Kayak the Rocks and Walk on the Ocean Floor at Hopewell Rocks

UPDATED JANUARY 25, 2026

The Highest Tidal Adventure on Earth

To kayak among the iconic flowerpot rocks at high tide—then return hours later to walk the very ocean floor you just paddled—is one of New Brunswick’s most unforgettable experiences. At Hopewell Rocks, a Bay of Fundy UNESCO World Heritage Site, the world’s highest tides transform the same landscape twice daily, offering two wildly different and equally awe-inspiring perspectives.

Kayak the Rocks

Let me begin by saying: I am a novice kayaker—and I absolutely loved Baymount Outdoor Adventures’ Kayak the Rocks tour.

Like any beginner, I had a few nerves when I first saw this adventure on my New Brunswick Tourism itinerary. Will I be able to handle a sea kayak? Will it capsize? Will I be safe? But those worries quickly melted away thanks to Baymount’s calm, professional team, who provided a thorough safety briefing, answered every question, and made sure everyone felt confident before we launched.

Double kayaks and all equipment are provided (you can’t bring your own), and everything is inspected daily. I learned that capsizes do happen on rare occasions, but guides are expertly trained in quick rescues. I felt genuinely safe and well cared for the entire time. It didn’t hurt that my kayak partner, Will Tang, is an experienced paddler—but I watched plenty of fellow beginners do just fine too.

Baymount Outdoor Adventures is owned by Shaun Gibbs, who brings over 25 years of sea kayaking, leadership, and customer service experience to every tour. Since 2007, he has also been a lead guide for Coastal Adventures Inc. and a Paddle Canada sea kayak skills instructor. Shaun and his wife Ashley have carefully selected a talented, skilled, and safety-focused team to ensure a high-quality experience for guests. Many of Baymount’s guides are fluently bilingual as well—if you require a French guide, you can request one when making your online reservation.

We twisted and turned around towering sea stacks, slipped through narrow passages, and glided into hidden arches and tunnels for nearly two hours, covering about 4 km. It was surreal. The same flowerpot rocks I’d seen from postcards suddenly felt intimate and alive.

Our guide, Alec Lepage, was attentive and encouraging—offering paddling tips, pointing out landmarks, and sharing fascinating facts along the way. He kept the tour both informative and deeply entertaining. The scenery may be the same on every tour, but the experience changes with wind, waves, and tide direction.

This award-winning tour is a recognized Canadian Tourism Signature Experience. Baymount has also received the New Brunswick Savvy Traveller Award and the Bay of Fundy Recommended Experience Award—and it shows. It’s world-class, beautifully run, and surprisingly accessible for first-timers. (Tours aren’t offered for children under 10; youth must paddle with an adult. No pets are allowed.)

Hopewell Rocks Park Tips

Plan ahead and arrive early. The park is owned and operated by the Provincial Department of Tourism & Parks, and admission is required (passes are valid for two days). It takes about 10–15 minutes to walk from the gate to Baymount’s launch point, and you must check in at least 30 minutes before your tour begins.

Bring sunscreen, water, and clothing you don’t mind getting wet or muddy. Most people wear shorts, T-shirts, sneakers, or water shoes. A lightweight jacket and a change of clothes aren’t a bad idea either.

Walk on the Ocean Floor

Three hours before and after low tide, the ocean retreats to reveal vast mudflats and more than 20 free-standing sea stacks along a 2-km stretch of shoreline. Visitors can explore on their own or join a free guided walk led by park interpreters.

Descending the staircase to the beach felt surreal—especially after kayaking the same route just hours earlier. The towering flowerpot rocks now loomed overhead instead of beside us. It was like stepping into a completely different world.

Our interpreter, Heather Allen, brought the landscape to life with fascinating stories and gentle humor. She explained how the tides here rise and fall 36–46 feet daily, how freeze-thaw cycles slowly sculpt the cliffs, and how the rocks are constantly evolving.

Many of the flowerpots even have names inspired by their shapes: Elephant, Sentinel, Jay Leno, Mother-in-Law, Dinosaur, and more. My favorite? Jay Leno — the resemblance is uncanny. And yes—Original Rock is still standing, despite persistent rumours to the contrary.

A Living, Changing Landscape

Hopewell’s formations are continually shaped by wind, rain, tides, and temperature shifts. Some beloved flowerpots have fallen over the years, while new “flowerpot babies” are slowly forming as cliffs erode and separate.

Each spring, a dedicated safety team rappels down the cliffs to remove unstable rocks and inspect every free-standing sea stack and cliff face. Safety perimeters are then set before visitors are allowed onto the ocean floor.

Guides closely monitor the rising tide and gently usher visitors off the beach when it’s time to leave. The Bay of Fundy tide is powerful and fast—and safety here is taken seriously.

Heather pointed out “6-Minute Rock,” the lowest elevation point on the beach. When water touches it, the tide can reach the cliff in as little as six minutes. It’s a humbling reminder of just how quickly this landscape can change.

Hopewell Rocks: Stories from the Ocean Floor

Elephant Rock Fell — and the Headlines Followed

Hopewell Cape has sadly lost one of its beloved flowerpot rocks. Elephant Rock collapsed in March 2016 after thousands of years of standing tall. Half of its “head” cleaved off in a dramatic reminder of how powerful the Bay of Fundy tides really are. The fall made international headlines — even landing on the front page of The New York Times. Named for its resemblance to a charging elephant, the massive sandstone-and-conglomerate formation stood nearly 100 feet high. The same tides that sculpt these wonders also play a role in their eventual demise. Mother Nature is always at work here.

Seaweed Face Mask, Anyone?

At low tide, seaweed clings to the base of the cliffs and flowerpot rocks, and Heather shared one of my favourite fun facts. The park is home to Knotted Wrack and Bladder Wrack — the latter contains algin, an emulsifier used in everything from chocolate milk to ice cream, toothpaste, and makeup. Heather laughed that she sometimes slathers it on her face, hoping its hydrating properties will reverse sun damage and take ten years off her age. Seaweed skincare, Fundy-style.

The Tide Waits for No One

Heather also pointed out 6-Minute Rock, the lowest elevation point on the beach. When tidal water touches it, the tide can reach the cliff in as little as six minutes. One man learned this the hard way. Ignoring both the signs and his wife’s advice, he wandered farther up the shoreline. By the time he turned back, he was surrounded by water and stranded on a ledge, waiting hours for rescue. The lesson? Read the signs, heed the guides, and never underestimate the speed of the Bay of Fundy tide.

After Dark, Shorebirds & Giving Back

For something extra special, Baymount also offers Kayak the Rocks After Dark—a glowstick-lit paddle at dusk that sounds pure magic.

From mid-July to mid-September, thousands of migrating shorebirds gather on the mudflats to refuel for their journey south. Kayakers may even paddle amid swirling flocks in August — a rare and breathtaking sight.

And when you book with Baymount, you’re supporting a business that gives back. Staff donate $2,000 annually from their gratuities, matched by the owners, to support outdoor education for local schools and youth groups.

Final Word

Paddle among the flowerpot rocks at high tide.

Return at low tide to walk the ocean floor.

Do them back-to-back.

It’s rare. It’s humbling. It’s unforgettable.

And it only happens here—at Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick.

This post was sponsored by New Brunswick Tourism; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Follow Maritimes Maven on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn & Threads. Subscribe to be the first to receive my latest articles. Share articles you love with your social media community so they, too, will discover, There’s No Place Like Home!