Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site The Google rating is 4.6

Joggins Fossil Cliffs on the Bay of Fundy: Canada’s 15th UNESCO World Heritage Site

Explore up to 15 kilometres of magnificently exposed layers of rock along the Bay of Fundy coastline, just 30 minutes from Amherst and 40 minutes from Parrsboro. Towering cliffs reveal the world’s most complete fossil record of life in the ‘Coal Age’ when lush forests covered Joggins and much of the world’s tropical regions, 300 million years ago.

Constant erosion from the Bay of Fundy’s tides, rising and falling up to 13 metres (42 feet) in Joggins twice daily, creates possibilities for exposing new, rare fossils. Search for fossils on the beach or view the spectacular sandstone layers with fossilized remains of the 300-million-year-old forest. With careful observation, you may even find fossils of animal and insect trackways or the remains of amphibians or Hylonomus lyelli – the oldest known reptile and Nova Scotia’s provincial fossil!

Snap photos of your finds to share but remember that physically collecting or removing fossils without a Heritage Research Permit in Nova Scotia is not permitted under the Special Places Protection Act. As the official repository for fossils found at the UNESCO site, consider sharing any photos of your findings and their approximate location with staff at the Joggins Fossil Centre.

Be sure to stop by the Centre’s gift shop for books for all ages and a large selection of jewellery, prints, knitted wear, home goods and more all made by local artisans.

The Centre is barrier free and includes accessible parking, ramps, power doors, and wheelchair accessible washrooms. The nearby beach and cliffs are only accessible via stairs and can be accessed outside of Centre hours from May through November but be sure to check tide times when planning your visit. More information to help you plan your visit is available HERE.