How To Get To Teacup Rock PEI & Mackenzie’s Brook Safely

Teacup Rock Prince Edward Island is one of the most photographed places on the Island (well used to be… September 2022 update post tropical storm Fiona washed Teacup Rock away). But what no one ever talks about is how to get to Teacup Rock PEI, and that it isn’t straightforward.

Mackenzie’s Brook sea arch is still there and also a tad easier, but there are still some important factors to keep in mind (November 2022 update… Mackenzies Brooke sea arch has also broken in half after hurricane Nicole).

Full disclaimer, I didn’t make it all the way to Teacup Rock Prince Edward Island or down to Mackenzie’s Brook PEI. I evaluated the situation and didn’t feel comfortable doing so. I felt as though I was putting my safety at risk for a better picture.

So, here’s what I would have liked to know before visiting where Teacup Rock used to be and Mackenzie’s Brook PEI. Now you can know what to expect and be better prepared.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Disclaimer! How To Get To Teacup Rock PEI

This post is based on my own experience getting to Teacup Rock and Mackenzie’s Brook in PEI (and my own neurosis).

You might be 100% okay with walking along the shores as the tide is coming in along slippery rocks.

My intention is merely to show you another side of visiting these magnificent rock formations in PEI. I want you to either be more prepared for your visit or adjust your expectations.

What Are Teacup Rock & Mackenzie’s Brook PEI?

Prince Edward Island Canada is well known for their red sandstone rock formations. Back in the day, they even had a rock formation that resembled an actual elephant!

Due to erosion from the water and harsh weather, the rocks aren’t permanent. We already saw this happen with the Elephant Rock in PEI, and now sadly Teacup Rock, AND Mackenzie’s Brook sea arch. I mean, there’s a reason why you don’t hear anyone talking about it – the elephant’s trunk eventually fell off. And soon Teacup Rock will be a merely a memory as well.

Because of this erosion, there’s somewhat of an urgency to see the rock formations that exist today, mainly the old famous Teacup rock and Mackenzie’s Brook sea arch. This urgency has made them even more desirable to see – regardless of your safety!

Teacup Rock PEI

Teacup Rock Prince Edward Island was famous for looking, well, like a teacup! It was a large, impressive structure that narrows at the centre then widens at the base, like a cup and saucer. Sadly, in September 2022 the teacup fell off from the saucer during the post tropical storm Fiona. All that’s left of Teacup Rock is the base of where it once stood.

Mackenzie’s Brook PEI

Similar to teacup rock, Mackenzie’s Brooke sea arch was a large archway that was created out of the beautiful red Prince Edward Island rocks. It was attached to the land and goes straight into the ocean.

Directions To Teacup Rock PEI

You can go out to see where Teacup rock once stood at Thunder Cove Beach… which is not really near any major cities. It’s a 30 minute drive from both Cavendish and Summerside and an hour from Charlottetown Prince Edward Island.

Thunder Cove Beach is still a beautiful beach to visit in my mind, but might not be that worth it anymore.

Once you arrive at Thunder Cove Beach, Teacup Rock was about a 15 minute walk along the shore. This isn’t as easy as it sounds though…

Parking At Thunder Cove Beach Teacup Rock

The first hurdle for getting to Teacup Rock PEI is right when you arrive at Thunder Cove Beach. You’ll know you’ve arrived because all the cars are parked along the side of the road.

There’s no parking lot, and the street literally just ends. So make a U-turn if you’ve gone too far, or park in the first spot you find, it’s not worth going any further.

When visiting Prince Edward Island during low season, we had to park pretty far from the beach. I can only imagine what a mess parking is here during high season.

Getting To Thunder Cove Beach Shores

If you’ve managed to find a parking spot, you’re lucky! But you’re not out of the woods yet. Ready for your next struggle getting to Teacup Rock? Well, once you’ve made it to the beach, you’ll notice you’re actually on a cliff above the beach.

Looks like you have to find a way down! There’s a small makeshift path you can walk along, but be careful, it gets steeper towards the end.

Once you’ve made it to the beach, it’s going to be about a 15 minute walk until you see what used to be Teacup Rock. But! There’s just one more catch along the way…

Just When You’re Almost There…

When you’re getting close to the base of Teacup Rock, you’ll notice the terrain around you starts to change. You’re becoming more enclosed by large red cliffs above you. The sand below becomes more of a rock than sand. And then you see it! Peeking out between an archway used to be the one, the only, Teacup Rock PEI!

And this is where I turned around!

As I mentioned, the sand is more like rocks… but… those rocks are slippery from the tide regularly submerges them. Or if you didn’t correctly time your descent, maybe they’re wet from the tide that’s slowly starting to come back in.

All you have to do now is make it through a few puddles and over slippery rocks but then you’re there.

But! Don’t forget that once you make it across, you still have to get back… BEFORE THE TIDE COMES IN!

How To Get To Teacup Rock Prince Edward Island Safely

There are a few precautions you can make ahead of time to make getting to where Teacup Rock used to be easier and safer.

Of course, there isn’t much you can do about the parking situation at Thunder Cove Beach. You’ll just have to hope there’s a spot for you when you arrive.

Check When Low Tide Is On The Day Of Your Visit

The first safety measure you can do is to check when low tide is on the day you’re planning on visiting. The tide at Thunder Cove Beach Teacup Rock comes in pretty far…stopping you from getting to where Teacup Rock was at all (or coming back!). It can even completely cover the beach in some cases.

To avoid any problems along the way, check when low tide and high tide are. Low tide means that the water is at its lowest point, meaning the water is further out. High tide is the opposite, the water is high and it’s the closest to the shore (sometimes overtaking the beach completely!).

To maximize your time, aim to start your journey a bit after high tide – when the tide is actually receding. If you leave at low tide, the water is already starting to make its way back to shore… potentially covering up your path home.

Wear Appropriate Shoes

Another way to make your journey to where Teacup Rock was even safer is to wear water shoes! Yup, those ugly but useful shoes!

You won’t mind getting these wet, and they’ll give you more of a grip walking on the wet rocks around the bend.

Evaluate The Situation…

At the end of the day, evaluate the situation for yourself. It’s all about what you feel comfortable doing. When we made it to the slippery rocks, Teacup Rock was in our grasp – we could see it!

But I couldn’t do it. I was way too nervous so I made my partner and I turn around. I didn’t feel the need to go any further, I got a quick picture and I’d rather be safe than sorry. There’s no shame in turning around.

Yes, This Is The Only Way To Teacup Rock…

After failing to get up close to see Teacup Rock, we went in search of another way we could get to the beach.

Unfortunately, this is the only way to Teacup Rock Prince Edward Island. We drove down every street that could have brought us to Thunder Cove Beach but they were all dead ends or private property.

How To Get To Mackenzie’s Brook PEI (The Sea Arch)?

Mackenzie’s Brook PEI was a bit easier to reach than Teacup Rock was at Thunder Cove Beach. Mackenzie’s Brook is in the Prince Edward Island National Park. There’s a small parking lot and then it’s a short walk down to the beach. There are stairs that will bring you all the way down – safely.

From the bottom of the stairs, it’s a short walk to see the sea arch up close.

Check When Low Tide Is On The Day Of Your Visit

Like Teacup Rock Prince Edward Island, you’ll want to check the tide schedule for the day. The water goes all the way up to the rocks, covering the stairs completely.

So if you do make it down to the beach, make sure you leave enough time for your journey back. The shore will get COMPLETELY covered by the tide!

Alternative Rocks To See In New Brunswick: Hopewell Cape

On our way back from Prince Edward Island to Montreal we drove through New Brunswick. We decided to stop at Hopewell Rocks along the way (it’s just over a 2 hour drive from Charlottetown).

Hopewell Cape is another cove with rock structure that have eroded over time. It’s really incredible. They’re very like the rock structures in PEI, but not red, or dangerous to get to.

This is exactly what I wanted from my experience in Prince Edward Island. Everything was organized for visitors. I was able to safely get down to the sea floor, see the rock formations up close, and never worry about my safety for a second.

They tell you when the tides are and will actually close it off once it’s too late to go down. This is all PEI needed to do.

Plus, Hopewell Cape might even be more impressive than both Teacup Rock and Mackenzie’s Brook combined.

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Last update on 2024-05-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API