Fishing Frenzy

The Bay of Fundy is home to the rare tidal bore phenomena, where tides overpower the stream of outflowing rivers. Twice a day, at high tide, a large volume of water floods from the Bay of Fundy into the rivers that feed it. The narrow riverbanks compress the rising waters in a spectacular surge and a visible standing wave, sometimes 1 meter (3 ft) in height! As the roaring and swirling water races upstream at speeds close to 15 km per hour (10 mph) it generates rapids in its wake that are between 3 to 3.5 meters (10-12 ft) high.

Most rivers draining into the upper Bay of Fundy between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have tidal bores. Most of them are located on the Nova Scotia side of the bay. But, you may have trouble finding them without the help of some locals. A few great places to see a tidal bore are:

The Petitcodiac River. Formerly the highest bore in North America at over 2 metres (6.6 ft); however, causeway construction and extensive silting reduced it to little more than a ripple, until the causeway gates were opened on April 14, 2010 as part of the Petitcodiac River Restoration project and as a result the tidal bore began to grow again.

The bore is swiftest and strongest in a number of the tinier rivers which flow into the Bay of Fundy such as the River Hebert and Maccan River on Cumberland Basin (roughly 10 mins out of Amherst), the St. Croix, Herbert and Kennetcook Rivers inside the Minas Basin, as well as the Salmon River in Truro.

Visitors usually like to visit the sites with some interpretation panels like the ones found along the Maccan River and the Shubenacadie River near the South Maitland Tidal Bore look-off. You'll want to remember that the bore time does not necessarily match with the high tide times listed on a tide chart. It all depends on exactly where along the river you are watching, so it's best to check with some of the local outfitters beforehand.

As intriguing as it is to see the tidal bore from the riverbanks, it really is a lot more exciting to try white water river rafting in it. This specific adventure is exclusive to the Bay of Fundy given that the Shubenacadie River, found in Nova Scotia, is considered the sole spot on earth where you can enjoy tidal bore rafting.

In the summer months, experienced guides take visitors on a one-of-a-kind, upriver rafting adventure. These adventures often also include an extremely fun mud sliding session. Tidal bore rafting might just be the best way to experience the Bay of Fundy tides first hand!