[2] The community of Bear River (which today calls itself "The Tidal Village")[3] is situated near the head of the tide where shipbuilding took place in the nineteenth century.

The area was settled by European settlers at nearby habitation at Port Royal at the start of the seventeenth century.

Samuel de Champlain called it Rivière St. Antoine (St. Anthony's River) on his first map, but the name did not survive.

The steep forested slopes and natural environment, particularly in the lower reaches, have led to the nickname "The Switzerland of Nova Scotia" being applied to the river valley area.

[6] The river is fed by several streams but even so, at low tide the mud flats, grasses and reeds are very visible.

However, at high tide, the salt water from the basin flows in and fills the river to a height of up to 26 feet.