Fundy National Park
After experiencing the amazing Fundy Trail Parkway in the previous post, we entered Fundy National Park. Founded in 1948, the park is small at 80 square miles. However, it boasts over 50 miles of hiking trails, 25 waterfalls, camping, two lakes, a golf course, a covered bridge, and 8 miles of coastline.
Brief History of the Park
The land within the park boundaries once consisted of several small logging communities, including Pointe Wolfe, Hastings, West Alma, and Herring Cove. Yet by the 1920s, the sawmills closed, leaving behind overcut forests, a diminished salmon population, and few residents. When searching for parkland, the Canadian government found abandoned farms and areas needing love and care.
Since opening the park in 1950, Parks Canada has focused on returning the land to its natural setting. Today, the Acadian forest boasts white birch, maples, balsam fir, and a 400-year-old red spruce tree. Additionally, the Fundy Salmon Recovery Project seeks to increase wild salmon in the rivers.
Dickson Falls
Hiking is the best way to experience the park. Since we combined two days of exploring the area into one, we made the tough decision to explore just one hike – Dickson Falls.
The popular Dickson Falls Trail is just a one-mile loop containing a few stairs and boardwalks. I loved the lush greenery and lichen-covered rocks along the babbling brook. Soon, we came to the waterfall cascading 25 feet down the rocks. The observation deck offered different vantage points and I could see why this is the park’s most photographed waterfall.
Had we had more time, we would have hiked the 3-mile round-trip trail to Laverty Falls. We opted not to do this one since we’d have to drive on unpaved roads to get to the trailhead. Again, visitors can spend an entire day or several days exploring the area.
The only place to stay right outside the park is the tiny village of Alma. Pictured at the top of this post, Alma offers a handful of hotels and restaurants. However, most visitors choose to stay in Moncton, New Brunswick’s largest city, just about an hour’s drive away.
Cape Enrage
Making good time, we drove to Cape Enrage. Perched on the steep cliffs of Barn Marsh Island, about 20 minutes from Alma, Cape Enrage features a square design and views of Nova Scotia.
The original 1840 lighthouse was named after the “enraged” waters that crash into the reef below with 50-foot tides. The government replaced the structure twice – in 1870 and 1904 and added a duplex for the lightkeepers in 1952.
When automated in 1988, the staff moved away and vandals took over the property. A physics teacher (and son of a lightkeeper) noted the damage and came up with a plan to transform the area into a non-profit adventure park to draw in tourists. Today, visitors can zipline, rappel the cliffs, or tackle an obstacle course. The seasonal staff of high school and college kids live in the former lightkeeper’s house renamed Cape House, which also houses a restaurant and gift shop.
Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park
We hurried on to our final destination to Hopewell Rocks. Arriving right around closing, we only saw a few people milling around.
Since we couldn’t visit the interpretive center, we followed the map to Staircase Cove. Consisting of approximately 100 steps, this cove affords views of the famous flowerpot rocks including Lovers Arch. Walking on the ocean floor was pretty cool and we only saw a few people.
We only spent a few minutes here as the park was closing and it started raining. This is definitely one of the must-do activities in the area. To experience Hopewell Rocks at its best, plan to stay for both high and low tides. If you can only stay for a few minutes, I think low tide is the best time since you can walk on the ocean floor.
Conclusion
If you’re staying in Moncton and only have a few hours, I suggest visiting Hopewell Rocks since it’s only about 30 minutes away. If you have a half-day, then add a trip to Cape Enrage. For a longer trip, Fundy National Park is worth an entire day (if you want to do it right) with hiking and biking trails. You can try to visit all three in one day like we did, but you will only scratch the surface.
For more information including fees, maps, and tide tables visit the websites for Fundy National Park, Cape Enrage, and Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park.