Kayaking Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick's Bay of Fundy

While most people come just to walk on the ocean floor, kayaking the Hopewell Rocks is a fun and unforgettable adventure.

Every summer, thousands of visitors come to paddle the highest tides in the world. It’s the most unique way to see Canada’s coolest flowerpot rocks. And later you can walk on the beach with them 40 feet lower than you just kayaked.

Seeing the towering rocks around me while kayaking was one of the highlights of my time in New Brunswick.

Let’s get right into what you need to know about kayaking Hopewell Rocks including the best times to visit, how to get there, and visiting tips.

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Melissa standing in front of the Hopewell Rocks, a stack of rock formations that are 12-21 meters high, located in Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada. The Hopewell Rocks are known for their flowerpot shape from thousands of years of tidal erosion. The photo was taken on a sunny day.

What Are The Hopewell Rocks?

The Hopewell Rocks are a group of free-standing sea stack rock formations in the Bay of Fundy. Carved into their flowerpot shapes by thousands of years of tidal erosion, they are an iconic feature of New Brunswick.

You’ll find over 20 of them along a 2km stretch of coastline known as Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park.

Unlike Ontario’s iconic Flower Pot Island in Tobermory, the Hopewell Rocks in NB are bigger and taller, varying in height from 40-70 feet!

What Makes The Hopewell Rocks Special?

What makes the Hopewell Rocks special is the effect the extreme tidal changes in the Bay of Fundy have on them. You can walk on the ocean floor with the rocks and then a few hours later that area is submerged under 38-52 feet of water and you can go kayaking.

It makes this spot unique as nowhere else in New Brunswick can you stand on the ocean floor.

The tidal waves at the Hopewell Rocks are not only the tallest in Canada, but they are also the tallest in the world. Other countries have an average tidal range of about 2-3 feet.

But the same thing that makes them special, threatens to destroy them. The tides carving away at the rocks have caused a few of them to crumble, including Elephant Rock in 2016 and Flowerpot Rock in 2022. So you’ll want to plan your visit sooner vs later to experience this unique spot for yourself before more collapse.

At a distance, there are two people kayaking on a body of water with orange paddles, between Bay of Fundy's Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick, Canada, taken on a sunny day. Beyond the distance are some green trees peeking behind the rocks. There are some smudges on the photo from the lens from getting wet.

Kayaking at Hopewell Rocks

Kayaking Hopewell Rocks is a fun and unique adventure. Not only do you get to paddle up close with these famous flowerpot-shaped rocks, you can paddle through their arches.

The kayaking tours happen rain or shine during high-tide, mid-tide, and after-dark. The high-tide option is the most popular pick and the tour I did.

You’ll start on a rocky shoreline within the park, paddle until you get to the rocks, enjoy being with the rocks, and then return to the starting point. Tours last 1.5-2 hours and paddle across approximately 4 km.

You can book with Baymount Outdoor Adventure. They pride themselves on delivering the highest tidal kayaking experience in the world. The guides are friendly and will help you along the way. Tours start at $74 CAD per adult.

Importance of Timing

When planning to kayak at Hopewell Rocks, timing is everything. With the tide changes in the Bay of Fundy cycling from high to low every 6 hours, you need to time your visit just right to hit the water when it’s surrounding the rocks.

Your tour will be timed according to the tidal chart to ensure you have a fun and safe paddle at the right moment. It’s why the kayak tours start at different times every day. Mine landed in the early afternoon.

Depending on how high the waves are, they may have to delay or cancel a tour for safety.

Melissa smiling at the camera, wearing a yellow life jacket on a yellow kayaking boat. She is kayaking next to the Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada, on a sunny day.

What It’s Like Kayaking the Bay of Fundy

When planning my trip to New Brunswick, Hopewell Rocks kayaking was top of my activity list.

I started in the morning walking on the ocean floor at low tide, soaking everything all in. A few hours later, it was time to get on the water.

You need to arrive 30 minutes before your departure to listen to a safety briefing and get fitted for a life jacket. If you haven’t kayaked before, they’ll teach you now.

The most unique thing about this tour is that you don’t paddle to get started. You let the tide lift your kayak off the sand and go from there. It made it so fun and easy to get going, unlike other kayaking tours I’ve done so far.

If you are on the high tide tour like me, it lasts 2 hours. Where the mid-tide tour lasts 1.5 hours.

Time flew by after paddling all the way to the sea stack rocks and exploring around them. You could paddle inside the caves if you were comfortable while being cautious to not bump into the rocks which would damage them.

The guides were nice and would happily use my waterproof camera to take pictures of us along the way.

During my visit, the waves were rough at 3m high, but they didn’t impact my kayaking experience. It made for a wavy time but didn’t take away from the fun of kayaking the Hopewell Rocks.

I couldn’t believe I was just walking on the ground here during low tide a few hours before! It’s an incredible experience you have to try for yourself. Most people only walk along the shore at low tide but doing both the walking and the kayaking is the full experience.

It’s still one of my favourite memories from my East Coast adventure.

2 people on a yellow kayak with orange paddles, on the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada on a sunny day. At a distance, you can see some trees and rock formations. The photo was taken from Melissa, who was also kayaking and a part of her paddle is shown. There are specks of water in the photo from the lens from getting wet.

Best Time to Visit the Hopewell Rocks NB

The best time to visit Hopewell Rocks is summer when the weather is nicer (just don’t expect the water to be warm).

The park is open from late May to early October (from Canada’s Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving weekend). For fewer crowds, visit outside of July and August.

My visit was in late August and the weather was beautiful but the water was extra wavy.

I recommend you spend at least one complete tidal cycle. You need to see both the high and low tides while visiting Hopewell Rocks for the full experience. If your schedule doesn’t allow for both, visit during low tide for your first visit.

The beach is closed from November to April due to poor weather in the Bay of Fundy.

Best Time of Day to Kayak

The best time to kayak Hopewell Rocks is in the morning or at sunset. You’ll have better lighting for photos.

The first tours of the day run while the tide is rising to high tide, and the later tours go while the tide is falling.

Tour times change daily with most tours starting between 10 am – 1 pm.

I picked my afternoon tour so I could see low tide before paddling. But you can do the reverse and kayak first.

Melissa standing in front of the Hopewell Rocks, a stack of rock formations that are 12-21 meters long, located in Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada. The Hopewell Rocks are known for their flowerpot shape from thousands of years of tidal erosion. The photo was taken on a sunny day.

Low Tide at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park

Low tide at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is a whole different experience. For 3 hours on either side of low tide, you can walk on the ocean floor, get close to the towering rocks, or walk along one of the beach trails.

It takes 6 hours to change from high tide to low tide so plan to stay a full day. Park entrance is valid for 48 hours, so you have the flexibility to visit at both high and low tide. I did it both on the same day, but you can spread it out into 2 days.

To get down to the beach, you’ll climb down one of three metal staircases throughout the park.

Make sure you wear sturdy shoes that can get dirty or be prepared to clean the mud both on and inside your shoes. Be careful not to slip if wearing flip-flops. I wore my favourite adventure shoes which I take for any water activity. You can rinse your feet after to not track mud in your rental car.

I couldn’t believe how big the rocks were. I looked so tiny beside them.

What to Do at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park

In addition to high-tide kayaking you’ll find:

Forest hiking trails with oceanfront views
Walking on the ocean floor during low tide
Night kayaking tours under the stars
Picnic area for lunch

Amenities within the park include a gift shop, restaurant, and playground.

My favourite part of visiting Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park was walking the ocean floor with the rocks and then later the same day kayaking at the same spot. It is a unique experience and one of my favourite Canadian adventures.

Helpful Park Info

Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park – Hours of Operation:

Victoria Day weekend (May) – late June: 9 am – 5 pm

Late June – Late August: 8 am – 8 pm

Late August – Mid September: 8 am – 6 pm

Mid September – Thanksgiving weekend (October): 9 am – 5 pm

Park Admission

Park admission starts at $15 CAD per adult, with a reduced price for students, seniors, and children.

Note: Park admission is a separate cost from your kayaking tour

Ready to buy your tickets? Buy your Hopewell Rocks tickets here.

Places to Stay Near Hopewell Rocks

Innisfree Hopewell Rocks Bed & Breakfast – a relaxed B&B in a beautifully restored 1847 farmhouse, 2 km from the park

Hope-Wellness Eco Resort – sustainable 4-season resort overlooking Bay of Fundy with a Nordic lounge, 8 km from the park

Broadleaf Ranch – an 800-acre ranch with guesthouses, glamping, and chalet accommodations, 15 km from the park

Melissa posing in front of the Hopewell Rocks in Bay of Fundy, in New Brunswick, Canada, on a sunny day. The Hopewell Rocks are a major attraction in New Brunswick, known for their flowerpot shapes and tall size at 12-21 meters high. When there is a tide, visitors come to kayak near the rocks.

How to Get to The Hopewell Rocks

To reach the park, you will need to hire a taxi or rent a car and drive.

There is no public transportation. It’s a 30-minute drive from Moncton and a 2-hour drive from St.John.

Driving Directions From Moncton:

Take the NB – 114 S highway
Drive 35 kilometres on the 114 S
Turn left onto Rocks Road
Slight right onto Discovery Road

Driving Directions From St.John:

Take Route 1 E towards Moncton
Drive 86 kilometres on Route 1 E
Turn right onto NB-114 E
Turn right onto Rocks Road
Slight right onto Discovery Road

Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park

Address: 131 Discovery Rd, Hopewell Cape, NB, E4H 4Z5

Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada, during low tide on a sunny day. There are some people at a distance, with mostly moss in the foreground of the photo. Bay of Fundy is a popular attraction, known for Hopewell Rocks, a large stack of rock formations at 12-21 meters high. Visitors love to kayak near Hopewell Rocks.

Tips for Visiting Hopewell Rocks

An entry pass to the provincial park is valid for two consecutive days. This provides the most flexibility to see both the high and low tides based on the tidal schedules. If you miss one the first day, head back the next day. I was lucky to see both high tide and low tide on the same day.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that can get dirty. Wearing white shoes or flimsy shoes is not recommended. Running shoes are your best shoe pick. If kayaking, leave a change of clothes in your car for if your clothes get wet during your tour.
Check the Hopewell Rocks tide schedule before your visit – you will want to visit the rocks at both high and low tide for the best experience. Sometimes this means coming back the next day.
Getting around the park is easiest while using a map. The park map will show you where the staircase to reach the ocean floor is, where hiking trails lead, and the best places for scenic views.
Have fun and don’t forget your camera!

Final Thoughts on Kayaking Hopewell Rocks

Kayaking the Hopewell Rocks is a bucket list activity for New Brunswick. It is a different perspective to paddle the rocks versus walking beneath them, one you won’t want to miss.

The best time to visit Hopewell Rocks is during both low and high tides. Check the tidal schedule before you go, and be sure to book your kayak tour in advance during summer.

Visiting Hopewells Rocks is just the beginning of exploring New Brunswick and the Maritimes. There are plenty more activities waiting for you. From scenic road trips to beautiful sunrises, go to Atlantic Canada and have some adventures!

Happy travelling!

Kayaking Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick’s Bay of Fundy

What Are The Hopewell Rocks?

What Makes The Hopewell Rocks Special?