Magnetic Hill, Gravity hill in Moncton, Canada.
Magnetic Hill is a gravity hill on the northwestern edge of Moncton, New Brunswick, at the base of Lutes Mountain above the Petitcodiac River valley. The paved road runs over a low rise, and its slope, with no visible horizon line, makes a car in neutral seem to roll uphill. Large freestanding letters spelling "MAGNETIC HILL" stand on the grassy slope, fronted by a low line of red, white and yellow flowers.
Local farmers observed the phenomenon during the 1800s, but widespread attention came after a newspaper article appeared in 1933. This publicity transformed it from a local curiosity into a known destination.
Magnetic Hill takes its name from the illusion itself, and the site has appeared in Canadian popular culture: Stompin' Tom Connors mentions it in his song "Cross Canada", later covered by Raffi on the album Bananaphone. The surrounding area also holds the Magnetic Hill Zoo and the Magic Mountain water park.
Drivers pay a small fee to enter the road and stop at the marked point, where a car in neutral rolls backwards, apparently uphill; water in the adjacent drainage ditches seems to run uphill too. The illusion depends on a descent with no visual horizon, so keep the view open rather than watching the road surface.
The illusion is produced by a descent with no visible horizon line, so the road reads as an uphill climb. Water in the drainage ditches beside the road appears to run uphill as well. The site was designated a local historic place by the City of Moncton on 15 November 2004.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,231 contributors worldwide.