Mavillette: Beach, Salt Marsh and Birdlife

At Mavillette Beach, two distinct natural attractions meet: a 1.5 km sandy beach and the 132 ha salt marsh behind it. Beach walks, running and beachcombing go hand in hand with the opportunity to observe many different bird species in the marsh. When planning your day, you can choose between coastal finds and birdwatching as separate areas of focus.

Beach, Tides and Viewpoints

At the sandy beach, you can go for a walk or run and collect beach finds. At low tide, beachgoers can find driftwood, stones, shells and beach glass. If you are particularly interested in finding these items, the timing of low tide is relevant to your plans. A walk or run, on the other hand, is a separate way to spend time at the beach.

From Mavillette Beach, you can see the fishing pier and the Cape St. Mary's Lighthouse. Surfing is also part of the beach's character: Mavillette Beach is becoming a surfing destination for locals. As a visitor, you can watch surfers or bring your own surfboard.

Tidekite ReWIND Adventures offers Blokart land sailing in Mavillette. Confirm availability before booking. For summer 2026, lifeguard supervision was scheduled at Mavillette Beach on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., from July 1 to August 30.

Explore the Salt Marsh

The 132 ha salt marsh behind the beach is popular with birdwatchers because many different bird species can be seen there. This makes it a different focus from beachcombing along the shore: here, attention turns to the marsh's birdlife. If you are interested in both, you can treat beach activities and birdwatching as separate parts of your visit, rather than planning them around the same timing or tides.

More to Explore in the Broader Destination of Digby County

The broader destination of Digby County offers other distinct interests. The Smith’s Cove Old Temperance Hall Museum displays artifacts dating back to the 18th century and is next to the Digby County Rail Trail. The Annapolis Valley Trail System follows the abandoned Dominion Atlantic Railway railbed and is used by hikers, cyclists and ATV riders. Smith’s Cove also has several beaches where beachcombing is a popular activity.

Digby Neck leads into the Bay of Fundy to Long Island and Brier Island. The route from Digby via Digby Neck to Long Island and Brier Island includes two short ferry crossings for vehicles and foot passengers. Check ferry operations before you travel. This part of your planning can be considered in terms of the specific route and its ferry connections, separately from beach activities in Mavillette.

Off Brier Island, Mariner Cruises has offered whale- and birdwatching tours in the Bay of Fundy since 1994. The tours last approximately three hours. Around Brier Island, fin whales, minke whales and porpoises arrive first in spring; the timing can vary depending on sea conditions. Brier Island is also home to the rare Eastern Mountain Avens, which occurs in only one other place in the world.

Another regional option is Digby Scallop Days: the festival takes place every year over four days, from Thursday to Sunday. The program includes demonstrations of shucking scallops and rigging boats; visitors can also try shucking a Digby scallop themselves. So, alongside nature and beach experiences, Digby County offers a museum, a trail and a festival with hands-on demonstrations.

Discover more destinations: Clare, Smiths Cove, Digby, Weymouth, Little Brook.

Back to the broader travel overview: Digby County.