Five Islands Provincial Park is a scenic coastal destination in Nova Scotia,
Canada, overlooking
the Bay of Fundy. The park is named after the striking group of offshore islands
that rise from the
sea and are dramatically shaped by the world’s highest tides.
Visitors can enjoy peaceful beaches, forested walking trails, and panoramic
ocean viewpoints.
During low tide, the exposed shoreline reveals unique rock formations and
wide coastal landscapes
ideal for exploration and photography.
For travelers, Five Islands Provincial Park offers a calm natural setting that
combines tidal beauty,
quiet outdoor recreation, and unforgettable Bay of Fundy scenery.
- 📸 Photograph the ❄️ iconic Five Islands framed by winter ice and red sandstone cliffs
- 🚶 Walk the ocean floor 🐚 during the massive 12-meter tidal drop at the Minas Basin
- 🥾 Snowshoe the 4.4km 🌲 Red Head Trail for a stunning clifftop view of the bay
- 🦅 Watch for wintering 🐾 bald eagles and sea birds along the windswept 🌊 shoreline
- 🧘 Experience the 🌬️ total stillness of the Bay of Fundy in the quiet off-season
- 🚗 By Car: A 🚙 2-hour drive from Halifax via Hwy 102 and Hwy 2 (Glenholme exit) 🏁
- 🅿️ Parking: Park at the ❄️ main gate or the plowed area near the Economy Mountain trailhead 📍
- 🚶 Access: Standard 👣 hiking trails are accessible, but park roads are not salted in winter ❄️
- 📍 Location: 🗺️ 618 Bentley Rd, Five Islands, NS B0M 1K0 📍
- 🚌 Note: There is 🛑 no public transit to the park; a private vehicle is essential 🏁
- 🕒 Low Tide Today: 🌊 05:17 PM AST. Plan your beach walk for 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ⏰
- 🧊 Wear ice cleats 👟; the red clay mudflats and cliff trails are extremely slippery 🛑
- 🧥 Dress for 🌬️ heavy wind; the park is highly exposed to the Bay of Fundy gales 🌡️
- 🚫 Stay off the 🧱 cliffs; winter freeze-thaw cycles make the edges prone to collapsing ⚠️
- 🥪 Bring your own 🍼 food and water; all park facilities are locked until June 5, 2026 🛑
- 11:00 – 🏁 Arrive at the 🅿️ entrance and gear up with warm layers and ice cleats 🧣
- 11:30 – 🥾 Hike the Red Head 🌲 Trail (4.4km) for panoramic views of the islands 🏔️
- 13:30 – 🥪 Enjoy a 🚙 “tailgate” picnic at the lookout point near the parking area 🥙
- 15:00 – 🚶 Descend to the 🐚 beach to explore the ocean floor as the tide recedes 🌊
- 16:30 – 🌇 Capture the 🌅 sunset colors hitting the red cliffs before heading home 🚙