The Hopewell Rocks: Home of The "Flowerpot Rocks" and The Highest Tides in The World
Location and Operating Hours:
The Hopewell Rocks are located only 30 minutes from Moncton New Brunswick on Route 114. There are large parking lots to accommodate RV’s and busses along with services such as a gift shop, cafeteria and washrooms. It is wheelchair accessible-inquire at the interpretive center.
The Hopewell Rocks Tidal exploration site is open from mid-May to mid-October. What are they?
The Hopewell Rocks are a unique rock formation, in the form of a “flower pot”, that have naturally occurred as a direct result of some of the highest tides in the World.
The Bay of Fundy is not only responsible for carving the Hopewell Rocks, it is also considered one of the marine wonders of the world! The trees and shrubs that grow on the tops of these rock formations help give the rocks their “flower pot” nickname.
High and Low Tide:
At low tide it is possible to walk on the ocean floor for about 2km and explore a cave and the Rocks themselves where only a few hours ago there was up to 48 feet of water. This certainly makes for unique treasures to be found each and every time the tide goes out!
The Rocks are only accessible 3hrs before until 3hrs after low tide. So you have a six-hour span where you are permitted to walk around, and in some cases through, these rock formations. You will be notified when it is time to climb the 100 steps to the observation deck before it become too dangerous and is approaching high tide. If you want to experience the entire phenomena, high tide is a mere 6.5 hours after low tide. At high tide you can only access the Hopewell rocks from the observation deck high above the water and by kayak with Baymount Outdoor adventures. It is possible to watch the tides rise at a rate of 4-6 feet an hour as 100 billion tones of water enter the funnel shaped bay twice daily. These highest tides in the world are a direct result of the funnel shape of the bay as it gets squeezed between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and the gravitational pull of the moon. There are numerous observation decks and interpretive panels along the gravel trail that leads to the Hopewell Rocks themselves. The interpretive panels help you piece together the fascinating secrets of the Bay of Fundy and it’s unique ecosystems. Shore Birds:If you are at Hopewell in late summer you will no-doubt see the hundreds of thousands of shore birds that feed on the mud shrimp found along the muddy flats left behind after the tides go out. Birding is very popular in this area. 
They are filling their bellies for the 4,000km flight south for the winter. The Bay of Fundy is their one and only stop for food between their summer breeding area in the arctic to their winter home in South America.
What are mud shrimp? They are highly nutritious tiny crustaceans that hide in the mud when the tide is high and then scurry to the surface to feed on algae after the tide goes out. The Hopewell Rocks area mudflats have seen as many as 10,000-20,000 crustaceans in every square meter of mud and sometimes more during certain cycles. This makes a great feast for these hungry shorebirds that can eat 10-20,000 mud shrimp each at low tide. When the shorebirds have doubled their weight and have obtained the energy needed, they continue their long flight south. Travel Tips:* Make sure to check the Tide Schedule before you plan your trip. Low tide is NOT the same time every day!!!Wear appropriate footwear! Wear something comfortable but also something with good traction. The rocks under foot can be a little slippery at times and there can be a fair amount of walking involved depending on how long you want to explore. Rubber boots are not necessary. Once you pay admission to the site your pass is good for 24-hrs. Take full advantage of this and make sure to see both high and low tide. You will be happy to know that pets are welcome to come explore also but they need to be kept on a leash and the stoop and scoop rule applies. If you have exhausted yourself exploring the shoreline there is a shuttle service back to the main building and parking lot for your convenience for a nominal fee.
The tides on the Bay of Fundy rise quickly so be sure to heed the warning signs posted for your safety!!!!Return to New Brunswick Accommodations Page from Hopewell Rocks
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