Kayaking Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick

Kayaking the Hopewell Rocks in the Bay of Fundy

Every year about 175,000 people visit Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick. It’s one of the most popular attractions in the province appealing to people of all ages. Only a fraction of visitors actually try kayaking Hopewell Rocks, which also goes by the name – The Flowerpots.

The cool looking rock formations are located on the Bay of Fundy, home to the world’s largest tides.

Every day more than 100 billion tons of water reportedly flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy – as much as all the water contained in every freshwater lake and river in the world – though I can’t imagine who did that calculation.

All visitors to Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park get a chance to see the wonderfully eroded rock formations though I think you have to have a good imagination to consider the shape to be a Flowerpot. Note that there’s a shuttle if the kilometre long walk to the beach from the Visitor Center is a problem.

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Don't wear anything white at Hopewell Rocks, especially shoes
Don’t wear anything white especially shoes – whether kayaking Hopewell Rocks or simply walking and exploring the beach

Kayaking Hopewell Rocks – where timing is everything

If you arrive at Hopewell Rocks within three hours on either side of low tide you can walk the ocean floor among the flowerpot rock formations.

I did that and could have spent hours taking photos.

But I also booked a two hour kayaking trip with Baymount Adventures so I had the chance to see The Flowerpots from several different vantage points. I’d recommend the experience.

The Flowerpots at low tide
The Flowerpots at low tide
Kayaking Hopewell Rocks in water that is always muddy in this part of the Bay of Fundy
The water is always muddy in this part of the Bay of Fundy
One of these big flowerpots collapsed a few years ago
One of these big flowerpots collapsed a few years ago
It's VERY busy at low tide on a summer day
It’s VERY busy at low tide on a summer day

What it’s like Kayaking Hopewell Rocks

Kayaking Hopewell Rocks on a tour around the flowerpots is very popular. It’s easy and even better –  its kid and family-friendly.

Book well in advance in the summer.

Approximately 30 people were on our tour – though each group of 6 or 8 ended up with their own guide. After getting geared up with a life jacket, a spray skirt, a paddle and a dry bag we walked down to the beach.

For many it was there first time ever kayaking so the lesson on how to hold a paddle and the safety talk was useful. For me – not so much.

Let the tide float you off the beach

What was different for me compared to other kayaking trips was the way we launched.

We all got in our kayaks, adjusted rudder pedals, did up our spray skirt and then waited for the Bay of Fundy tide to float us away – granted with a quick push to move things along from the guide.

The tide rises – and falls – so quickly – just under 6 feet an hour for 6 hours (it was a 39 foot tide the day I went) so it wouldn’t have been long before we floated off naturally.

Over the next 1.5 hours kayaking Hopewell Rocks we explore the coast between the flowerpots, checked out some caves and paddled onto Shepody Bay. It’s great fun maneuvering the kayak in tight places.

Kayaking Hopewell Rocks as the tide rises around the rocks
Kayaking as the tide rises around the rocks
Kayaking Hopewell Rocks towards the donut shaped cloud
Kayaking towards the donut shaped cloud
Kayaking in between the rock formations
Kayaking in between the rock formations
Easy kayaking with almost no wind blowing
Easy kayaking at Hopewell Rocks with almost no wind blowing
The same place at high tide
The same place at high tide

The semipalmated sandpipers at Hopewell Rocks

On our return to the launch site we were treated to the sight of thousands of semipalmated sandpipers – or at least I think that’s what they were as they make up the bulk of the two million shorebirds that visit the Bay of Fundy every summer.

Other shorebirds that stop on their migration include the least sandpiper, the semipalmated plover and sanderlings.

They come to the Bay of Fundy to fuel up on the nutrient rich mudflats for their trip to South America. It was a treat to see them – even from a distance.

Masses of sandpipers not far from our launch site
Masses of sandpipers not far from our launch site

Useful Hopewell Rocks information

In the summer the park is open from 8 AM until 8 PM. By late August the opening hours become shorter.

Adult admission is $15 per person – good for entrance on two consecutive days. Kids are $8.00 each. Seniors and youth get reduced rates.

The park is open from mid-May until mid-October. Visit their website to get up to date pricing and times.

The park is less than an hour’s drive from Moncton.

Photographers will love the ever changing landscape at Hopewell Rocks
Photographers will love the ever changing landscape – whether kayaking at Hopewell Rocks or walking the ocean floor
Note where the high tide mark is on this flowerpot
Kayaking the Hopewell Rocks area means you’ll be up nearer to the high tide mark on this flowerpot

Where to stay near Hopewell Rocks

The Shepody Bay Inn in Hopewell Cape, 8.6 km away is rated as excellent.

The Artisan Suites are even closer, at just 2 km from Hopewell Rocks. Suites offer king suites, a fully equipped kitchen, and a double jacuzzi tub. They are rated as excellent.

Mountainview Solitude Retreat, a sustainable bed and breakfast retreat, 17.7 km from kayaking Hopewell Rocks would also be a fine choice. It’s rated as wonderful.

Further reading on things to do in New Brunswick

Click on the photo below to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

Exploring Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick on foot and by kayak depending on the Bay of Fundy tides

 

 

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