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Grand Manan Island lies at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, the largest of the Fundy Isles and reached by ferry from the New Brunswick mainland. Its eastern side holds a string of fishing villages, wharves and smokehouses, while the western shore rises in high, mostly uninhabited cliffs. Life on the island still revolves around fishing, especially lobster and herring, along with harvesting dulse seaweed.
Swallowtail Lighthouse, perched on a headland above North Head, is the island's signature view, and the Grand Manan Museum covers local history and the island's famous birdlife. Anchorage Provincial Park offers camping and beach walks, and the Castalia Marsh with the Thomas Munro Memorial Shoreline is good for birding. Hikers follow coastal trails past Henderson's Point and the rock formation called Seven Days Work, whose bands of stone record separate lava flows. On the far side, Dark Harbour is a sheltered cove known for dulse gathering.
Boat tours run to Machias Seal Island to see Atlantic puffins and to the waters around Gannet Rock Lighthouse for whale watching. Grand Manan suits birders, walkers and anyone looking to slow down. Summer is the main season, and ferry reservations are wise at busy times.
WiserMap travel guideGrand Manan Island New Brunswick Puffins and Fundy CliffsPlan a Grand Manan Island trip: Swallowtail Lighthouse, 90 metre western cliffs, bird sanctuary trails, puffin tours, dulse and the Bay of Fundy ferry crossing.Read the guide
Swallowtail Lighthouse stands on a narrow headland at North Head, greeting the ferry as it arrives on Grand Manan. A footbridge and steps lead out to the lighthouse, with views over the cliffs and the Bay of Fundy. It is a short walk from the ferry terminal; go at sunrise or sunset and watch for seals and whales offshore.
Southwest Head Lighthouse sits at the southern end of Grand Manan on top of high basalt cliffs that drop straight into the sea. Trails lead along the cliff edge with views of the Fundy coast. It is one of the most dramatic spots on the island, but the cliffs are unfenced, so stay well back from the edge, especially in fog.
Gannet Rock Lighthouse stands on a tiny rock island south of Grand Manan, one of the oldest wooden lighthouses in New Brunswick, built in the 1830s. It cannot be visited on foot, but it can be seen from boat tours and sometimes from Southwest Head on clear days. Bring binoculars and ask boat operators about routes.
Hole-in-the-Wall is a natural rock arch on the cliffs near North Head, carved by the sea and one of the island's best known landmarks. Trails lead from a campground and park to a lookout over the arch and the ocean. Wear sturdy shoes for the trail and stay back from the cliff edge; there may be a small access fee.
The Grand Manan Museum in Grand Harbour covers the island's history, from shipwrecks and lighthouses to fishing and early settlers, and has a well known collection of mounted birds. It also has displays on the author Willa Cather, who spent summers here. It is open in the warmer months; allow about an hour.
Anchorage Provincial Park is on the southeast side of Grand Manan between the sea and freshwater ponds, with a campground, beach and walking trails. It is part of a bird sanctuary and a good spot to see shorebirds and ducks. Book campsites ahead in summer, and walk the beach at low tide to look for shells and sea glass.
Castalia Marsh is a salt marsh on the east side of Grand Manan with a picnic area and a trail along the shore. It is one of the best places on the island for birdwatching, with shorebirds, herons and ducks, especially during migration. Bring binoculars and check the tides, as birds gather in big numbers on the rising tide.
Machias Seal Island is a small, treeless island south of Grand Manan where thousands of Atlantic puffins, razorbills and murres nest in summer. Boat tours from Grand Manan land a limited number of visitors in good weather, who watch from small blinds. Book months ahead, and know that landings are cancelled if the sea is rough.
The waters around Grand Manan are among the best places in the Bay of Fundy to see whales, including humpback, finback and minke whales and sometimes the rare North Atlantic right whale. Boat tours run from North Head from about July to September. Dress very warmly in layers, and choose a calm day if you get seasick.
Dark Harbour is the only harbour on the steep west side of Grand Manan, a quiet cove where dulse, an edible seaweed, is harvested by hand at low tide and dried on the rocks. The road down to it passes through forest to the shore. It is a beautiful place at sunset; look for dulse sold in local shops.
Seven Days Work is a cliff near Whale Cove where seven distinct layers of rock, from ancient lava flows, can be seen stacked on top of each other. The name comes from the seven days of creation. It is viewed from the beach or from trails near Whale Cove; check tide times before walking the shore.
Whale Cove is a sheltered cove with a pebble beach on the north end of Grand Manan, framed by cliffs and forest. It is a good place for a picnic, beachcombing and a cold swim, and it is close to the trail to Seven Days Work. Parking is limited, so arrive early in summer and bring shoes suitable for rocky beaches.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: The Cosmonaut, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5 ca
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