Reversing Falls Rapids
Reversing Falls Rapids
3.9
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.9
1,462 reviews
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Paula R
2 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
It depends on what you’re looking for - for us it felt more like a tourist trap. The reversing rapids was on a busy highway not to mention there were three cruise ships docked in the city. Therefore, that made it a very busy stop. We saw the rapids which was interesting to see. However, Glad we decided to stay in saint Andrews instead!
Written October 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CdnMink
Manitoba, Canada187 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
We visited the Falls observation platform adjacent to the falls in a residential area. It is not well marked so find it on a mop and get there. Lots of tour buses stop there, not as many cars. We visited at low tide so not the spectacle, but a rapids just the same, only going in the outbound direction. Views are nice and the interpretive material informative. Well worth the stop if in the area and you're one who enjoys natural features.
Written October 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Star803
33 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
If you time your visit to see low tide, then high tide, it can be quite impressive. We stopped on the way to Bay of Fundy for a break from driving and enjoyed the experience. Stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, 5 min from falls and hotel was excellent.
Written October 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bb1769
Apple Valley, California67 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
After reading many reviews here, I was still confused about exactly when and where to go to best see this phenomenon. After more research and going there three times, here's my advice. Before you go, check the tide table (search Canada tide charts and pick the official Canada site, then select the Saint John - 00065 station; not the Reversing Falls station, which only shows the "slack" times when the water is more or less stationary). For the best experience, go twice: at around low tide and at around high tide. At low tide, the river is running out toward the sea, whereas at high tide, the sea surges up the river. I originally thought that high/low tide would be when the water would be 'slack' (reversing), but there's a significant delay after the official peak tide, so turns out low and high tide are good times to go.
As for where to go, head to the Chesley Drive (Route 100) bridge over the Saint John River. The rapids extend from just below (south) of the road and railroad bridges to several hundred meters/yards upstream. At low tide, both upper and lower rapids are impressive and worth seeing. At high tide, the upper rapids are more impressive, as the lower area isn't really rapids at that time, though it does have swirling whirlpools.
The most popular parking spot is on the west side of the bridge, just south of Chesley along Riverview Avenue. This provides good viewing of the lower rapids. This is also where the restaurant is with its 'Skyview' rooftop platform (we didn't pay for that--seems unnecessary). We did eat at the restaurant; good views if you can get a table at the very forward edge overlooking the rapids. Otherwise, you can view from the railing just south of the restaurant, or walk along the bridge. You can see some of the upper rapids from the bridge, but views are obscured by the railroad bridge.
There is also a viewing platform on the east side of the bridge, which provides good views of the lower rapids and some of the upper rapids. You can walk across the bridge to reach it, or there is a small parking area across the street.
To view the upper rapids better, head to Fallsview Park: just east of the bridge on Chesley Drive, turn north on Douglas Ave (note left turns are prohibited at some times of day if coming from the west), then turn left at Fallsview Avenue to reach the park. There are a couple of levels of viewing there.
As for where to go, head to the Chesley Drive (Route 100) bridge over the Saint John River. The rapids extend from just below (south) of the road and railroad bridges to several hundred meters/yards upstream. At low tide, both upper and lower rapids are impressive and worth seeing. At high tide, the upper rapids are more impressive, as the lower area isn't really rapids at that time, though it does have swirling whirlpools.
The most popular parking spot is on the west side of the bridge, just south of Chesley along Riverview Avenue. This provides good viewing of the lower rapids. This is also where the restaurant is with its 'Skyview' rooftop platform (we didn't pay for that--seems unnecessary). We did eat at the restaurant; good views if you can get a table at the very forward edge overlooking the rapids. Otherwise, you can view from the railing just south of the restaurant, or walk along the bridge. You can see some of the upper rapids from the bridge, but views are obscured by the railroad bridge.
There is also a viewing platform on the east side of the bridge, which provides good views of the lower rapids and some of the upper rapids. You can walk across the bridge to reach it, or there is a small parking area across the street.
To view the upper rapids better, head to Fallsview Park: just east of the bridge on Chesley Drive, turn north on Douglas Ave (note left turns are prohibited at some times of day if coming from the west), then turn left at Fallsview Avenue to reach the park. There are a couple of levels of viewing there.
Written August 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tabitha B
Cocoa Beach, FL392 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
This is by far, one of the coolest nature experiences I have ever witnessed. You need to go during low and high tide to understand the effect. It literally changes direction from one tide to another. We also got to witness the birds playing in the rapids which was fun to see. They would fly, then drop in the rapids and ride, and do it all over again.
Written October 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The_Wanderer1992
Columbia, MD2,607 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Before leaving Saint John, my husband and I stopped to view the reversing falls, which is where the Saint John River and Bay of Fundy meet. The water appears to flow in two different directions and creates a small whirlpool. It's quite neat to see and changes based on the tides.
Written April 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne S
Richmond, VA168 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
This is a small city park on the Saint John River near the falls. There are restrooms and picnic tables but no other amenities. We headed here right after arriving, and it was slack tide (halfway between high and low tide). Water was very calm and still. Came back about 90 minutes later (low tide) and river was rushing down stream with rapids and falls visible. Crazy!
Written July 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathleen
Dover, NH7 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
We were here at high tide as were many other people - tour buses, etc. hence it took a little time to get around to see the different views but it was worth it. The currents were interesting. This would have been five stars but for the paper mill in the background which detracted from the beautiful natural setting. I was happy to hear from a local person who said that the ‘smoke’ coming out of the stacks was simply steam and that they recycled all of their water.
Written September 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
martial51
Vitry-le-Francois, France893 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
To see a natural phenomenon having a connection with the tide, you have to find out about the times of .... tide. Time of high tide and low tide. The difference is glaring, the water flows in one direction and then the other. Very beautiful phenomenon to see. Do not hesitate to ask the tourist office
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Written September 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Molesworth_10
Sydney, Australia153 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
The drawcard of the trip was the reversing falls rapids which I have to say were less impressive than we'd hoped. I understand that the timing of the visit is key to seeing the falls and this can't always be planned around trip and ship excursion schedules. Even so, the time we were able to spend at the falls was limited. The tour of the town itself is ok but not special. The tour guide was very good.
Written September 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where can I find a chart or table showing when High Tide and Low Tide are?
Written July 7, 2019
You can search your phone browser for :
Tide chart St. John NB
It will give you the high and low tides.
Written July 7, 2019
How would I walk from my cruise ship to the observation deck and then walk into town before returning to the ship?
Is the walkway on a sidewalk, etc?
Thanx
Written May 28, 2017
There is a walk way path from the cruise ship but it deosnt go all the way to the falls but u can walk on the side of the road i did it last year and to get back to town would be the same walk back to your cruise ship
Written May 28, 2017
I just would like to know whether I have to write cruise ship and disembarkment time in order to join "Fundy Coast to Fundy Shore Tour" ?
If I was attempted to book the tour though, they say they need to write it even though I won't do cruising.
Written November 11, 2016
As I remember, we disembarked a bit after 9 and we went on a 10:00 tour. There was another tour in the afternoon, think it was at 2. Hope this helps.
Written November 11, 2016
Which is the better place to view the reversing waterfall? St. John's or Hopewell Rocks?
Written September 24, 2016
I thought Hopewell rocks was the better of the two. Reversing falls is cool, but to see it at its best you have to time it completely correct. Hopewell rocks are similar with having to look at the time, but it has a lot bigger window for you to explore.
Written September 25, 2016
Is it walkable from the cruise ship port to the Reversing Falls?
Written July 16, 2016
Yes, Absolutely, there is the "Harbour Passage" that was built specially for walking/biking/running and you can walk along the river from Uptown to the Reversing Falls. You will love it. i tried to add the website, but won't let me. google search Harbour Passage and you find it in the tourism new brunswick.
Written July 16, 2016
We are considering staying overnight in St John & would like to see the full effect of the tides. Date 16th Oct 2016. Where best to view this?
Written June 21, 2016
To each there own, however I'll just say the tide although unique in it's own right is something to look at but not really something to spend a day viewing. When the tide goes up, it's like a river moving one way, and when it goes down, the river just goes the other way. Really just moving water. I've seen more rapids in a small creek.
I don't recall seeing much for hotels around the viewing area.
Written September 27, 2016
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