Joggins Fossil Cliffs Centre: Hours, Address, Joggins Fossil Cliffs Centre Reviews: 4.5/5
Joggins Fossil Cliffs Centre
Joggins Fossil Cliffs Centre
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Temporarily closed for the season. We will re-open on May 1, 2022, and remain open until October 11, 2022.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingFull view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
4 within 5 kms
Attractions
2 within 10 kms
Contribute
Popular mentions
4.5
367 reviews
Excellent
234
Very good
102
Average
23
Poor
7
Terrible
1
JB81ontheroad
Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada340 contributions
Sep. 2021
Don't let the 2019 update fool you - the Joggins Fossil Cliffs Centre is open, and well worth the visit. The museum is cool and all, but sign up for a tour - affordable, and well worth it!
Written September 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
AMsays
Thornhill, Canada3,468 contributions
Aug. 2021
This site in my journey through the UNESCO World Heritage Sites marks my 125th site. Still many more to come. Their brochure says, “preserved in nature, uncovered by force”. The high tides have revealed a fossil record of the Carboniferous period, 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Jordan explained the geological history, the significance of this discovery for the area’s cultural and industrial heritage. He explained that besides fossils, the cliffs also had underlying coal that the indigenous community discovered many years ago. Jordan was a “font of knowledge”. It is understandable why this site has been designated a “World Heritage Site”.
Written August 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ally S
1 contribution
Aug. 2021 • Couples
A UNESCO World Heritage Site should have great staff and this one does not disappoint. The staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful. Be sure and take the beach tour (at least) to help you recognize the kinds of Carboniferous Period fossils you are seeing. The museum will help with that, too, but our guide helped us to spot various kinds of fossils. The beach tour doesn’t give you much time to look around yourself so plan to remain on the beach afterward to put your learning to the test as you look for fossils. And you will find them so long as the tide isn’t up.
Written August 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Nicholas C
Nova Scotia, Canada38 contributions
Aug. 2020
This UNESCO world site and museum is highly informative and well worth a visit.
Although one can learn much from time spent in the museum the real benefit comes from having a guided tour of the cliffs themselves which can only be accomplished at low tide.So it is advisable to call in advance to find out times of the tides and tours.
If visiting this region of Nova Scotia it would be foolish not to pay a visit to this world class attraction.
Although one can learn much from time spent in the museum the real benefit comes from having a guided tour of the cliffs themselves which can only be accomplished at low tide.So it is advisable to call in advance to find out times of the tides and tours.
If visiting this region of Nova Scotia it would be foolish not to pay a visit to this world class attraction.
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Yabut
Ontario9 contributions
Jul. 2019
It's fun to go looking for fossils but it's even more fun when guided by someone who knows what you are looking at and can point out things like the fossil of a giant centipede .
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
JenniferandAlan
Easton, PA543 contributions
Jul. 2019
We arrived early for the last tour of the day so we spent a lot of time in the center and learned so much. The site has the most complete fossil record of the Coal Age. A swamp forest covered this area and over time made coal. The visitor center is on the site of a coal mine and took on the name. There is a theater and exhibits and displays of the geological history, scientific discoveries such as the tetrapods and the ancestor of all dinosaurs, and coal mining in the area. At low tide the Bay of Fundy exposes the fossil cliffs and 300 million year old history. We took the Wanderers tour which is about 45 minutes and good for all ages. We saw fossilized plants and tree trunks embedded in the cliffs. Every day exposes something new. What an experience. Tips: wear good shoes as you'll be climbing stairs and walking on the uneven coastline. Also plan your trip for low tide so you can get out on the coast to see the cliff. There is also a gift shop and a cafe. Something for everyone.
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
BilllC
Hamilton, Canada4 contributions
Nov. 2019
Went for the first time since the museum was built. It was off season but the centre was open for a special event. Definitely worth a tour when it reopens.
Written November 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
hollieg547
Nova Scotia, Canada25 contributions
Oct. 2019 • Family
We spent a couple hours here searching the beach for fossils and found several. The centre itself was a little boring for the kids so next time we will skip the centre and just go straight down to the beach.
Written October 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Birdmarg
Charlottetown, Canada168 contributions
Oct. 2019 • Couples
Make sure to time your trip to Joggins around low tide- this way you will get to see as much of the beach as possible. The museum and information center are lovely and worth the admission fee. The exhibits explain the history of the area (ancient and more recent), really framing the importance of the sight before you go down to the beach. After reading about the area, walk down the cliffs (could be difficult if mobility is a concern) and just walk along the beach and marvel at the fossils. If you look closely you realize they are everywhere! A great day for both kids and adults. Could easily spend about 3 hours there total with museum, but less depending on interest. The information center offers guided tours of the beach based on low tide (included with price of general admission) and there is a cafe inside the center as well. We went on a rainy day and it was still a splendid experience. Highly recommend!
Written October 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
CarribeanBound1
Gulf Shores, AL1,328 contributions
Sep. 2019
I arrived after the center was closed for the evening, so i didn;t have time to visit inside or take a tour. The tide was still down but i did not walk to the beach. Nice view but unless you are REALLY into the fossil hunt, didn't really seem worth the trip to me. Drivig the day from Wolfsville to Amherst i really just didn't think it was anything i hadn't already seen.
Written October 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Is it open Saturday the 26 October 2019? What else is in the area to tour?
nowgivemeyourreviews
Halifax, Canada350 contributions
I don’t know when it’s open
There isn’t much else in the area except places to eat
321travellers
New Brusnwick2 contributions
where do we get a permit to keep fossils and how long before we go do we need to get the permit
MatthewS4
Fredericton, Canada166 contributions
Permits are for research purposes only not for tourists to collects fossils. Permits are issued by the Province of Nova Scotia not by the Joggins centre.
Mommika
Toronto, Canada72 contributions
I'm wondering how old kids need to be to get something out it. Trying to decide whether to just wander the gift shop or sign up for the short tour?
bookgirl12342002
Abbotsford BC135 contributions
sorry, I just got this question. I haven't signed into Tripadvisor for a long time. I would totally skip the tour and just peruse the building. then go onto the beach yourself and walk around. Watch the tide, it comes in so quickly it caught me unaware. hWhere the stairs lead down to the beach is actually farther out into the bay. so if you are walking on either side of the stairs ( which is set back into the beach wall more) you actually think you have more time - but you don't!
My grandparents Bobby & Annie Smith lived there just up from the shore .We always came to visit them in the sixties .There was an old wharf there with boats tied upped .We would swim and have picnics as well .Check out the church on Main Street it is a site to see they have a pot luck when they have their yearly blessing of the crops in August.
NChoagie
North Carolina157 contributions
We are going with a friend who has had cancer treatment and difficulty with her back. How hard would it be for her to do either the short wanderer's tour or the two-hour explorers tour or should she skip both? Any help appreciated that is more descriptive of what kind of steps, climb etc. Thanks!
Benjamin M
Nova Scotia, Canada3 contributions
Hello!
The steps down to the beach here at Joggins are relatively extensive. It's a total of sixty physical steps down to the beach, but the stairs themselves are closer to maybe around 30. We do have a bench at the midway point for people to sit down and collect themselves.
As far as tours go, the wanderers tour would probably be the best. There isn't much walking during the half hour experience, it is mostly the interpreters talking about specific locations very close to the stairs. The two hour explorers tour is delves a bit deeper into the fossil record and also involves quite a bit more walking.
Speaking from personal experience as an interpreter, the hardest part of the tours are the climb back up the stairs. We do have railings and the previously mentioned bench to make it an easier time, but you can always take a look at the stairs before paying admission for a tour. Besides the actual beach, we also have a very informative and impressive collection of fossils in our museum portion of the center which is very accessible.
Hopefully this answers your question!
Hope to see you here at Joggins,
Ben
Alanna L
Woodstock, Canada1 contribution
I was here as a child and had a great time. I`ll be going back again.
Frequently Asked Questions about Joggins Fossil Cliffs Centre
- Joggins Fossil Cliffs Centre is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Restaurants near Joggins Fossil Cliffs Centre:
- (0.11 km) The Roundhouse Café
- (0.25 km) Bay View Restaurant
- (0.47 km) McPuffin's Atlantic Seafood Restaurant
- (0.75 km) Bayview Restaurant ( Margie's)
- (10.35 km) Hantsport Pizzeria & Deli