Last Updated: May 2026
On our way back to the United States from Nova Scotia, we made a deliberate detour into New Brunswick for a few nights at Fundy National Park — and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of the entire summer. A magical waterfall trail, a rare albino lobster, a bottle of Spanish red with fresh pasta and chanterelle mushrooms, and the most dramatic tidal formations on the planet. Not a bad send-off from Canada.
Fundy National Park
Fundy National Park is a remarkably well-equipped park — two campgrounds, over 100 km of hiking trails, a heated saltwater pool, mountain bike trails, kayaking, a golf course, and full dog-friendliness. Our site was a pull-through with 50-amp service, solid 50-psi water pressure, and easy levelling. Not much of a view and privacy was moderate, but the hiking trail ran right alongside the site. Jake immediately discovered squirrels to monitor through the window.
Dickson Falls Trail
Dickson Falls is one of the most popular trails in the park, and for very good reason. The path — partly on a beautifully constructed wooden boardwalk — winds through a cool, lush gorge along the Dickson Brook, every surface carpeted in dense green moss. The light filters through the canopy in layers. It genuinely calls to mind the forests of Middle-earth — Tolkien would have recognized this place immediately. The falls themselves are beautiful and peaceful, and the photographs simply cannot capture it. It was that beautiful.
Alma
Alma Lobster Shop
The Alma Lobster Shop had a rare albino lobster in the tank — estimated to occur roughly once in every 100 million lobsters. They won’t sell or eat it; they’ll either release it or donate it to an aquarium. A remarkable creature.
We ordered a few pounds of lobster with garlic and lemon butter. The lobster in the Maritimes had been excellent throughout the trip, and this was no exception.
Octopus’ Garden Café
The Octopus’ Garden is a casual café by day and a remarkable pasta restaurant by night. We had a stunning bottle of Spanish red blend alongside fresh-made pasta with scallops and chanterelle mushrooms — the kind of meal that reminds you how much a great chef and good local ingredients can achieve. The owner-chef and staff were warm and genuinely engaging. We ended up in a long, enjoyable conversation with a couple from Ontario at the next table — he is completing a doctorate studying bird hormones, she works as a dental technician and teaches yoga. The kind of evening you don’t plan and don’t forget.
Hopewell Rocks
Hopewell Rocks is about 30 minutes north of the park — and absolutely worth the drive. The best time to visit is at low tide, when the famous flowerpot formations are fully exposed and you can walk the ocean floor. At mid-tide, kayakers paddle among the columns. There were tourists by the busload, as you’d expect at one of New Brunswick’s signature attractions, but the formations earn every visitor.
The geology is ancient and dramatic. Millions of years ago a massive mountain range eroded, and the sediment gradually compressed into solid red sandstone. The Bay of Fundy tides — the highest in the world — have been carving the bases of these formations ever since, undercutting the soft rock while the harder cap material above resists, producing the distinctive mushroom or flowerpot shapes. The tide does its work twice a day, every day.
Tomorrow: back in the USA. After two months in Canada, we were genuinely ready for American food and wine.
Visitor Information
Fundy National Park is near the village of Alma on the Bay of Fundy. Parks Canada entry fees apply; annual passes are worth it if visiting multiple Parks Canada sites. The Chignecto North campground accommodates large RVs with full hookups. The heated saltwater pool is fed by the Bay of Fundy — a novelty worth a swim.
Dickson Falls Trail is a 3-km loop, easy to moderate, suitable for all fitness levels. The boardwalk sections make it accessible even in wet conditions. Allow 45–60 minutes. One of the most atmospheric short hikes in Atlantic Canada.
Hopewell Rocks entry fee applies (separate from Parks Canada pass). Check the tide schedule before you go — low tide is the only time you can walk the ocean floor. The difference between high and low tide here can exceed 40 feet; timing matters enormously. Kayak tours are available through local operators during mid-tide windows.
Alma village is a short drive from the park entrance and has several good places to eat along the waterfront. The Alma Lobster Shop and Octopus’ Garden Café are both excellent. Book the Octopus’ Garden for dinner — it fills up.
Practical Tips
For RVers: Fundy National Park’s Chignecto North campground handles large motorhomes well — pull-throughs, 50-amp, good water pressure. Reserve ahead in summer; the park is popular with Canadian families and international visitors alike.
Hopewell Rocks timing: Download a Bay of Fundy tide chart app before your visit. Walking the ocean floor at low tide is the defining experience — allow at least two hours on the floor. The formations look completely different at various tide levels, so even a partial tide visit is worthwhile if you can’t time it perfectly.
Albino lobster: If you visit the Alma Lobster Shop, ask about any unusual catches. The staff are knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic about what comes up in the traps. The garlic butter lobster is the move.
