New Brunswick's Hopewell Rocks

By JIm Balcomb


Carved from Fundy's sandstone sea cliffs over the course of years and years, the Flower Pot Rocks, otherwise referred to as sea stacks, exemplify the vertical variance of the Bay of Fundy tides.

Nicknamed the Flower Pot Rocks because the trees that grow at the top of the brown stacks resemble plants growing in a clay pot, sea stacks are found in a few places along Fundy's coastline, but are most noted in Albert County, New Brunswick at Hopewell Cape.

Open from late-May until mid-October, visitors to the Hopewell Rocks can walk on the ocean floor at the base of these giant formations 3 hours before and after low tide. As the tides schedule changes daily, it is highly important to check the tides ahead of your visit. At Hopewell Cape, high tide can be anyway from 32 to 46 feet.

While not at all accessible during high tide, visitors to the site can walk the forest trails, learn about the history and geology of the area in the interpretive centre, grab a break at one of two cafes or examine the present shop for interesting knick-knacks. One of the most well-liked high tide activities at Hopewell, however, is canoeing.

Set out on a guided sea canoeing excursion on the Bay of Fundy and paddle in and round the sea stacks. Only 90 minutes to two hours in length, this is a very unique adventure and provides a completely different viewpoint of the Rocks. Upon returning to the site at low tide to walk at the base of the Rocks, it is really incredible to look up and realize that just a couple of short hours earlier you were paddling 40 feet above your head!

In an earlier article, we wrote about Mi'kmaq legends concerning the Bay and the tides. According to The Hopewell Rocks website (2011), in ancient times Mi'kmaq people were slaves of annoyed whales who resided in the Bay. One day some of the slaves attempted to flee but only made it as far the beach and then were turned to stone by their whale captors. It is said that today they remain encased in these rock formations.




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