What is the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark?

A UNESCO-designated area covering 165 km of Bay of Fundy shoreline in Nova Scotia, designated in 2020 and revalidated in 2025 for its outstanding geological heritage including the world's highest tides, fossils spanning hundreds of millions of years, and dramatic coastal landscapes. The geopark is not a single park — it's a region that includes provincial parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, museums, and coastal communities working together to share their geological story.

How is a Global Geopark different from a World Heritage Site?

Global Geoparks focus on geological heritage, education, and sustainable community development. World Heritage Sites recognize outstanding universal value. Joggins Fossil Cliffs is BOTH a World Heritage Site AND located within the Cliffs of Fundy Geopark — the two designations complement each other. The geopark encompasses a broader region and tells a wider geological story.

Where does the geopark start and end?

The geopark stretches approximately 165 km along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy / Minas Basin, from near Truro in the east to Advocate Harbour / Cape Chignecto in the west. Key communities include Truro, Bass River, Economy, Five Islands, Parrsboro, Joggins, and Advocate Harbour.

Do I need to pay to visit the geopark?

The geopark itself is not a gated attraction — you can drive through it freely. Individual sites within it charge admission (e.g., Joggins Fossil Cliffs $12.50, Fundy Geological Museum $8.50). Provincial parks charge for camping but day-use is often free or by donation. Burntcoat Head Park is free.

How long should I spend in the geopark?

A half-day covers Burntcoat Head. A full day adds Parrsboro and one more site. Two days lets you experience Joggins, Cape Chignecto, and Cape d'Or properly. Three days is ideal for a relaxed pace with time for museums, dining, and unexpected discoveries.

Yes, absolutely. The geopark covers 165 km of coastline with no public transit. Sites are spread out along rural roads. Car rental is essential.

When is the best time to visit?

June through September for full services and warmest weather. The tides operate year-round but many facilities (visitor centres, museums) close or reduce hours from October to May. Late September offers fewer crowds, fall colours, and still-warm days.

What should I know about the tides?

The Bay of Fundy has the world's highest tides (up to 16 metres at Burntcoat Head). Tides cycle roughly every 12.5 hours — two high tides and two low tides per day. Many geopark attractions (beaches, fossil beds, sea caves) are only accessible at LOW tide. Always check tide tables at tides.gc.ca before visiting. Never walk on the ocean floor as the tide is coming in — the water moves faster than you can walk.

UNESCO Global Geopark · Designated 2020 · Revalidated 2025

Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark — Complete Guide

165 km of Fundy shoreline · World's highest tides · 300-million-year-old fossils · Nova Scotia

Plan Your Visit

Updated June 2026

In 2020, the Cliffs of Fundy was designated a UNESCO Global Geopark — with revalidation in 2025 — recognizing 165 kilometres of extraordinary Bay of Fundy coastline as having international geological significance. This stretch of Nova Scotia shoreline holds the world's highest tides at Burntcoat Head, 300-million-year-old fossil forests at Joggins, 200-metre sea cliffs at Cape Chignecto, and a geological story spanning over a billion years. It's not a single park you visit — it's a region you explore. Here's the complete guide to planning your Cliffs of Fundy geopark adventure.

Geopark at a Glance

🌍

UNESCO Global Geopark

Designated in 2020 and revalidated in 2025 — 165 km of Bay of Fundy shoreline recognized for outstanding geological heritage and sustainable tourism.

🌊

World's Highest Tides

Burntcoat Head holds the Guinness record at 16.3 metres (53.5 feet) — the tidal engine powering everything from fossil erosion to tidal bore rafting.

🦎

300-Million-Year-Old Fossils

Joggins Fossil Cliffs — a separate UNESCO World Heritage Site within the geopark — preserves the most complete Coal Age fossil record on Earth.

⛰️

200-Metre Sea Cliffs

Cape Chignecto Provincial Park features the highest cliffs in mainland Nova Scotia, with wilderness hiking and the Three Sisters sea stacks.

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Burntcoat Head Park

Walk the ocean floor at the world's highest recorded tides. Free to visit, 1 hour from Halifax. The geopark's must-see attraction.

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Indigenous Heritage

Mi'kmaq communities have stewarded this coastline for millennia. The geopark incorporates Mi'kmaw cultural sites and traditional ecological knowledge.

Practical Visitor Information

The Cliffs of Fundy Geopark is a region, not a park — here's what you need to know before you go.

🕙 Hours & Season

The geopark is accessible year-round. Individual sites vary — Joggins Fossil Centre (May–October), Fundy Geological Museum (year-round, reduced winter hours), provincial parks (May–October for camping, day-use year-round). Check each site before visiting.

💰 Admission

The geopark itself is free to explore — it's not a gated attraction. Individual site fees: Joggins Fossil Cliffs $12.50 adult, Fundy Geological Museum $8.50 adult, provincial parks free for day-use, camping fees apply.

🚗 Getting There

From Halifax: Drive north on Highway 102 to Truro (1 hr), then follow Route 215/2 west along the Fundy shore. The geopark stretches from near Truro west to Advocate Harbour (~165 km). A car is essential — there is no public transit.

Need a car? Compare rates across all major providers with — often 20–30% cheaper than booking direct at the airport.

International visitors: skip the roaming fees with an — instant activation, works across Nova Scotia, and starts at ~$5 USD.

⚠️ Critical: Tide Times

Many geopark attractions are tide-dependent — fossil beds, sea caves, and ocean floor walks are only accessible at LOW tide. Always check tide tables before visiting. The tide at Burntcoat Head rises up to 16 metres, and the water comes in faster than you can walk.

Key Attractions in the Geopark

Eight essential stops along 165 km of Fundy shoreline — from the world's highest tides to 300-million-year-old fossils.

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Burntcoat Head

The crown jewel of the geopark — Burntcoat Head Park holds the Guinness World Record for the highest recorded tides on Earth at 16.3 metres (53.5 feet). At low tide, you can walk out onto the red sandstone ocean floor, explore tidal pools, and stand among formations that are submerged twice daily. The tidal range here is taller than a five-storey building. Free to visit. Approximately 1 hour from Halifax via Truro.

🦎

Joggins Fossil Cliffs

A UNESCO World Heritage Site (designated 2008) located within the geopark. Fifteen kilometres of continuously exposed fossil cliffs reveal 300-million-year-old Coal Age ecosystems — giant trees standing upright where they grew, early reptile tracks, and entire tropical forests preserved in stone. The visitor centre offers guided beach walks included with admission ($12.50 adult). See our complete Joggins guide for full details.

⛰️

Cape Chignecto Provincial Park

Nova Scotia's largest provincial park at 42 km², featuring 200-metre sea cliffs — the highest in mainland Nova Scotia. The 29 km of wild coastline includes the spectacular Three Sisters sea stacks, reachable via the Eatonville day-use trail (3 km one way). Backcountry camping is available along the coastal trail. The park is a core geopark site showcasing dramatic erosion and columnar basalt formations.

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Cape d'Or

A dramatic basalt headland near Advocate Harbour with a lighthouse perched on the cliff edge, sea caves accessible at low tide, and striking columnar jointing in the volcanic rock. The 1 km hike to the lighthouse offers panoramic views of the Bay of Fundy. Free to visit. The sea caves here are a geological highlight of the geopark — formed by thousands of years of tidal erosion into the ancient lava flows. See all NS lighthouses →

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Parrsboro & Fundy Geological Museum

The gateway town to the geopark. The Fundy Geological Museum features dinosaurs and minerals of the Bay of Fundy, including Canada's oldest dinosaur footprints found at nearby Wasson Bluff. Parrsboro itself has galleries, restaurants, boat tours, and the Ottawa House Museum. It's the natural base for exploring the western end of the geopark.

🏝️

Five Islands Provincial Park

Five dramatic offshore islands visible at low tide — connected to the mainland by the receding Bay of Fundy. Old Wife Point offers a stunning cliff-top viewpoint over the islands and the Minas Basin. The park has beachcombing, camping, and some of the geopark's most photogenic scenery. Approximately 30 minutes from Parrsboro along Route 2. Find Fundy shore beaches →

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Thomas Head & Economy

The quieter eastern end of the geopark. Moose River Falls cascades into a scenic gorge near the community of Economy. Thomas Head offers coastal views and forest trails. This stretch of shoreline is less visited than Burntcoat Head or Parrsboro — peaceful, scenic, and a reminder that much of the geopark is still wild, working coastline.

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Age of Sail Heritage Centre (Port Greville)

A small but compelling museum telling the story of the wooden ship-building era when coastal villages like Port Greville built and launched hundreds of vessels for global trade. Admission by donation. Open June through September. Located between Cape Chignecto and Advocate Harbour — a perfect stop on a geopark driving tour.

Why UNESCO Designated the Cliffs of Fundy

The geopark tells a geological story spanning over a billion years — from ancient supercontinents to the highest tides on Earth.

Triassic–Jurassic Rocks & the Birth of the Atlantic

The cliffs along this coast expose rocks from the late Triassic to early Jurassic period, roughly 200 million years ago — the moment when the supercontinent Pangea began to break apart and the Atlantic Ocean was born. The red sandstones and basalts visible at Cape d'Or, Five Islands, and along the shore record this dramatic transition: ancient rift valleys filled with sediment, lava flows from the splitting continent, and the fossilized remains of creatures that lived through one of Earth's great transitions.

At Wasson Bluff near Parrsboro, geologists have found Canada's oldest dinosaur footprints — approximately 200 million years old — along with fossil fish and early reptile bones from the dawn of the age of dinosaurs. The Fundy Geological Museum in Parrsboro displays these remarkable finds.

The Bay of Fundy Rift Valley

The Bay of Fundy itself is a half-graben — a valley formed when the Earth's crust stretched and dropped down between two fault lines as Pangea split apart. This ancient rift valley filled with seawater, creating the bay's distinctive funnel shape. That shape is the key to the tides: the bay narrows from 100 km wide at its mouth to just a few kilometres at its head, amplifying the Atlantic tide into the world's highest.

How the Highest Tides Work

The Bay of Fundy's unique funnel geometry resonates with the Atlantic Ocean's semi-diurnal tide cycle — like water sloshing in a bathtub at exactly the right frequency. The tidal range increases from about 5 metres at the mouth to over 16 metres at Burntcoat Head. Twice every 25 hours, roughly 100 cubic kilometres of seawater flow in and out of the bay — more than the combined flow of all the world's freshwater rivers. These tides erode the cliffs at roughly 30 cm per year, constantly revealing new fossils and geological features. To plan your visit around the tides, see Best time to visit →.

The Carboniferous Legacy at Joggins

While the Triassic–Jurassic rocks dominate the western geopark, the eastern end features the older Carboniferous (Coal Age) rocks at Joggins Fossil Cliffs — 310–315 million years old. Joggins holds the world's most complete fossil record of the Coal Age, recognized as a separate UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The coexistence of two UNESCO designations — a World Heritage Site within a Global Geopark — makes this stretch of coastline geologically unique on the planet.

Suggested Itineraries

Three ways to experience the geopark — from a half-day taster to a full weekend exploration.

Half-Day Burntcoat Head Focus

Highest Tides Express

The quick hit — perfect if you're based in Halifax or Truro and want the essential geopark experience.

Morning

Drive to Burntcoat Head from Truro (45 min). Arrive at low tide. Walk the ocean floor — you'll be standing on seabed that's under 16 metres of water six hours later. Explore tidal pools, photograph the red sandstone formations. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

Midday

Return to Truro for lunch. Stop at the Tidal Bore viewing area on the way if time permits. Optional: add tidal bore rafting in the afternoon if tides align.

Full Day Fundy Shore Drive

Cliffs, Fossils & Fundy Charm

A full-day loop from Truro — the most popular geopark experience.

Morning

Drive to Burntcoat Head at low tide (45 min from Truro). Walk the ocean floor, explore tidal pools. Drive west along Route 215/2 toward Parrsboro — scenic coastal road through Economy, Five Islands, and Bass River.

Midday

Arrive in Parrsboro (1 hr from Burntcoat Head). Lunch at Fresco's or Elizabeth's Café. Visit the Fundy Geological Museum — Canada's oldest dinosaur footprints and Bay of Fundy minerals.

Afternoon

Choose your adventure: Five Islands Provincial Park for cliff views and beachcombing (30 min east), or Cape d'Or for lighthouse and sea caves (45 min west). Return to Truro or stay overnight in Parrsboro.

Two Days Complete Geopark

The Full Fundy Shore Experience

Two days to see the geopark properly — from highest tides to 300-million-year-old fossils to 200-metre sea cliffs.

Day 1 — Eastern Geopark

Start in Truro. Morning: Burntcoat Head at low tide. Drive the scenic shore road west through Five Islands (stop at Old Wife Point). Arrive in Parrsboro for late lunch. Afternoon: Fundy Geological Museum and Parrsboro galleries. Stay overnight in Parrsboro or Advocate Harbour.

Day 2 — Western Geopark

Morning: Drive to Joggins Fossil Cliffs (45 min west). Guided beach walk at low tide — 300-million-year-old fossils. Midday: Lunch at Joggins Fossil Centre or drive to Advocate Harbour for Wild Caraway. Afternoon: Cape d'Or lighthouse and sea caves, or Cape Chignecto Provincial Park (Eatonville trail to Three Sisters). Return via Route 209 to Parrsboro or continue to Amherst for the drive home.

🚗 ~300 km total driving over 2 days 🏠 Stay: Parrsboro or Advocate Harbour

Planning Tips for Your Geopark Visit

Essential advice for making the most of your time along the Fundy shore.

Check tide tables before every stop — many geopark sites are only accessible at low tide. Use tides.gc.ca and search for the nearest reference port (Burntcoat Head, Parrsboro, or Joggins Wharf).

Allow a full day minimum — the geopark covers 165 km of coastline. A two-day visit is ideal for seeing Burntcoat Head, Parrsboro, Joggins, and Cape Chignecto without rushing.

A car is absolutely essential — there is no public transit along the Fundy shore. Rent one before arriving. Compare rates at GetRentacar.com for the best deals.

Cell coverage is unreliable along much of the Fundy shore. Download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me) before leaving Truro or Halifax.

Wear sturdy shoes with grip — geopark beaches are rocky, uneven, and often slippery. No flip-flops on the fossil beaches.

Bring layers — the Fundy shore can be cool and windy even in summer, especially at exposed headlands like Cape d'Or and Cape Chignecto.

The geopark spans multiple communities — plan your fuel stops. Gas stations are available in Truro, Parrsboro, and Amherst, but are sparse along the shore road.

Combine your geopark visit with tidal bore rafting on the Shubenacadie River — it's powered by the same tides and departs just off Highway 102 near Truro.

Beyond the Geopark

The Cliffs of Fundy sits at the heart of Nova Scotia — combine it with these nearby attractions, or extend your trip with an Annapolis Valley self-drive →.

Tidal Bore Rafting (Shubenacadie River)

🚗 15–45 min from Truro

Ride the world's highest tides upstream on the Shubenacadie River — the only tidal bore rafting experience on Earth. Multiple operators depart near Truro. See our tidal bore rafting guide for full details.

Grand-Pré UNESCO World Heritage Site

🚗 1 hr from Wolfville

Acadian history, dykeland landscapes, and beautiful gardens — the third of Nova Scotia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Pair with a Wolfville lunch and winery visit.

Old Town Lunenburg UNESCO

🚗 2 hrs from Halifax

North America's best-preserved British colonial settlement — colourful waterfront, Fisheries Museum, Bluenose II. Combine with a South Shore driving tour.

Halifax

🚗 1 hr to geopark entrance

Nova Scotia's capital city with the Halifax Citadel, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, waterfront boardwalk, and excellent dining. The natural starting point for any geopark road trip.

Where to Stay

The geopark has limited accommodation in its own communities — these are the best base towns for your visit.

Truro (eastern gateway)

The largest town near the geopark's eastern end — full services, hotels, restaurants. 45 minutes to Burntcoat Head. Good base for combining geopark visits with tidal bore rafting.

Options: Chain hotels, motels, B&Bs

Parrsboro (central hub)

The geopark's gateway town — charming seaside community with inns, galleries, and the Fundy Geological Museum. Ideally positioned for day trips to Five Islands, Cape d'Or, and Joggins.

Options: Inns, B&Bs, vacation rentals

Advocate Harbour (western end)

Remote and dramatic — stay at the acclaimed Advocate Harbour Inn and dine at Wild Caraway. Closest base for Cape Chignecto and Cape d'Or. The most memorable overnight on the Fundy shore.

Options: Boutique inn, cottages

Wolfville (south, 1 hr)

University town with excellent restaurants and nearby wineries. A good base for combining the geopark with Grand-Pré UNESCO and the Annapolis Valley.

Options: B&Bs, inns, vacation rentals

Find Accommodation in the Geopark

Browse hotels, inns, and vacation rentals in Parrsboro, Truro, Advocate Harbour, and along the Bay of Fundy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark?: A UNESCO-designated area covering 165 km of Bay of Fundy shoreline in Nova Scotia, designated in 2020 and revalidated in 2025 for its outstanding geological heritage including the world's highest tides, fossils spanning hundreds of millions of years, and dramatic coastal landscapes. The geopark is not a single park — it's a region that includes provincial parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, museums, and coastal communities working together to share their geological story.
How is a Global Geopark different from a World Heritage Site?: Global Geoparks focus on geological heritage, education, and sustainable community development. World Heritage Sites recognize outstanding universal value. Joggins Fossil Cliffs is BOTH a World Heritage Site AND located within the Cliffs of Fundy Geopark — the two designations complement each other. The geopark encompasses a broader region and tells a wider geological story.
Where does the geopark start and end?: The geopark stretches approximately 165 km along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy / Minas Basin, from near Truro in the east to Advocate Harbour / Cape Chignecto in the west. Key communities include Truro, Bass River, Economy, Five Islands, Parrsboro, Joggins, and Advocate Harbour.
Do I need to pay to visit the geopark?: The geopark itself is not a gated attraction — you can drive through it freely. Individual sites within it charge admission (e.g., Joggins Fossil Cliffs $12.50, Fundy Geological Museum $8.50). Provincial parks charge for camping but day-use is often free or by donation. Burntcoat Head Park is free.
How long should I spend in the geopark?: A half-day covers Burntcoat Head. A full day adds Parrsboro and one more site. Two days lets you experience Joggins, Cape Chignecto, and Cape d'Or properly. Three days is ideal for a relaxed pace with time for museums, dining, and unexpected discoveries.
Do I need a car?: Yes, absolutely. The geopark covers 165 km of coastline with no public transit. Sites are spread out along rural roads. Car rental is essential.
When is the best time to visit?: June through September for full services and warmest weather. The tides operate year-round but many facilities (visitor centres, museums) close or reduce hours from October to May. Late September offers fewer crowds, fall colours, and still-warm days.
What should I know about the tides?: The Bay of Fundy has the world's highest tides (up to 16 metres at Burntcoat Head). Tides cycle roughly every 12.5 hours — two high tides and two low tides per day. Many geopark attractions (beaches, fossil beds, sea caves) are only accessible at LOW tide. Always check tide tables at tides.gc.ca before visiting. Never walk on the ocean floor as the tide is coming in — the water moves faster than you can walk.