Reversing Falls

There is a place on the Saint John River where, depending on the tide, rapids appears to tumble down unseen rocks in one direction during one time of day and in the opposite direction during another. This urban spectacle, which forces water into or out of the river four times daily — due to the intense tidal pull and water levels in the neighboring Bay of Fundy — draws visitors to an industrial area southwest of downtown Saint John to Fallsview Park and Bridge Road. Patience is a virtue; it takes a full six hours and 15 minutes for the falls to completely reverse direction and flow the other way.

The 2014 closure of a company offering popular jet boat rides near the falls left a void for adventure seekers which has recently been filled by a new zipline suspended below the hum of traffic on busy Reversing Falls Bridge. The zipline affords unparalleled views 670 feet above whirlpools, cresting waves and violent eddies.

Practical Info

Fallsview Park is located at 100 Fallsview Avenue and affords water-level views. A Reversing Falls theater — which presents a short film explaining the phenomenon for a small fee — along with observation deck, restaurants and gift shops are located at 200 Bridge Road. All are open daily year-round; restaurant hours are from 10 a.m. ‘til 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. ‘til 10 p.m. on weekends.