Cape D’Or Scenic Area and Lighthouse

The Cape D’Or Scenic Area centers on the charming lighthouse on the penninsula, but also includes two short walking trails on the bluff overhead as well as a restaurant and a tiny B&B in the old keeper’s quarters. Named for it’s shimmering golden cliffs (that are actually copper and not gold), Cape D’Or marks the collision of the Bay of Fundy with the Minas Basin and provides a viewpoint for some of the most powerful collision of tides that, compounded by underwater obstructions, causes visible riptides, called dory rips. My arrival was not timed to see them at the dory rips at their height, but the powerful currents of water I did see were pretty impressive.

The whole cape is terribly scenic and its easily understandable why its such a popular place to visit. There was some fairly nice fractured basalt columns on the peninsula but even better were the copper cliffs. Though muted by the direct afternoon sun, they were still quite magnificent, especially contrasted with the heightened blue of the water at the base of the rocks. The two (very) short walking trails on the bluff were excellent as well, offering elevated vantage points of the rip and a view into the other side of the Minas Basin.