Miguasha National Park, at 231 route de Miguasha Ouest in Nouvelle, protects a fossil-rich cliff on the Baie des Chaleurs and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is on the south coast of the peninsula, a long way from Percé, and it is the sight that most surprises people who come for the gannets and the red cliffs. The reason is the fish. The cliff holds exceptionally well-preserved fossils from the Devonian period, and Tourisme Gaspésie notes that the park has the only fully intact specimen of Elpistostege watsoni ever found, a creature that helps scientists explain how vertebrates made the move from water to land. You do not need a science background to enjoy it. The museum has a permanent exhibition that tells the story step by step, there are family activities including a treasure hunt built around a character called Elpi, a sandbox for small children, a gift shop and picnic areas, and guided visits are offered. Staff can speak English and some translated material is available. The park is seasonal, running from early June to mid October with daily hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a visit takes about two hours. A fee applies. The trail and the cliff are not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, although parts of the site are accessible, so check the details before you go.
What to do
Begin in the museum, where the exhibition explains the Devonian world and shows the fossils that made the cliff famous, then walk the trail to the cliff itself to see where they came from. The two halves work together, because the museum gives you the story and the cliff shows you the setting.
Children enjoy the treasure hunt and the sandbox, and a guided visit is worth taking if you want the science explained by someone who knows it. Keep the fossil rules in mind: the cliff is protected, and fossils are not to be collected.
Seasons and planning
Miguasha is a summer and early autumn attraction, with the season set each year, so confirm the opening dates before you drive. It lies on route 132 beside the Baie des Chaleurs, on the New Brunswick side of the peninsula, and it is easiest to combine with Carleton-sur-Mer, Bonaventure and Paspébiac rather than with Percé.
From Percé it is a long drive, so most travellers meet it on the way into or out of the peninsula, or on a night spent on the south coast. The park has an electric vehicle charging point, is pet-friendly and has WiFi, which helps on a long driving day.
Fitting it in
Allow about two hours, then add time for lunch in one of the villages along the bay. It works well on a rainy day, because the museum is indoors, and it suits families who have done enough hiking. If your trip is short, it is the sight to cut first, since it is far from the headline coast.
If you have a week, it is one of the few places on the peninsula that is truly world class on a global scale, and it gives the trip an unexpected scientific layer alongside the scenery. Pair it with Paspébiac for history and Cime Aventure for the river.
What to expect
The experience
A museum with a permanent fossil exhibition, plus a walk along the protected fossil cliff, with guided visits and family activities.
Best time
June to mid October between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; a clear day makes the cliff walk more pleasant.
How long
About two hours for the museum and the cliff trail.
Tips
Check the opening dates each year, ask about guided visits in English and do not collect fossils from the cliff.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and curious travellers who want a world-class science stop on the Baie des Chaleurs.
- Families
- The Elpi treasure hunt and the sandbox are made for children, and the museum is indoors.
- Couples
- A quiet, unusual morning on the south coast, followed by lunch in a bayside village.
- Pair with
- Paspébiac National Historic Site, Cime Aventure and a night in Carleton-sur-Mer.
- Time needed
- Two hours.
Good questions
Why is Miguasha a World Heritage Site?+
Its cliff holds exceptionally well-preserved Devonian fish fossils, and the park has the only fully intact specimen of Elpistostege watsoni found so far, which helps explain how vertebrates moved onto land.
Where is Miguasha?+
At 231 route de Miguasha Ouest in Nouvelle, on the Baie des Chaleurs on the south coast of the peninsula.
When is it open?+
It is a seasonal park, open from early June to mid October with daily hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dates are set each year, so confirm before you go.
Is it suitable for children?+
Yes. There is a treasure hunt, a sandbox and family activities, and a visit takes about two hours.
Is it accessible?+
The trail and the cliff are not accessible to people with reduced mobility, but some areas of the site are partially or fully accessible, so check the details first.
