Nova Shores Adventures - Half Day Three Sisters High Tide Kayak

 The Three Sisters references a rock formation that is located off the cliffs of Cape Chignecto Provincial Park near Advocate Harbor, Nova Scotia.  I had seen many pictures of this location and it quickly made it onto my bucket list of places that I wanted to go kayaking.  I have enjoyed sea kayaking for a number of years, and have always had to travel to get to participate in it.  Kayaking seems to be the best way to experience these particular rocks and the cliffs that surround them.  There are some trails from within the park that will get you to viewpoints along the cliff but there is nothing that can top quietly paddling amongst the rocks.

When we travel we will find a local guiding company to go out on the trip with.  They will provide you with all the equipment that you need except for some basic clothing items.  They also know about the local tides, currents, and the winds in the area, all of which can cause you to have issues if you are not careful while kayaking.  I do not want to find myself caught in a current that is taking me out to sea faster than I can actually paddle.  This is especially true in the Bay of Fundy where you have the greatest differential between high tide and low tide in the world.

For this trip, we made a reservation early on with Nova Shores Adventure.  We found that they were very easy to work and communicate with.  When you book your trip you will have to look at their calendar to see if it will be a high tide paddle or a low tide paddle.  I am sure that either trip would be great, but we really wanted to do a high tide paddle where you can be up next to the rocks and kayak through the arch.

You start your Nova Shores Adventure journey in the village of Advocate Harbour.  They have a house there with an equipment bard out back that is where you check-in.  After doing the obligatory risk management paperwork, you are fitted with the equipment that you will need including your life vest, paddle, spray skirt, and other gear is needed based on the weather like neoprene gloves.  After your group has gathered you will get instructions and a map to drive to the put-in spot which is just a short drive away.  You will drive your personal vehicle to the put-in spot and it does require you to drive on a dirt road for part of the drive.

Once you arrive at the put-in spot your guide will help get the kayaks down to the water while you are putting on your gear.  Before you go out into the water you are provided a full safety briefing and a quick lesson about paddling.  The kayaks here are internal cabin kayaks meaning that you are not sitting in the water or getting wet.  In our trek, they were also double person kayaks so that you will be paddling with another person in your group.

The launch beach is an easy flat beach to get started from and you start out by paddling out across an indent in the beach line.  You are never very far from land, but this first section takes you out as far as you will really go throughout the day.  Our tour started around 1:00 PM and the temperature was great when we launched.

After this first part of the paddle, the guide makes a series of stops along the way to share information about the geology and the culture and lore of Mik'Maw people.  Our guide was very knowledgeable and pointed out a number of different unique features about the cliffs.  As we began to paddle along the bottom of the cliffs our guide to us to two different sea caves that have been created by the water hitting against the rock.  We got to paddle into them and see the cave and the rock that was forming it.  Shortly after that, we were kayaking under the arch which was a pretty amazing feature.  There was time for pictures and to enjoy the scenery.

When we got to our turn around point we beached the kayaks and had an opportunity to get out of the kayak and stretch your legs. While we were exploring the beach at the midway point, our guide prepared chili and some other snacks which made for a relaxing time.

While you are on the beach the tides turn and start flowing out so as you head back you see the speed at which the tides flow out of the Bay of Fundy.  Areas that you previously kayaked through are now inaccessible because of the change of water height, so you see it through a whole new lens.  The tidal change actually gives you a push back to where you put in, so the paddling is even easier on the way back in.  

As we pulled the kayaks out of the water the sun started to set and we were treated to a memorable ending to this journey.

Nova Shores Adventures

37 School Lane
Advocate Harbour
Nova Scotia
Toll-Free: 1-866-638-4118
Web Site

Open May thru October