We spent an entire day on the Fundy Trail and still didn’t see everything we had on our list. The best thing to do before your visit is to contact someone at the Interpretative centre and get a map to plan your visit, especially if, like us, you only have one day in the area.

The Fundy Trail, a part of Fundy National Park, is a wheelchair-friendly coastal access network that includes a low-speed auto parkway with scenic lookouts, a pedestrian and bicycle trail, footpaths to beaches, and an Interpretive Centre where you can schedule guided hikes and other activities.

Located on the Bay of Fundy in St. Martins, New Brunswick, the park showcases the highest tides in the world and more than 25 waterfalls. On a clear day, you can look across the bay and see parts of Nova Scotia. It was an absolute joy to drive through the park and stop at the many lookouts along the way.

The park currently covers more than 207 kilometres; to say there is a lot to do on the trail almost feels like an understatement. From family-friendly trails to more rugged trails along the Fundy Footpath, to swimming, to hiking, you are sure to have an amazing day full of adventure here.

At the beginning or end of the trail, you will be able to explore the ocean floor on foot, depending on where you start. If you look closely, you’ll be able to see some sea creatures chilling out on the seaweed, waiting for the tide to come back in. At high tide, the ocean floor disappears under 50ft of saltwater.

We started our day on the trail by stopping at the Interpretative centre; first, the kids learned how to call for moose, then we watched a video all about the inspiration for the trail and the work that was done to create it.

After the video, we were treated to some delicious homemade molasses cookies and King Cole tea. The kids got to try real molasses; it was the first time for our 4-year-old who loved it! He literally licked the spoon. After our little snack, we went for a guided hike that started near the interpretative centre. We learned about plants, berries, and trees as we walked along the path. Our guide showed us some of the best places to hike with kids along the way.

Assuming that you have limited time and cannot explore the full trail, our recommendations are Suspension Bridge hike, Mitchell Franklin Bridge lookout, Long Beach Lookout, Fuller Falls, and Bradshaw lookout.

On our way out of the trail, we stopped by the caves as it was low tide, and we were able to explore the caves on foot. There are a few restaurants by the caves, or you can pack your own food and have a picnic. If your goal is to explore the caves on foot, you must check the tide schedule as low tide is not the same every day. You can check the tide schedule here

Exploring the Fundy Trail is a must-do if you are visiting New Brunswick. If you have young children, you can ask to get an activity guide for the kids. Our eight-year-old was able to keep herself entertained with finding the various items listed and answering questions. After completing the activity, she received a certificate and treat—win/win for everyone.

These are our favourite spots to check out along the Fundy Trail Parkway.

Fox Rock : Here you can see the first view of the world famous Bay of Fundy after going through the West Gate of the parkway in St. Martins. (unfortunately, it was not a clear day so we didn’t capture it fully and yet, it’s still gorgeous.)

Fuller Falls : Observe from the upper deck or go down the cable ladder to the lower deck **** This a MUST*** These are taken about 6 years apart. In the first two photos, it was after a rainy period and on the day we visited it was a bit cloudy. I’m sharing to show that there really isn’t a bad day on the Fundy Trail.

The Cookhouse: Get a quick overview of this facility and the history surrounding it and then stop for lunch. If you go you will absolutely want to try all the pies and you should; they are so yummy.

A quick visit to the Big Salmon River Interpretive Centre– video, history, and photo opportunity from the back deck and then a quick walk to the suspension footbridge and explore the banks of Big Salmon River.

Long Beach and Tufts Plateau, which is adjacent to P12. This is a great spot for a picnic lunch and there is a little museum and a washroom.

Visit Walton Glen Reception Centre, park the car and hike 1.1 kilometres to the observation deck. Here you will see Walton Glen Gorge, New Brunswick’s Grand Canyon. It’s 1,000 feet across, 600 feet down, and there’s a waterfall coming down the cliff face – absolutely stunning and I’m so glad this is now accessible by a short walk.