The Digby Gut is a narrow and dramatic channel that connects the expansive Bay of Fundy to the picturesque Annapolis Basin. It is also one of the most historic waterways in Canada. An ancient Mi’kmaw route to the Bay of Fundy, and Samuel de Champlain’s passageway to Port Royal, one of the first European settlements in North America. It’s also one of the first things you see in the Digby region if travelling west on the highway, or while coming in on the Fundy Rose from New Brunswick.
For centuries, it served as a major shipping route connecting the Annapolis Basin to the Bay of Fundy and the Gulf of Maine. It is also home to many shipwrecks due to the violent waters surrounding it.
The Digby Gut’s strong tidal currents can reach speeds of up to 5 knots (9.3 km/h). These currents, combined with the narrow passage, make navigation through the Gut challenging.
Luckily it is not something you need to do to enjoy its beauty. Some of the best places to see the gut from the ground is at Point Prim, the Smiths Cove Lighthouse and various other places in downtown Digby.
