The highest tides in the world are at this Canadian park and you can walk the ocean floor

It's exposed twice a day!

Person walking next to a red stone cliff. Right: People walking through a cave and the ocean in the backdrop.

Burntcoat Head Park. Right: Burntcoat Head Park at the Bay of Fundy.

Editor

Canada is home to the highest tide in the world, and from this jaw-dropping park you can watch the power of it, as it pulls in and out — exposing a long stretch of ocean floor along the way.

Nova Scotia is filled to the brim with beautiful hidden gems, which shouldn't be a huge surprise given its nickname of "Canada's Ocean Playground." You can drive along the sparkling coast of the province to see sandy beaches and water stretching out to the horizon. One of the surreal spots that make this place particularly special is Burntcoat Head Park.

You'll get to see the highest tides in the world firsthand at this Nova Scotia park, as it's on the iconic Bay of Fundy. It's thanks to the strong tides that you can stroll along the ocean floor here.

When the tide pulls back you can see a long stretch of red-tinted ground that you can walk along until the tide starts to come back in.

Wandering along the unique shoreline you'll be able to see little pools of water, barnacles, and periwinkles scattered around. Make sure to watch your step, so you don't disrupt all the marine life.

Once the tide comes back up, it will all be deep underwater once again.

There are six hours between the high and low tides, but there's lots to do in the area while you're waiting.

You can go for a hike, check out the lighthouse, or even try out a tidal bore rafting adventure nearby.

Before you go, you should also check out the tide schedule so you can plan your visit accordingly and stay safe.

This park is about a two hour drive from Halifax, so it makes for a great day trip for anyone in the city.

Burntcoat Head Park

Why You Need To Go: You can see the power of the highest tides in the world here, and have a unique day walking on the ocean floor too!

Burntcoat Head Park website

This article has been updated since it was originally published on August 17, 2023.

  • Editor

    Morgan Leet (she/her) is an Editor for Narcity Media Group. After graduating from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, she jumped into fulfilling her dream as a journalist, merging her passion for travelling with writing. She got her start working in the print media world on Canada’s East Coast, then joined Narcity with a move to B.C., leading the launch of West Coast coverage. Her focus now is managing a large group of freelance writers, bringing human-forward and opinion content to the site.

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