Discover dramatic cliffs, ancient geology, and the world’s highest tides at Nova Scotia’s Five Islands Provincial Park, where every trail reveals a new view and 200 million years of Earth’s history.
Credit: Axel Drainville/Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0
The Bay of Fundy shorelines have something different offer at every different community or park you visit along the coast. And, no matter where you go across the Bay or the adjacent Minas Basin, this part of Nova Scotia will, no matter what, offer views of the world’s highest tides, and the biggest tidal ranges between low and high.
Visiting the shorelines of the Bay of Fundy usually means taking in the views from above in a cliffside location, while having access down to beach areas via stairs or trails. And at the area’s Five Islands Provincial Park, the cliffside location of the campground means camping overtop the Bay of Fundy with views stretching out across the water, and access to the beaches below.
Here are all the ways you can make the most of your trip, from scenic hikes to unforgettable coastal views:
What are the Five Islands?
The provincial park sits on the north shores of the Bay of Fundy, making it part of a greater geologically significant area. This north shoreline is part of the Cliffs of Fundy Global Geopark. The park works to protect areas like Five Islands and others across the shore, given its age and its significance.
These Fundy Cliffs, and the Five Islands, are considered as such as these are some of the best displays in the world of evidence of the break of the supercontinent, Pangea. From the coastline along Five Islands Provincial Park are incredible views of the five islands that sit offshore, remnants of that separation of Pangea some 200 million years ago.
The Five Islands are visible from the Provincial Park and its hiking trails atop the 90m cliffs, as well as other locations along the north Bay of Fundy shoreline. Those other incredible sites to see within the Cliffs of Fundy Geopark are within other protected areas like public parks such as Cape d’Or Coastal Park, the Fundy Discovery Site, or the Thomas Cove Coastal Reserve.
Clifftop Hiking around Five Islands Provincial Park
The hiking trails at Five Islands Provincial Park, for the most part, exist to get visitors the best views of the Bay of Fundy and the Minas Basin, the world’s highest tides, and this unique scenery of shoreline cliffs and greenery.
- Two trails begin from the park entrance and gate parking lot, each heading in opposite directions. The shorter of the two leads north as the Estuary or Estuary Loop trail at 2.5km with views of the Easter River meeting with the Bay. The Economy Mountain Trail is the longer of the two, at 7.6km, and the option to lengthen the hike via other trails. This hike leads south from the parking lot and connects to the Red Head Lookout trail.
- The Red Head lookout trail is 4.4km out-and-back if started from the campgrounds or will add a couple of kilometres to the Economy Mountain hike. From the Red Head lookout are incredible views up and down the coastline with tall red cliffs topped with bright green trees. The area is considered a rift valley, eroded by water and wind to create smooth lines across the cliffs, as easy to see in the Red Head structure. See all of the Five Islands from here as well!
- The park’s Day Use Connector trail, while short at 800m, offers some of the best Bay of Fundy views in the whole park. This trail also connects campers to the beach area.
Beaches & Kayaking in the Bay
The expanse of beach areas under the red cliffs of Five Islands Provincial Park are considered “mud flats.”
As the tide recedes, much of the sand turns to muddy areas. The beach is also covered with small rocks to help make exploring the mud flats easier. So this may not be the beach for laying on the sand with a towel, but during low tide, it makes for a fun place to hike, explore, photograph, and watch for wildlife. The area is open to campers and day-use visitors, while swimming is also permitted (at own risk, no lifeguard on duty).
- There are several amenities at the beach and in the day-use area, such as change rooms, picnic tables and shelters, washrooms, and water taps.
- Experienced coastal kayakers can take advantage of the routes around this part of the Bay of Fundy with the ability to launch from the beach areas.
Exploring the Greater Cliffs of Fundy Geopark
Five Islands Provincial Park is part of the larger Cliffs of Fundy Geopark.
- Five Islands Lighthouse Park is another location from which to get great views of the five islands. The large public park has picnic areas, rest areas, walking trails, and interpretive information. The park’s lighthouse is closed to the public, but it certainly adds to the picturesque views.
- Also to the west of the Provincial Park is the town of Parrsoboro. South of town are several more coastal sites to see, plus the Fundy Geological Museum, Ottawa House Museum by-The-Sea. Geosites in the area include Partridge Island, Clarke Head, and the Wasson Bluff.
- Visit the Thomas Cove Coastal Reserve east of Five Islands Provincial Park to see some of the Bay of Fundy’s highest tides!
Outdoor Things to Do during Summer in Truro and Colchester County
Summer & Fall Camping at Five Islands
Close to an even mix of serviced campsites with water and electrical hook-up, and sites without any services that are great for tenting. There are also a handful of walk-in tenting sites that offer a mix of sheltered and wooden campsites, and more open areas. Campers at Five Islands Provincial Park have access to numerous services to make their stay more comfortable. This includes amenities and services like showers and washrooms, a dishwashing station, firewood or ice sales, and a sani-dump. Groups can also take advantage of the Five Island Group Campground at Bible Hill.
Planning your trip – Five Islands Provincial Park
What: Five Islands Provincial Park is a coastal park on the north shores of the Bay of Fundy. The park gets its name from the five, small, and uninhabited islands off the shoreline. The seasonal park has a campground for overnight stays, and a beach with a day use area foy day visitors. Five Islands are part of the Cliffs of Fundy Geopark, and one of many places along this shoreline with bright red and unique rock formations or other small islands. The sand and rocks around the Fundy Coast are a bright red, with many areas eroded by wind and water to help create the unique formations.
Location and how to get there: 618 Bentley Branch Road; 70km west of Truro on Highway 2.
Five Islands Provincial Park is located approximately 160 km (2-hour drive) from Halifax.
Best time to go: June-October
How much: camping $26.50-35.20 per night (2025 price, 2026 TBA).
For more information: