Wasson Bluff

Wasson Bluff is a coastal cliff and fossil locality on the Minas Basin shoreline near Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. The site exposes sedimentary rock layers that have produced important Triassic and Jurassic fossils.

Visitors can view layered rock strata and search for fossil fragments on the foreshore at low tide; the site is known for marine reptile and other Mesozoic-era remains in places. The combination of exposed beds and tidal access provides a clear view of geological layering.

The cliffs and beaches around Parrsboro, including Wasson Bluff, have been studied for their fossil content since the 19th century and have contributed to understanding of Triassic and Jurassic marine life along the Fundy coast.

The bluff sits on the north shore of the Minas Basin near the town of Parrsboro in Nova Scotia, exposed to the large tidal range of the Bay of Fundy.

• Tide-dependent access: Access to fossil-bearing rocks is tide-dependent; visit at low tide and allow plenty of time to return before the tide rises.
• Fossil significance: Cliff faces are fossil-rich in places and of interest to amateur and professional paleontologists; exercise caution around unstable cliffs and rising tides.

What to See #

• Cliff exposures: Exposed cliff and foreshore beds along the Minas Basin where layered sedimentary rocks and occasional fossils can be seen at low tide.
• Foreshore access: Beach and shoreline access points used by visitors to view strata and fossil-bearing horizons during the tidal low, with caution due to tides and cliff stability.