City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, Canada
Grand Manan Island is one of those places where the journey is part of the attraction. Located in the Bay of Fundy off New Brunswick's southern coast, the island combines dramatic cliffs, working fishing communities, historic lighthouses, beaches, forests and some of Atlantic Canada's finest opportunities for observing marine and bird life. Rather than being a destination built around a few major attractions, Grand Manan is best experienced by exploring the island at a leisurely pace and stopping frequently along the way, whether you’re traveling from a private boat dock near me for rent or a local marina.
Swallowtail Lighthouse
Swallowtail Lighthouse is probably Grand Manan's most recognizable landmark. It’s one of the first sights visitors encounter when arriving by ferry. The historic wooden lighthouse was established in 1860 and retains its original tower. It stands above a spectacular stretch of coastline, reached by descending 54 stairs, crossing a wooden footbridge and following a gravel path.
Visitors who don't want to make the descent can still see the lighthouse from the observation area near the parking lot. The setting is every bit as important as the lighthouse itself. From the property, visitors can look across the water, watch the ferry, examine the rugged rock formations and potentially see seals, porpoises, whales and seabirds.
Anchorage Provincial Park
Anchorage Provincial Park offers some of the island's finest opportunities to combine hiking, wildlife watching and coastal scenery. Occupying a large area along the island's southeastern coast, its trail network includes the Red Point Trail, which features an accessible boardwalk, as well as routes through Long Pond, Great Pond and Bagley areas. The park also has birdwatching blinds and interpretive features that can be visited from private boat slips for rent and marinas.
One of the area's distinctive experiences is the opportunity to walk along portions of the ocean floor when the tide is out. Because the Bay of Fundy experiences exceptionally large tides, visitors should check tide information carefully and never assume that an apparently safe route will remain accessible.
Long Eddy Point Lighthouse
The Long Eddy Point Lighthouse, known locally as The Whistle, is at the northern end of the island. The New Brunswick lighthouse dates to 1873, although the present square concrete structure and tower were built in 1971. The site is particularly renowned for wildlife viewing because strong tidal currents below the cliffs attract whales, porpoises, and seabirds. Bald eagles are also commonly seen.
The Whistle is an especially attractive destination near sunset. Looking across the water toward Campobello Island, visitors get an expansive view of the Bay of Fundy and surrounding coastline. The site also provides access to several coastal walking routes, making it a good destination to combine with a hike.
Southwest Head Lighthouse
At the southwestern end of Grand Manan, Southwest Head Lighthouse is dramatically positioned above the Bay of Fundy. The original lighthouse was built in 1880, and the current concrete structure replaced it in 1989. The surrounding cliffs provide expansive views and are a particularly good location for observing seabirds, porpoises, and whales. This is one of the best places to visit from a private boat lift rental for dramatic coastal scenery, but visitors should take the cliffs seriously. The terrain can be exposed, and the edge can be dangerous, particularly in poor weather or low visibility.
Hole-in-the-Wall
Located near North Head, the Hole-in-the-Wall rock formation is a natural opening in the coastal cliffs. The trail leading to it also provides impressive views of the Bay of Fundy and surrounding shoreline. The area can be reached through the trail system associated with North Head Campground & Park. It’s an excellent choice for visitors who want a relatively short hike that delivers an iconic Grand Manan combination of cliffs, ocean and unusual geology.
Seal Cove and the Smoked Herring Stands
Grand Manan's attractions aren't limited to natural scenery. The island's history is inseparable from fishing, particularly the once-enormous smoked-herring industry. The Seal Cove Smoked Herring Stands National Historic Site preserves a collection of wooden structures associated with processing and storing herring. The site provides an unusually tangible connection to Grand Manan's maritime past. Rather than simply reading about the island's fishing heritage in a museum, visitors can see the buildings and waterfront setting where the industry actually operated.
Grand Manan Museum
The Grand Manan Museum is a good place to visit early in a trip because it provides context for many of the things you'll encounter while exploring the island. The museum's collections help explain Grand Manan's natural history, maritime traditions, fishing communities, geology and local culture. It’s particularly useful for understanding why lighthouses, fishing gear, herring processing, boats and marine wildlife are such prominent parts of the island's identity.
