Bay of Fundy Bicycle Tour - Itinerary - Cycling Tour Around the Bay of Fundy

Saturday, July 19
Saint John to St. Martins 50 km (31 mi). (extra options for exploring along Fundy at St. Martins)

We start our exploration along the shore of the world-famous Bay of Fundy. Before we get into more serious distances, we begin the tour with a gearing up day to the village of St. Martins. Quite scenic, the village features two lighthouses, as well as two covered bridges. There are some sea caves as well as fishing wharves.

'The Fundy Trail Parkway is not far from St. Martins. it consists of a seasonal, multi-use coastal access network including, a low speed roadway with scenic lookouts, a pedestrian/bicycle trail, footpaths to beaches and river estuaries and an Interpretive Centre. With our first day's short distance we will have time to explore the trail system.

Sunday, July 20
St. Martins to Fundy National Park 81 km (50 mi.)

To regain access along the Bay of Fundy, we will have to ride for a while in New Brunswick's interior. From the shoreline we will a have a forested and hilly region before reaching the productive farming area around Sussex at mid-day. Re-entering hilly terrain, it will a long run of hills before arriving at Fundy National Park.

Monday, July 21
Fundy National Park to Amherst 84 km (52 mi.) (option of taking 163 km / 101 mi. extended route)

One of our first stops today will be to a blueberry winery. Next is an option, to visit Cape Enrage, considered to have one of the best views in all Canada. The Hopewell Rocks are an unusual formation, appearing to look look giant "flower pots". With the huge tides, people can either see them as islands, or walk around them at low tide!

We will next cross the Pedicodiac River. We are now in an estuary of the bay. Here, and more areas upcoming, the Fundy pushes "tidal bores" from its tides inland into rivers, running above the water going out. The long way around to the other side if anyone wishes to do the extra riding, they could extend their day to over a "century", or 100 miles. We enter Nova Scotia into the town of Amherst.

Tuesday, July 22
Amherst to Spencer's Island 87 (54 mi.)

This will be a spectacular day of cycling. There are very few cars on today's route. Today's route will be very unspoiled. Parts of the coastal road was only paved a few years ago. There is a fair amount of wildlife. We follow the coast though a region that was once populated with wooden ship-building towns. Now that era is gone and they have receded to being small villages. Perhaps the most scenic of all the day's vistas comes with a diversion to Cape D'or.

We can observe out over the Bay far in both directions. Across the water we can see Cape Split. The point forces the tides around it, causing great turbulence in the water. Topping off this location are the cliffs that have traces of copper, giving off different glowing patterns as the sun changes during the day.

Wednesday, July 23
Spencer's Island to Truro 134 km (83 mi.)
This will be one of the tour's most serious days of cycling. The first half will be much more challenging the second. Until we reach Economy there will be large rolling hills. The views will be quite beautiful. This is blueberry country and the hillsides are full of wild blueberry bushes.

We closely follow the Bay of Fundy coast. The Bay of Fundy begins to narrow here and we can see across tot he other side. Here it is also known as Cobequid Bay. One break point will be at Economy and a memorable overlook over the bay and a series of islands.

The second half of the day should be much easier and the wind usually cooperates. We turn inland at Great Village, once a prosperous ship-building port. We end at Hilden, just past Truro, a fair sized town. For those still with energy left we will go out on the town.

Thursday, July 24
Truro to Windsor 129 km (80 mi.)

This is another great day on quiet coastal roads. We end at a nice little campground near where it is considered the start of the Annapolis Valley.

Friday, July 25
Windsor to The Lookoff 76 km (46 mi.)

This route is one of the favourites of organizers. While a map-reading challenge, the winding route today will be a joyful meandering along many different country lanes.

About mid-day we enter the Gaspereau Valley, a "valley within a valley". We have what will be one of several breaks of the day at on the grounds of a small but very good winery. After passing through the university town of Wolfville we will pass though market towns, ride through orchards, visit a fromagerie and at the end of the day climb to a great campground overlooking the bay.

Saturday, July 26
The Lookoff to Bridgetown 103 km (64 mi.) (option of taking 129 km / 80 mi. extended route)

The Bay of Fundy will possibly be a welcome sight as coastal temperatures vary from the valley dramatically. We visit Halls Harbour, a busy lobster fishing village. Here the tides rise dramatically and the wharf is quite scenic. Our route again follows along the coast of the famous Bay of Fundy. However, it does not just lie there, the road dips in and out of shoreline villages from part way up the ridge. This will provide spectacular views and great downhills. This is a "hidden corner" of Nova Scotia, unspoiled coastline, quiet roads, and beautiful scenery.

Sunday, July 27
Bridgetown to Saint John 84 km (52 mi.)

Our final day will not have any major hills. We take a run to the scallop port of Digby and from there take a ferry across the Bay of Fundy back to our starting point of Saint John, New Brunswick.