Station 07D · Provincial Park Guide

Cape Chignecto — Nova Scotia's wildest Fundy coast.

Cape Chignecto Provincial Park protects the highest sea cliffs on mainland Nova Scotia, with more than 50 kilometres of trail along the upper Bay of Fundy. Expect old-growth hemlock, cobble beaches, sea stacks, and some of the biggest tides on Earth crashing at the base of 200-metre cliffs.

Location

Cape Chignecto Provincial Park, Nova Scotia

At the park

Cape Chignecto sits on the tip of the Chignecto Peninsula between Chignecto Bay and the Minas Basin. The main trailhead is at Red Rocks visitor centre. Trails range from short shoreline walks to the multi-day Cape Chignecto Coastal Loop — one of the toughest and most rewarding hikes in Atlantic Canada.

Best time to visit

  • June through October for full trail access and services
  • July and August are warmest but busiest — book cabins early
  • September offers cool hiking weather and fewer bugs
  • Always check tide charts before beach or shoreline sections

Things to do

  • Cape Chignecto Coastal Loop — 51 km, 3–4 days, backcountry camping or cabins
  • Refugee Cove day hike — sea stacks and a hidden cobble beach
  • Mill Brook Falls — shorter waterfall hike from Red Rocks
  • Eatonville trailhead — access the Three Sisters sea stacks
  • Wildlife watching — moose, bald eagles, and seabirds along the cliffs
  • Backcountry cabins and walk-in tent sites (reservations required)

Food nearby

Wild Caraway Restaurant & Café — in Advocate Harbour, a short drive from the park entrance. Fresh local seafood, garden vegetables, and Fundy views.

The Lighthouse on Cape d'Or — historic copper-and-gold lighthouse on a dramatic cliff point between the park and Advocate Harbour. Serves soups, sandwiches, chowder, and seafood in a dining room with floor-to-ceiling views of the bay. The same site also runs a small hostel and art gallery inside the original lightkeeper's house.

Field photos

Around Cape Chignecto.

Sweeping view from a cliff-top trail over a cobble beach and turquoise Bay of Fundy water
Cliff-top view over turquoise water and a hidden cobble beach along the coastal loop.
Red sandstone cliffs and evergreens framing a small cove with a sand and pebble beach
Red sandstone cliffs and evergreens framing a quiet Fundy cove.
Sea stacks rising from the water at the base of tall cliffs on the Cape Chignecto coast
Sea stacks at the base of the cliffs — cut off from the mainland by centuries of tides.
Waterfall tumbling over dark rock into a foaming stream in the Cape Chignecto backcountry
A backcountry waterfall running high after rain.
Sesame-crusted seared fish over soba noodles and cucumber with soy glaze on a white plate
Sesame-crusted fish over soba noodles at The Lighthouse on Cape d'Or.
Caesar salad with grilled chicken, croutons, shaved parmesan and a lemon wedge
Fresh Caesar with grilled chicken — lunch after a long day on the trail.