Exploring the Carboniferous Age Cliffs on a Hot July Day

I had cleared all commitments from my calendar, met my deadlines and with a day at my disposal decided to tackle a hike on my bucket list, East Bay to West Bay starting near Partridge Island. My starting time was 2.5 hours after high tide which ensured that any possible punch point would be clear. I prepared as best as I could for a long hike along a mostly unfamiliar stretch of beach.

I had packed 2 litres of water and wore my sturdiest hiking boots with ankle support and good tread. In hindsight another half liter. of water would have been a good idea as the heat was relentless and the beach offered no shade.

This beach is definite worthwhile exploring due to its impressive steeply tilted Carboniferous Mabou Group rocks topped by precariously balancing rocks of the Cumberland Group, a treasure trove for anyone with an interest in geology and the earth’s natural history.

The images here are testament to the instability of the cliffs. I had visited West Bay just three weeks earlier and before the torrential rains. I was dismayed about the amount of erosion that had taken place with the very short time laps since the last time I set foot on this beach.

The rocky Bay of Fundy beaches are in constant flux! It’s difficult to imagine the tidal force able to move these large “pebbles” at speeds of up to 20 km/hour. With each high tide the beaches are rearranged, exposing new treasures and at the same time bury what was revealed a few short hours earlier.

Despite the difficult terrain the discoveries along the beach far outweigh the pain of sore feet and ankles😁. Just look at these textures and patterns.

Partridge Island was in view all the way back to the beach where I had parked the car. I loved how the perfect reflection of the majestic basalt formation began to fade with the receding tide.

The entire hike was 11.5 km in just under four hours. My pace was slow (approx. 3.9 km/hour) as the rocky terrain demanded my full attention and I regularly stopped for images and videos along the way. I recommend this hike with trepidation: it’s rocky, the beach is exposed to all weather and the only exit point is on West Bay via a small creek toward the main access road. One option would be to park a car at that end (Spruce Road and West Bay Road intersection) and only walk the distance from East Bay to West Bay. also, pack more water than you think you need. A snack is a good idea if you feel you need nourishment during a break. I will pack my water filter from backcountry hiking next time I go. It would have been helpful yesterday. Hope this helps in planning your hike of this beach section along the Bay of Fundy.

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend, Anna