The Bay of Fundy is the only place on Earth where the tides rise and fall up to 60 feet every six hours. That, combined with the deep, glacier-carved rock formations, makes it one of the most unique kayaking experiences in the world.
I made my way through Nova Scotia on a 1.5-year solo road trip through the United States, Mexico and Canada. Nobody should pass up a chance to see these tides firsthand. I stayed in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia and it was a great location to get out on the water and explore the nearby Joggins Fossil Cliffs.
Kayaking in the Bay of Fundy offers many incredible and unique adventure views that constantly changing with the tides. Rock formations that are entirely submerged reveal themselves every six hours. The Bay of Fundy formed about 13,000 years ago; when the last glacier retreated, they carved out the deep valleys that form the bay. The tides occur from the difference in water levels between the Atlantic Ocean and the bay. The tides are highest in the spring and fall when the sun and the moon are aligned.
Kayaking in the Bay of Fundy
While kayaking in the Bay of Fundy, the high tide creates unique conditions but often difficult currents. The tides are so powerful that Fundy Tidal Research Center has used an area of the bay to test tidal power technologies. At one point, the turbines they put in the water kept being damaged because the tides were mightier than the equipment could withstand.
Sea kayaks are necessary to manage the churning waters. Also, the weather systems change quickly. A blowing fog or wind on a falling tide can produce dangerous conditions rapidly, so it’s important to kayak with a group of experienced people.
Cape Chignecto Provincial Park in Nova Scotia
I drove the red dirt roads to the Cape Chignecto Provincial Park, where I met my tour group. About a dozen of us met at the beach as the water receded. I marveled at the big boats, now beached as the docks, as the water flowed out of the bay. Shipbuilding used to be a major industry in this area of Nova Scotia. Craftspeople made ships on the land during low tide and then during the full moons when the tides were highest, they set them to sail.
Our kayaks were lined up on the shore, and as we suited up in long sea kayak bibs, the tides receded even further. We had to keep moving our kayaks up to the water. I looked back hundreds of feet to where I’d parked my van near the boats that were now sitting in the mud. It was hard to believe all of this was under deep water just an hour before.
The Cape Chignecto Provincial Park is home to some of the best towering red cliffs, sea stacks, arches and ancient lava flows. The scenic cliffs bear evidence of the separation of the continents when Africa and North America drifted apart during the Triassic.
Kayaking to the Three Sisters
The Three Sisters sea stacks are one of the most popular formations while kayaking in the Bay of Fundy. The Mi’kmaq have lived in the area for thousands of years, making it one of the earliest known sites of human habitation in North America. Passed down through the ages, their stories explain many sites. Mi’kmaw legend tells the story of three mischievous sisters turned to stone when their kinsman became angry after they played a prank on him. They pretended to be wolves as he was chased off the moose he was hunting. For revenge, he turned the three sisters into the large stone stacks we see today at Cape Chignecto.
Aside from the Three Sisters, many other ancient lava flows and magma intrusions manifest as deep red formations. Our group headed alongside many of them. I was paired with another solo female traveler as we donned wetsuit skirts to keep water out of the boat. My position in the rear included pedals and a propeller that determined the direction we were going. It was my first time in this type of kayak, and it took some getting used to as I steered us in a circle.
Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark
Many of the adventures occur in this area, named the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark. The geopark is n the North shore of the Minas Basin, an inlet in the Bay of Fundy. The area features hills, mountains, valleys, forests, and coastal marshlands. The Geopark features exposures of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province. It’s the largest outpouring of lava in Earth’s history, fossils of early dinosaurs, vertebrates and more.
It was wild that we could feel the tides shifting below us. Though it appeared relatively placid on the surface, a water churning was happening below. Still, the water was as calm as a lake on the way out. It was smooth and easy. After a few hours, we docked our kayaks on a beach for lunch and explored the red sea caves. Because it was low tide, we walked through cliffs. During high tide, you can paddle or swim through – not that you’d dare to swim in that churning tide. The rocks were covered in drying seaweed that would be revived in a few hours. The beach was expansive, but we knew we were walking on the ocean floor!
On the way back in the afternoon, the tides had shifted and were already filling the bay back in. We could feel the swell and churn of the ocean, which flowed so quickly we barely needed to paddle. The beach we had left that morning was much smaller upon our return. Soon, it would be gone entirely.
If you visit the Bay of Fundy
Today, people come from all over to see the dramatic changes in the landscape as the tides rise and fall. If kayaking in the Bay of Fundy doesn’t sound appealing, there are plenty of other activities to participate in. You could try whale watching, a boat tour, hiking or biking along the Fundy Trail Parkway, tidal bore rafting or mud sliding.
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