Grand Manan combines coastal trails, lighthouse history and birdwatching with a range of ways to experience the island. The Red Point Trail in Anchorage Provincial Park has a fully wheelchair-accessible boardwalk; other routes pass along cliffs or require a ride in small boats to reach them. When planning your trip, it’s worth considering the nature of each trail, the activity and the season.
Hiking Along Coasts and Cliffs
Grand Manan has approximately 70 kilometers of marked hiking trails. The Red Trail follows the coast from Southwest Head to Swallowtail. Visitors can explore the island’s geology and wildlife on the hiking and biking trails in Anchorage Provincial Park. The Lighthouse Trail runs along the cliffs, offers views of the Bay of Fundy and passes geological features associated with the volcanic origins of the island’s western side.
A 1.7-kilometer trail in Thomas B. Munro Preserve runs along the cliffs and offers views of marine wildlife. The preserve covers more than 37 hectares and features sea cliffs hundreds of feet high. It is open to the public, but undeveloped and subject to various hazards and access risks; visitors are responsible for their own actions and safety. The smaller Seven Days Work Cliff Nature Preserve covers 23.8 hectares and also features sea cliffs, birds of prey and a popular trail with views of the Bay of Fundy.
Dark Harbour, on the remote west coast of Grand Manan Island, has a very different access situation. Its rugged 24-kilometer coastline features rock cliffs up to 200 feet high and is accessible only by small traditional boats called dories. As a result, its coastal trails and viewpoints are quite different from an outing that includes a boat trip to get there.
Birds, Ponds and Tides
The Grand Manan Migratory Bird Sanctuary is an important staging and wintering area for waterfowl. Long Pond and Great Pond form a coastal barrier beach pond system within the sanctuary. Grand Manan is recognized as a birdwatching hotspot in North America and lies along the Eastern Flyway; more than 240 bird species are native to the island. The waters around Grand Manan Island are also important: they serve as key feeding and nursery grounds for minke, fin, humpback and the rare North Atlantic right whales.
At Stanley Beach, you can look for sea glass. The tides expose a wide strip of shoreline there twice a day. You may see seals and seabirds, and occasionally whales or porpoises. A visit to this beach combines beachcombing with the possibility of wildlife sightings, though sightings cannot be planned.
Lighthouse, Museum and Art
Swallowtail Lightstation is a historic wooden lighthouse with panoramic views of the coast of Grand Manan Island. In summer, Swallowtail Lighthouse offers tours of the inside of the lighthouse museum for a small fee; these also include climbing the stairs to the top of the lighthouse.
The permanent exhibition at the Grand Manan Art Gallery includes works by island artists as well as works by artists depicting Grand Manan, its people and maritime traditions. Selected works are on display throughout the season. The Grand Manan Museum presents the island’s human and natural history, including permanent exhibitions on shipwrecks and bird history. The museum shop sells local crafts and books.
Activities and Trip Planning
Adventure High offers guided sea kayaking tours on Grand Manan Island in the evening, as half-day and full-day trips, and as multi-day trips with overnight stays. No previous experience is required for several tours. The different formats can help you decide whether to plan a tour for part of a single day or set aside several days.
In summer, Friends of Grand Manan Trails organizes approximately two-hour hikes on Monday mornings, weather permitting. Since this activity depends on the season and weather, check before your trip whether a hike is scheduled for your travel dates. Locally harvested seaweed delicacies are also available in many places on Grand Manan.
The ferry to Grand Manan Island departs from Blacks Harbour; reservations are recommended. Check the departure times for your travel day before your trip. The campground at Anchorage Provincial Park offers tent cabins, toilets, showers, laundry facilities and a kitchen shelter, as well as a playground and picnic areas.
Discover more destinations: Saint Andrews, Caithness, St George, Blacks Harbour, Bocabec, Pocologan, Pennfield, Saint James.
Return to the main travel overview: Charlotte County.
