Rockhounding New Brunswick: 5 Places To Hunt Rocks, Crystals, and Fossils

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New Brunswick is a stunning province to visit at any time of the year, but even more so during late spring through summer and into early fall.

From camping to hiking and all manner of seaside activities, there is no shortage of things to accompany a rock hounding or fossil hunting excursion.

Rockhounding New Brunswick (Let’s Go)

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. Laws are updated. Accessibility guidelines and restrictions change. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material.

In New Brunswick, under the ‘Heritage Conservation Act’, fossils discovered must not be destroyed or removed from sites where they are found without a permit. It is your civic duty to report any finds to the New Brunswick Museum.

Here are a few sites worth checking out in New Brunswick:

Cape Enrage

Located on the Bay of Fundy, Cape Enrage is well known for being a Fossil Beach, and while not anything you can collect and take with you, it is definitely worth the trip to see the geology of the area and the fossils that have been revealed by the waves over the years.

While you are in the area, there are a few other things to do including viewing the Cape Enrage Lighthouse and ziplining, if you are into that sort of thing.

Important note: You’ll want to be aware of the tide times and plan accordingly as they get up to thirty feet twice a day.

The most common fossil to be found here is Calamites (similar to ferns). Other fossils that have been found here include sea urchins and small bivalves.

The beach area is accessible by foot and there is some parking available at Fundy’s Cape Enrage Lighthouse as well as Pebble Beach along Cape Enrage Rd.

Alma

Alma is located roughly 45 minutes south of Moncton on the Bay of Fundy and is the gateway to Fundy National Park.

This is another great site to see a number of fossils and minerals along the coastline and in its sandstone cliffs.

Some of the samples you can find in the cliffs and on the beaches are Calamites, Quartz and fossilized trees filled with various minerals.

The areas are accessible by foot and, once again, you will want to be aware of local tide times and plan your outing accordingly.

There are plenty of other activities to take advantage of while visiting Alma, such as hiking, kayaking, golf or enjoying some fresh seafood, sticky buns and beer from the local craft brewery.

There is also a great selection of B&B, camping and hotel accommodations available in and around the area, which makes this a great destination for weekend getaways or longer vacation trips.

These areas are mainly accessible by foot.

Pointe Wolfe

Pointe Wolfe in Fundy National Park is probably the most out of the way location on this list but is a great getaway destination.

There is a campground and plenty of hiking trails nearby that wind along the bluffs and down near the beach all along the park.

The nearby Pointe Wolfe Covered Bridge is pretty neat to see as well.

Amongst the samples that can be found throughout the park are Amethyst, Agate, Jasper and other semi-precious stones.

Once again, be mindful of the high tide times when planning any outings near the beaches and seaside bluffs.

These areas are mainly accessible by foot.

Tin Can Beach

Tin Can Beach in the heart of Saint John’s harbour is a great place to do a little bit of rock hounding while in the city.

Flint is the main thing that can be found here, but there are a handful of other semi-precious stones that can be found in the beach gravel.

The flint was often used as ballast for ships coming over from Europe and then discarded on the beaches around the Saint John area.

Other samples that can be found around Saint John’s beaches and cliffs include: Quartz, Calcite, and Fluorite.

These areas are mainly accessible by foot.

Whale Cove on Grand Manan Island

Grand Manan Island is not as easily accessible as the other locations in this article, but boy does it provide some stunning sites to see.

If you visit the island, Whale Cove is one of the more promising places to see and find some great samples.

From Columnar Basalt to Jasper, Smoky Quartz, Chalcedony, Amethyst and Malachite samples.

While on the island, you’ll also have a chance to see the regal Puffins, migrating whales, and a variety of other sea life and migrating birds.

There are some great choices of where to stay for an extended visit.

This is a great destination to be as tranquil or adventurous as you would like.

I’ll put another reminder here to be aware of high tide times before planning any beach cliff excursions so you are not caught unawares.

There is a small airport on the island, but you can also catch a ride over on the Grand Manan Ferry down near Blacks Harbour.

Carry With You

If you are planning a hike where there will be rocks to pick through, consider packing one of the following:

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Wrap Up

If you are visiting New Brunswick for the first time, it may seem a bit overwhelming as to what to do and where to go first.

Don’t forget about sampling some fresh Maple Syrup or even taking a tour of a syrup farm and see how it’s done.

I would recommend checking out the New Brunswick Tourism website ahead of time if you plan on adding other adventures to your rock hounding plans.

There are plenty of other great locations to go sightseeing and rock hounding, but these are some of the more notable areas that have come up over the years with solid information as to what can be found.

In closing, be mindful and respectful of private property and provincial laws while out rock hounding and before taking any samples with you from any of these areas. Happy hunting.

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Rockhounding New Brunswick