Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark located at the confluence of the Saint John and Kennebecasis rivers covers urban, sub-urban and rural communities with the City of Saint John at the centre. The park protects the landscape of Southern New Brunswick that was formed as continents collided, volcanoes, earthquakes, ice ages and climate changed. Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark is North America’s first GeoPark. You can hike, kayak, rock climb, tour and more around the park.
The UNESCO Global Geopark is bounded on the south by the rugged coastline of the Bay of Fundy; east along the Fundy coast to the Village of St. Martins and the Fundy Trail; northeast to the Village of Norton; west to Little Lepreau and Lepreau Falls; north to include the Kingston Peninsula, Welsford and the Jones Creek area; and along the Saint John River valley to Hampstead. (UNESCO Global Geopark)
Check out the 25 ways to experience Stonehammer Geopark listed below.
Lepreau Falls Provincial Park
Lepreau Falls are the highlight of this provincial park. There are two trails to reach the falls, one will take you to the top, the other will take you to the base. The base hike is more challenging due to wet ground. The park is home fossils of plants and the foot prints of animals after the Lower Carboniferous period.
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Red Rock Adventure
Go on a fantastic adventure when you see charming tidal harbours with colourful fishing boats and sea caves carved by the highest tides in the world. Explore the area by kayak, zodiac or on foot. Red Rock Adventure offers two-hour to two-day tours and experiences. All you need is an adventurous spirit to have an amazing time.
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415 Main Street, St. Martins
Reversing Rapids
Known for the tidal phenomenon where the St. John River flows backward as the Bay of Fundy reaches high tide, the Reversing Rapids also tells one of the most interesting stories of the Geo-park. You can see the fault line created by two ancient geologic terranes.
Fallsview Park, and 200 Bridge Road, Saint John
St. Martins Sea Caves
The waves on the Bay of Fundy pound at the cliffs around St. Martins creating beautiful sea caves. During low tides, you can walk on the ocean floor and explore the sea caves. You can see the levels of the rock that tells the story of the area.
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Highway 111, St. Martins
Dine on the Ocean Floor
Pack a picnic and find out the low tide times, so you can dine on the ocean floor after exploring the sea caves at St. Martins. Red Rock Adventures offers a Savour the Sea Caves tour, or you can enjoy a meal on the ocean floor on your own.
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Highway 111, St. Martins
Hampton Lighthouse River Centre
On the banks of the Kennebecasis River is the Hampton Lighthouse. Relax on the shore or take a boat ride to see the ripples on the bottom, fish, winding trails left by clams, and waterlogged logs rolling downriver in the many shallow areas.
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1075 Main Street, Hampton
Zelda’s Kennebecasis River Adventures
Explore Stonehammer geo-park while relaxing on the water. Climb aboard the eco-friendly boat to see the iconic locations. Pick from ten different geo-park inspired tours that go on throughout the summer. It’s a popular option for families with children and those with mobility challenges.
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1075 Main Street, Hampton
Irving Nature Park
One of the best places to see the effects of the last ice age, the Irving Nature Park is a popular park for hiking and beach adventures. Sometimes fossils of snails, starfish, sea urchins, and clams can be found in the red sand beach. The park also has many boardwalks that visitors can stroll along and enjoy the breathtaking 360-degree view from various lookout points in the park.
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1379 Sand Cove Road, Saint John
Lily’s Lakeside Casual Dining
Enjoy a meal with a spectacular view. Lily’s Lakeside Casual Dining features a Stonehammer themed menu, which includes Crustacean Chowder, Caledonia Fault Melt Sandwich, and Chocolate Maple Aftershock. They also offer a menu featuring local favourites.
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Rockwood Park, Saint John
Fundy Trail
The Fundy Trail is not just a part of the Stonehammer Geo-park, it is also part of the UNESCO designated Fundy Biosphere Reserve and the Trans Canada Trail. Along the trail, you will find New Brunswick’s most beautiful coastal scenery and amazing beaches.
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3 Fundy Trail Parkway, Salmon River
Uptown Saint John
Many of the buildings around Uptown Saint John are built from sandstone and local marble, due to the Great Fire of 1877. Make sure to look up because many buildings have sandstone carvings around their windows and doors. There are self-guided walking tours that tell the history of the city’s historic buildings.
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Harbour Passage
Connecting Uptown Saint John Boardwalk and the Reversing Falls, the Harbour Passage offers great views of the river. Near the gazebo below Bentley Street, you can see rocks that are over 500 million years old, from the Ordovician and Cambrian periods.
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Rockwood Park
A haven for walkers and hikers, Rockwood Park is home to over 55 trails ranging from paved paths to rugged nature trails. This park is a wonderful place for geocaching. Rockwood Park has been studied since the late 1800s and is now home to the Inside Out Nature Centre.
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10 Fisher Lake Drive, Saint John
Inside Out Nature Centre
Head to the Inside Out Nature Centre for a lot of outdoor fun for kids of all ages. They offer Bubble Soccer, Zorbing, Sumo Wrestling, Hydro-bikes, Stand Up Paddle Boarding and so much more The Inside Out Nature Centre offers activities that everyone in the family can enjoy, no matter their age or skill level.
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55 Lake Drive South, Saint John
Go Fundy Events
Explore the rugged coastlines around Stonehammer GeoPark and take in the amazing views on a variety of outdoor adventures. For 19 years, Go Fundy Events has been creating outdoor educational kayaking tours on the Saint John River.
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Dominion Park, Saint John
Saint John Ale House
Enjoy your choice of local craft beers that the Saint John Ale House has on tap. It is a classic Irish pub on the main level where you can order pub grub. If you want a more sophisticated dining experience, then head upstairs to the restaurant’s cozy, dim-lit booths for a delicious meal made from the best local ingredients in season.
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1 Market Square, Saint John
Dominion Park
Relax on the white sand beach and see the beautiful limestone cliffs where you can spot billion year old fossils. Limestone from the Green Head Lime Quarry near the park was used to help rebuild buildings in Saint John after the Great Fire of 1877.
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Dominion Park Road & Tippett Drive, Saint John
Osprey Adventures
Experience the Kennebecasis marshlands by canoe, kayak or paddle-board with Osprey Adventures. Head out on your own for a peaceful time or go on one of their guided tours to hear the comprehensive history of the area.
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1075 Main Street, Hampton
Brundage Point River Centre
Created by volcanic rocks from around 435 million years ago and smoothed by glaciers, Brundage Point River Centre is where the St. John and Kennebecasis rivers meet. Today the park is the perfect waterside gathering place since it has a wharf and a Boat Launch.
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Highway 177, Grand Bay-Westfield
Norton Moosehorn Creek
Along Highway 1 is a small creak that was formed over millions of years. Norton Moosehorn Creek is a small stream that flows into the Kennebecasis River. There is a trail that takes you to a covered bridge over the creek.
Highway 1, Norton
New Brunswick Museum
Have all your Stonehammer GeoPark questions answered under one roof. Explore and discover all the New Brunswick Museum has to offer and learn more about geology and culture that was formed in the area. There are three floors for you to explore at your leisure.
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1 Market Square, Saint John
Tucker Park
Tucker Park is home to a lovely fresh-water beach and is a Stonehammer GeoPark location. In the rocks, you can see the layers of the sediments accumulated in riverbeds. Fish fossils from the Devonian period have been found around the park.
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Kennebecasis Drive, Saint John
Timbertop Adventure
Get a bird’s eye view of the forest when you climb to the top of trees at Timbertop Adventure. Explore, climb and conquer all their adventures courses. Be sure to do some of their 25 zip-line challenges, so you can see the beautiful St. John River from amazing angles. You can even go for a swim at the nearby beach to cool off after your climb.
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Dominion Park
Pangea Spa
Relax at the Pangea Spa where you are surrounded by the natural beauty of Lily Lake and Rockwood Park. So, stop in and pamper yourself with a spa day.
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55 Lake Drive, Saint John
Zip Over the Reversing Rapids
Take in the wondrous view of the Reversing Rapids with a Saint John Adventures Zip Line Tour. You will get to see the struggle for aquatic supremacy between the St. John River and the Bay of Fundy. There are five zip lines that are located down a hillside overlooking the Falls. The last one is a dual zip line where you and a friend can race over a cove near the falls and see the amazing reversing falls.
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50 Fallsview Avenue, Saint John