Adventures For a Summer Getaway to Grand Manan Island

Spring, summer, or fall are ideal for a vacation on Grand Manan Island, while the height of summer boasts some of the best opportunities for exploring the Island. Many businesses, attractions, and services on Grand Manan Island are open seasonally as well.

The ferry to Grand Manan Island is still year-round! A major feature of the Island, which draws in summer visitors, is not only the sheer number of beaches, but also the variety of beaches.

The deep geological history and ancient landscapes of Grand Manan Island mean that beaches on the south are different than those in the north or east, and so on. From fine sand beaches to long stretches of pebbled rocky beaches, mud flats, tidal pools, ponds, and more, there is a ton to do and discover with Grand Manan’s beaches and unique landscapes alone. Many of these beaches bring a visit to the Island’s main communities, too.

 

How to get to Grand Manan Island

The trip to Grand Manan Island is the start of the adventures and fun. The ferry to the island runs daily from Blacks Harbour in southern New Brunswick and has several on-board amenities to make for a cozy trip.

Along the ride to Grand Manan Island, be sure to watch out the windows or off the deck for incredible views of New Brunswick’s shores, the Bay of Fundy, and the western shores of Nova Scotia.

There is also a good chance of spotting seabirds, whales, or porpoises on this ride. The ferry port is on the north side of Grand Manan Island at North Head.

Museums, Arts, & Cultural Experiences

Along with the attractions to see on Grand Manan Island that showcase local art, history, and culture, are a few events to be hosted by these attractions. Learn and dive deep into Grand Manan history with the local museum and its events, the local gallery and its events, or via one of the Island’s several interpretive walking trails.

• The Grand Manan Island Lighthouse Trail and self-guided tour is an excellent opportunity for seeing some of the Island’s best-kept historical artifacts. The lighthouses of Grand Manan Island will take your tour all over the Island’s shoreline. The first two lighthouses on the trail are visible before arriving by ferry to Grand Manan, where there are six more lighthouses to see or access. This 40km trail is easiest by car.
• The Grand Manan Museum, also on the Lighthouse Trail near the Grand Harbour lighthouse, is open from June to September with a wide variety of permanent exhibits. These showcase the area’s fishing and lobster catching history, information on local families or significant people, artistic and cultural artifacts, and much more. The Museum also has an outdoor gallery of exhibits, including art, old buildings, and interpretive panels.

 

• On top of the exhibits, the Grand Manan Museum host an array of different types of summer programs like craft workshops, concerts, art exhibitions, book readings, and other fun events.
• Also open on the Island from June to September is the Grand Manan Art Gallery, where there are rotating and permanent artistic exhibits from talented and creative locals.
• Show more support for the Maritime artists with the Art Gallery’s annual Island Art Show.

Anchorage Provincial Park, Plus More Beaches

With over a dozen beaches on Grand Manan Island and White Head Island, it is not hard to find a scenic seaside spot for a picnic, photography, birding, or whale watching. The island is also in an ideal ocean location for sea glass hunting! Also on the island is a Provincial Park with its trails and campground, a wildlife reserve, and several scenic areas for a bike ride or hike.

• Anchorage Provincial Park, on the south shores of Grand Manan Island, is a beach destination plus a spot for many other activities. The park is home to a campground, hiking and cycling trails, kayaking opportunities, and birding/wildlife viewing.

 

• The far end of Long Point Road, next to the beach and Great Pond, is a perfect place to set up for a beach day at Anchorage: there is plenty of space on the grass and along the sand, and picnic tables.
• A toll-free ferry brings passengers to the smaller and southern White Head Island, where three beaches make for excellent birding and wildlife viewing locations. Another Island beach for birding and wildlife viewing is the Castalia Marsh and Beach on the east side of Grand Manan.
• One of Grand Manan Island’s more popular beaches for all sorts of activities is Seal Cove Beach on the southeast shore. The beach consists of both sand and pebbles, with even more sandy stretches to explore during low tide. This is one of the more ideal beaches for a quick dip in the Fundy waters on a calm day.
• And wherever you see the pebbles or stones of the beaches of Grand Manan Island, there could be a chance to hunt for sea glass.

The Best Trails on Grand Manan Island

Hiking or cycling are the two best methods for sightseeing on Grand Manan Island with its abundance of trails, picturesque scenery, and relatively level terrain. And while most of the trails are fairly level, one of the defining features of Grand Manan Island is the drastic differences between the East and West sides of the Island. Each of these hikes or bike rides will take adventurers to all different sides of Grand Manan Island.

• All of the trails within Anchorage Provincial Park are rated as easy hikes and range in distance from 0.6km to 5.4km out-and-back. A few of the trails follow the ocean shores, while others lead inland into the forests.
• Ross Island, a smaller island to the southeast of Grand Manan (accessible by a bridge), is a perfect place to watch for birds or whales from the trails, and enjoy a few hours on the trails, which run around both sides of Ross Island.
• Hiking around the Gulf Point, or the southernmost part of Grand Manan, can equal to anywhere from 6-15km worth of trail. These trails offer dramatic cliffside scenery over the Grand Manan Channel. From here, a much longer trail extends north and follows the entire western side of the Island- choose a variety of adventure lengths and types on this single trail!
• Seven Days Work Cliff Nature Preserve is where to witness some of those major differences between different sides of Grand Manan. The north and east sides of the Island are marked by cliffs that tower over the Bay of Fundy. Exploring the entire Nature Preserve would include 4-5km of hiking, while the hike is easily divided into two shorter trails. Both trails lead to lookout areas over the cliffs, with the north route taking the hike to the lighthouse.

 

Wildlife, Whales, & Birds of Grand Manan Island

The Bay of Fundy Waters around Grand Manan Island are thriving with marine life, while above the surface, several more types of wildlife thrive. Whale watching is certainly possible from Grand Manan Island, and possible for a variety of whale species like humpback, finback, right, and minke whales. Plus, a whale watching adventure could reveal other marine life like seals or dolphins.

• Take off on a guided experience with Lambert Family Adventures which offers a Whale & Wildlife boat tour from Grand Manan Island. Their tours run from July to September.
• The Sea Watch Tours from Grand Manan Island include Whale Tours or Puffin Tours. The puffin sightseeing tours include access to an uninhabited island, preserved as a bird sanctuary.
• Grand Manan Bird Sanctuary is located adjacent to Anchorage Provincial Park, with an overlap between the two parks. Use the Anchorage Trails to explore the shoreline or the birds of the Long and Great Ponds.

Summer Dining on Grand Manan Island

Follow the Island’s Main Route 776 around the shores from the ferry port to uncover the local eats of Grand Manan. And begin with those options closest to the ferry! This includes the Sunrise Seafoods, The Old Well House Café , or The Lodge Bakery.

• Find camping, picnic, or road trip foods with more options to the south and around Anchorage. Get takeout snacks and souvenirs from The Harbour Grille & Gift House, a fresh cup of coffee from Mère’s Café or Newton’s Mercantile & Café, or tasty Mexican takeout from Isla Cocina.
• Get the best array and variety of local products, food or otherwise, from the annual Grand Manan Community Market. The market is open weekly as of June 28th, while other pop-up markets will take place before the official opening date.

Where to Stay on the Island

With so much to see around Grand Manan Island, an overnight, weekend, or week-long getaway is ideal. And with so many picturesque or charming places to stay around Grand Manan, there will be dozens of options for types of stays: camping, cabins that range from rustic to luxurious, inns, or private rentals.

• Camping options are available with Anchorage Provincial Park, or the North Head Park & Campground, who also offer cottage rentals.
• Get more island cottage, or waterfront cabin experiences, with Harrington Cove Cottages, Seaside Haven Cottages, or the Tides Inn & Social.
• Stay within a close drive, walk, or bike ride from the ferry with nearby places like the historic Marathon Hotel, the Surfside Motel, Compass Rose Heritage Inn, or Whale Cove Cottages.
• Private rentals, including cabins, homes, and cottages, are also available to rent with sites like Airbnb.

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