Preeya, you should use the internet to locate a business near to the Hopewell Rocks, and simply phone them and ask them to clarify whether you can go down to the Bay and walk around under the "flower pot rocks" even when the park is officially closed.

Tell them you're traveling there this week, and want to be sure, and that you can think of no other way to verify this.

I know that I was able to do so when I was there after closing in June, but you need to find out for yourself what is current.


Be sure to PRINT OUT the tide tables for the short window of time you'll be there. You want to have access to that small bit of information for different spots in the area, while in your car.

Hello All,
I checked the Low tide information for Hopewell rocks and it says at 20.05 its 8 ft, on Thu May 3rd.
Does it mean there will still be 8 ft of water at the rocks on the ocean bottom? I'm Sorry dont know much about tides reading!
Can I go down and walk about an hour earlier say about 7pm and still walk and see the flower pots? Is there any danger as such?
Also, how much time does it take to walk through these rocks and where is the entrance for just seeing these rocks part, I know there are 2, and I want to be sure as there is such less time before the sunset tnhat I want to be sure.
Please let me know. Thanks for all your help.
Preeya

Preeya, when it is low tide @ 8pm, the nearest water to the rocks will be about 6 or 8 times the distance between your bathtub and the garbage cans out in the back yard!! (don't worry about a thing)

(you will have a 'window' of time equating to a couple of HOURS and perhaps a bit more, to go down the stairs and walk only on SAND... with the huge "flower pot rocks" up above your head - you won't even want to walk out to the water's edge, because it'll be so far away!)

IN ADDITION, there is a very clear SIGN... that states: "warning, you must be off of this beach by ____(time)_____ to avoid being trapped by the incoming tide"

This will be very CLEAR to interpret, and as long as you don't flirt with that time on the sign, you'll have no contact with water.


Enjoy the trip !!!

Now, picking-up your other questions which I just missed...

The time it takes is quite minimal... and you're on your own for a self-guided tour. It all depends on how fascinated you are when you get there, and that is an individual thing.

I recommend making sure you can make-out your tiny daughter's face in the obligatory poses with the camera a zillion miles away from the one holding her... because the pics won't be as nice to look back on in 25 years if she is hard to recognize.

Yeah, yeah, you wanna get the whole flower pot in the picture... but maybe take many different shots for that!

In terms of "where is the entrance?"

That part seems to be missing in my mind... I do know that it was very easy and obvious to find. There was a park-like entrance, with a fee posted and collected, BUT I WAS THERE AFTER HOURS so I didn't have to pay.

There is an office/building/museum/something inside, that probably gives info about the area and the history. (naturally I didn't get to go in there)

The whole "park" is akin to you driving on a road up above a beach, and pulling over and walking down a stairway TO said beach, and just walking around on a whim.

The difference is, that the tides here are so powerful that they come in very suddenly and rapidly (but, thankfully, completely predictably).

Lets just say this would not be the ideal beach setting for a bunch of drunks to have a bonfire after dark. (and I don't say that because of fire danger)

Bon Voyage!

Thanks a lot everyone for your input! I enjoyed Halifax and teh areas we visited a lot and plan to go back to enjoy the stuff I could not do. Here is what I did:
To begin with the weather was really bad with rains and cold weather close to freezing, but that did not keep us in the hotel!
The hotel Residence Inn was right close to everything in downtown, good rooms, nice b/f and they also provided us with crib!
We saw Halifax Citadel (but it was so cold and breezy) and walked everywhere in halifax, loved the city!
Went to the Public Garden, Church, waterfront, farmers market, had coffee at Timothys (loved their Belgian Choc Cheesecake) meals at Baan Thai, Sweet Basil, Satisfaction Feast, KOD...
Visited Peggy's cove...its just beautiful out there! The rocks were really beautiful and the light house with the white rocks backdrop was great! Did not have time for Lunnenberg or anything else
Drove to the Bay of Fundy to Economy and got onto a off hike down to the ocean during low tide and boy was it beautiful! The ocean floor, the red rocks, islands and the cliffs, absolutely stunning! Would've loved to go ahead and do the FIve Islands or the Cape Cignecto, but just did not have time! But there is always next time..right. I also need to do Cape Breton next!
BTW I saw in the news there during surfing that Halifax was the 2nd best city to live in (after Ottawa)!
Thanks again,
Preeya

Hi, I'm glad that you returned here to give us the summary of your trip. It helps to get feedback.

Glad you enjoyed...