rely solely on your cellphone for directions/finding trailheads/or getting help if needed.
- DO NOT feed the animals. Fundy is home to moose, beaver, deer, and blue heron, among other birds.
- Do not obstruct traffic, only pull over in designated pullouts when viewing wildlife.
- Stay on the marked trails.
- Much like National Parks in the United States, it is illegal to fly a drone at Fundy National Park without an aircraft access permit.
Fundy National Park has something for everyone, and you should absolutely add it to your list!
There you have it, there are so many more reasons to add Fundy National Park to your list! Just do yourself a favor and go, if you get the chance. You won’t regret it!
The East Coast Canada Roadtrip goodness will continue next week!
Like this post? Pin it for later!
