Are you looking for a unique New Brunswick park to have an RV vacation? Herring Cove Provincial Park on Campobello Island is a fantastic choice, especially if you like hiking. On the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, you can find this fantastic park with a one mile (1.6km) long beach. Take a walk along the water where you can see all kinds of wonderful wildlife like puffins, osprey, sea urchins, and even bald eagles. And if you keep your eye on the water, you may even spot some whales or porpoises playing in the bay.
If you want to get in the water with the wildlife, you are more than welcome to wade into the chilly bay. Play in the surf, swim out a way, or paddle around and enjoy the Bay of Fundy. Grab a surfboard and see if you can handle the tides here or take a ride on a sailboat to see even more aquatic creatures. Or you can try to catch something for dinner if you like, with a deep-water fishing pole and some cut bait.
For those who would rather stay on dry land, you may enjoy the nine-hole golf course, which has a clubhouse, dining room, and snack bar. The pine forest here holds all kinds of wonders that you can explore on one of the eight hiking trails in the park. From the 0.4-mile (0.7km) Eastern Head Cove Trail along the beach to the 1.3-mile (2.1km) Carriage Road Trail along the old logging road, there is something that everyone can enjoy here in Herring Cove Provincial Park.
Just four miles (6.4km) from the US border, Herring Cove Provincial Park is on the banks of the Bay of Fundy in the southern portion of Campobello Island. On NB-774, the park is easy to find since it is one of the only parks in the area. If you are coming from Lubec, head east on ME-189, and you will reach the park after crossing the border. Don’t forget your passport. Roosevelt Campobello International Park, which is where US President Roosevelt vacationed when he was a boy, is also just a short trip from the park as it is only 2.7 miles (4.3km) away.
Although parking is limited for large rigs at Herring Cove Provincial Park, you will have no problems at all if you park your RV at your campsite and use alternative transportation. One of the best ways to get around the park is by walking, with eight hiking trails to enjoy and over a mile of beach to explore. Many park visitors also bring bicycles to ride around on, and this is a fun way to get around the park while getting some exercise as well.
Campground A boasts 40 extra-large campsites with electric hookups. Each of these sites has a picnic table and campfire pit with a grate to cook on. Most of the sites are level, and many have shade while others are quite sunny. If you happen to get one of those, it is best to have an awning or camping shelter to get some relief from the sun. The sites here are drive-throughs that are large enough to accommodate RVs and trailers up to 32 feet long.
This campground is close to two of the hiking trails and has access to the camp store, firewood, telephone, and an RV dump station. The kids will enjoy the playground located between Campground A and Campground B, and there is a picnic area nearby for public use. Potable water access is located at each end of the campground near sites 13 and 33. The shower house and modern restrooms are within walking distance, and there are several pit toilets around the park. Pets are welcome, so bring your pooch but make sure to keep him on a leash at all times. Make your reservation early to be sure you get a spot.
Campground B has 36 primitive sites with no utilities. Most of these sites can accommodate motorhomes and campers from 18 to 24 feet in length, but be sure to check the specifics when reserving your spot. All of the sites have fire pits with grills to cook on and large picnic tables, as well as a nicely groomed space for hanging out around the fire. The majority of the campsites are at least partly shaded and level. You can bring your furbaby too, but be sure to keep it restrained at all times.
The campground provides drinking water spigots at each end near campsite 59 and campsite 76, as well as one in the middle by campsite 66. The shower house, restrooms, and a laundry facility is provided in the northeastern section of the camp by campsite 41. There is also an RV dump station nearby. The playground and picnic area are within walking distance, as are the walking trails that lead to the other campgrounds.
Be sure to pack your golf clubs in the rig before heading out because this is one of the rare parks where you can find a golf course. The Herring Cove Provincial Park Golf Course has nine holes and a Geoffrey Cornish design with stellar views to go along with your game. From newbies to experts, this course is fun for everyone. Before or after your game, stop by the clubhouse or the pro shop where you can grab some souvenirs for your family and friends back home.
The beach near Campground C is a mile long, and when the tide is in, it is perfectly sandy. However, when the tide goes out, you will also have the pebble beach to go along with it. Play in the sand, swim in the bay and enjoy the gorgeous views of Grand Manan Island across the water. There is a picnic area on the beach as well, so you can enjoy a meal by the water while you watch the seagulls and other water birds waiting for you to drop something tasty.
Grab a bucket and head out onto the Campobello Island beach to search for seashells and other sand-covered beach finds. You can find some vividly colored rocks as well, so take a look at them too. The Bay of Fundy is actually one of the Seven Wonders of the World with its precious minerals, rare whales, the highest tides on the planet, and it is even known for its dinosaur fossils. You never know what you will find here. The beach is a whole different land when the tide goes out, and the islands turn into geological works of art. Be sure to pack your camera in the RV, because you won't want to forget the unique sights here.
The Deer Island – Campobello Island Ferry is available to take you to and from the island. The schedule and fees vary depending on the time of year. During the busy season, from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend, the ferry runs every hour from 8:30 AM until 6:30 PM. During the off-season, you will have to check with the ferry office for more information.
Campground C is the smallest with only 12 rugged waterfront sites that have no utilities or space for an RV or trailer. These are tent only campsites, so if you want to stay here, you have to park the RV elsewhere and walk or drive an alternative vehicle. With huge grassy spaces to pitch a tent and partial shade, these sites are worth the trouble of giving up the RV if you want to be closer to the water. Each campsite does have a picnic table and fire pit with a grill and a cleared area to play in.
This campground also boasts a huge picnic area in the middle and several picnic shelters dotted around the area. Water is available in several areas of the campground, and there are two large playgrounds, one at each end by the bay. This campground also offers five rustic shelters that provide bunk beds (no mattresses), a picnic table, and a fire ring with a grate to cook on. This is also the closest campground to the restaurant, golf course, and day-use area. Pets are welcome, and reservations should be made in advance.
Roosevelt Campobello International Park is also a fun place to visit and learn some interesting history while you are at it. This park is where the late U.S. president used to spend his summer breaks, and when you visit here, you can learn all about Roosevelt and his family from an expert when you have Tea with Eleanor. This awesome lunchtime treat happens daily at one of the cottages. You can enjoy a cup of tea and cookies while listening to the secrets and stories of Roosevelt’s summers.
Take a self-guided tour at Eagle Hill Bog, which is just 3.9 miles (6.3km) from the park. The bog has a walkway and is about 0.7-miles (1.1km) long, with 13 different points of interest with plaques describing each location. Post two is the Pitcher Plant, which is a plant that eats bugs. Kids love that stuff. Post eight teaches you about cranberries, and how they can tell you about the health of the bog. Post 10 is about the regeneration of the forest, which is tied to the logging road at post five.
Pack those walking shoes in the RV before going to Herring Cove Provincial Park because there are eight different hiking trails to explore while you are there. If you just want to take a nice and easy walk, you can try the 0.4-mile (0.6km) Friar’s Bay Trail, which leads you from the pond through the forest. For more of a challenge, take a walk along the Lake Glensevern Trail, which is a 0.9-mile (1.5km) hike along the hardwood forest path and the carriage road to the tea house on Lake Glensevern.
