For more information visit: Favourite

www.novascotiaparks.ca/misc/hiking.asp Walks & Hikes

http://novascotia.ca/nse/protectedareas/docs/ in Provincial Parks
KeepItWild_recreation.pdf and Protected Areas

“In every walk

Tips for a Safe Hike with nature
one receives
WHAT TO BRING
far more than
Must Haves: Map, Compass, GPS, Food, Water, Sun
Protection, Insect Repellent, First Aid Kit and a he seeks.”
Signaling Device (Whistle). A good rule of thumb is to
carry items that would enable you to stay out overnight, JOHN MUIR
in case of trouble.

Nice to Haves: Camera, Binoculars, Field guides

• Research trails before you head out.

• Hike with another person.
• Tell someone where you’re going, the trails you’re
hiking, and when you expect to return.
• Wear closed toe shoes or hiking boots and have
rain gear in your daypack.
• Monitor local weather forecasts.
• Carry a walking stick.
• Keep dogs on leash.
• The majority of these trails operate on pack-in,
pack-out system.
• Cell phone coverage may be limited or unavailable.
• If hiking at a camping park, ask staff about trail
conditions and anything you need to be aware of.
• These are natural environment areas. Trails may
be wet, or even washed out, after heavy rainfalls.
Recent storms or high winds may have blown
branches or trees onto the trail.
• Know your limitations and when to turn back
whether due to fatigue, weather or other
circumstances.
 TYPE
L: Linear O: Loop
DIFFICULTY
E: Easy–1 to 2 km, relatively flat, 1 to 3% slope
M: Moderate–2 to 6 km, 3 to 5% slope

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C: Challenging–6+ km, slopes greater than 6%

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HALIFAX METRO
Bluff Wilderness Area, Timberlea
Bluff Trail 30+ km O C 12+ hrs Soil, Grass, Uneven No Hardwood forest, fens, granite barrens.
(Stacked loops: Pot Lake 6 km, Indian Hill 10.2 km,
Bluff 9.3 km, Hay Marsh 9 km) canoe access.

McNabs & Lawlor Islands Provincial Park, Halifax

Series of 8 Trails Total of L/O E 5–7 hrs Soil, Gravel, Roadway Yes Accessible by boat only. Harbour views, old forts & other
22 km cultural heritage features. Birdwatching.

SOUTH SHORE
Thomas Raddall Provincial Park, Port Joli
Coastal Hardwood Ridge Trail 1.3 km L M 1.5 hr Soil, Cobble, Sand Yes Travel through mixed forest, along beach.
Views of Port Joli Bay.

Historic Port Joli Road 1 km L E 25 min Roadway Yes Biking favorite by lake and marsh.

Herring Rock Trail 0.5 km O E 15 min Soil Yes Remnants of fisheries station along the shoreline.

Moody Barrens Trail 2 km L M 1.5 hr Soil Yes Adjacent to barrens and a bog.

Port Joli Trail 1.1 km L E 1 hr Cobble, Sand Yes Coastline, Kedjimkujik Seaside Adjunct.

Sandy Bay Trail 0.7 km O E 25 min Sand Yes Softwood forest, coastline, remnants of early settlement
and fisheries.

YARMOUTH & ACADIAN SHORES

Ellenwood Provincial Park, Yarmouth
Ellenwood 1 km O E 25 mins Soil, forest duff Yes Casual stroll through hardwood forest pathway.

BAY OF FUNDY & ANNAPOLIS VALLEY

Blomidon Provincial Park, Canning
Borden Brook Trail 3.5 km L M 1 hr Soil; roots/rocks Yes Mixed wood forest, waterfall, bridge & steps.

Interpretive Trail 1.2 km O E 20 mins Soil Yes Information about forests of NS.

Jodrey Trail 5.6 km L M 2 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Tidal views. Only known location of fairy shrimp
east of Manitoba.

Look-off Trail 900 m O E 15 mins Soil; roots/rocks Yes View of Five Islands, 24 km across the Minas Basin.

Woodland Trail 2.5 km L E 30 mins Soil Yes Climb to 170m through mixed forest.

Cape Split Provincial Park, Scots Bay

Cape Split Trail 5 km L C 3–4 hrs Soil; roots/rocks Yes Steep cliffs, spectacular views of Minas Basin/Bay of
Fundy. Wildlife viewing.

Cape Chignecto Provincial Park, Advocate Harbour

Christie Viewpoint Trail 3 km O M 1 hr. Soil; roots/rocks Yes Mixed forest, old farm land, slopes of Cape Chignecto
Escarpment.

Coastal Trail 51 km L C 3 days Wilderness conditions No Follows perimeter of park. Dramatic cliffs, steep ravines
and spectacular views of Bay of Fundy.

Eatonville Day-Use Trails 5.5 km L E 2.5 hrs Groomed walking trails Yes Great views of Three Sisters sea stacks and Chignecto Bay

Eatonville Trail 28 km L C 10 hrs Wilderness conditions No Steep ascent from McGahey Brook to abandoned
Eatonville village.
 TYPE
L: Linear O: Loop
DIFFICULTY
E: Easy–1 to 2 km, relatively flat, 1 to 3% slope
M: Moderate–2 to 6 km, 3 to 5% slope

RI Y*
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C: Challenging–6+ km, slopes greater than 6%

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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park, Advocate Harbour (continued)
Fundy Ridge Trail 5 km L M 3 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Descends at McGahey Brook, steps to beach.

McGahey Brook Canyon Trail 9 km O M 5 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Follow the upper edge of McGahey Brook canyon.

Mill Brook Canyon Trail 12 km L C 8 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Views of Advocate Bay.

Refugee Cove Trail 24 km L C 12 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Stunning views of Bay of Fundy from 200 m elevations.

Economy River Wilderness Area, Economy

Kenomee Trail 18 km O C 8–10 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Forest trail follows river gorge to waterfall.
Experienced hikers only.

Five Islands Provincial Park, Economy

Economy Trail 5 km O M 2.5 hrs Soil; roots/rocks Yes Follows old logging road through forest to elevation of 213 m.

Estuary Trail 4 km O E 1.5 hrs Soil; roots/rocks Yes Follows tidal estuary; viewing platforms.

Red Head Trail 1 km L M 1 hr Soil; roots/rocks Yes Wooded trail; 4 viewing areas to see islands and
Minas Basin.

NORTHUMBERLAND SHORE
Gully Lake Wilderness Area, Earltown
Gully Lake Trail 10 km O C 3.5 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Old logging camp, 4 waterfalls, lakes, brooks.
Home of the late Gully Lake Hermit.

CAPE BRETON ISLAND

Petersfield Provincial Park, Sydney
Petersfield Walking Trails 5 km O E 15 min/ Crusher dust Yes Seven loops with views of harbour; settlement and
loop garden ruins.

North River Wilderness Area, North River

Falls Trail 5 km L M 6 hrs Coarse stone, rock No Begins at “The Benches”, to North River Falls. Bear right at
falls to plateau look-off with panoramic view of river valley,
falls and highland plateau.

Little Falls Loop Trail 1 km O E 1–2 hrs Firm soil No MacDonald Brook meets the river at Little Falls, then spills
over rock ledges to form falls and cataracts.

Settlement Trail 4 km L M 2–3 hrs Soil; roots, loose rock No Trail joins old cart road used by Scottish settlers
(in the 1800’s), ends at scenic point on the river known as
“The Benches”.

Usige Ban Falls Provincial Park, Baddeck Forks

Falls Trail 1.5 km L C 1–1.5 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Hike to a 15 m waterfall in a granite gorge.

River Trail 3 km O M 1–1.5 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Follows North Branch Baddeck River.

West Mabou Beach Provincial Park, Mabou

Series of 9 Trails 5 km O E 2 hrs Sand, soil, cobble, moss, Yes Dunes, tidal flats, vulnerable plants, lighthouse,
roots birdwatching.

Whycocomagh Provincial Park, Whycocomagh

Highlander Trail 900 m L E 25 mins Soil; roots/rocks Yes Short steep trail.

Salt Mountain Trail 1.3 km O C 1.5 hrs Soil; roots/rocks Yes Mountain-top views of Bras d’Or Lake. Eagle habitat

Scout Trail 2 km L C 2.5 hrs Soil; roots/rocks Yes Trail built by Boy Scouts. Bras d’Or Lake; eagle habitat.
 TYPE
L: Linear O: Loop
DIFFICULTY
E: Easy–1 to 2 km, relatively flat, 1 to 3% slope
M: Moderate–2 to 6 km, 3 to 5% slope

RI Y*
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C: Challenging–6+ km, slopes greater than 6%

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EASTERN SHORE
Cole Harbour Lawrencetown Coastal Heritage Provincial Park System, Dartmouth

Salt Marsh Trail 6 km L E 1–3 hrs Crusher dust, gravel Yes Evidence of early settlement, endangered bird species.
Connects to Trans Canada Trail.

Cole Harbour Heritage Trails 12 km O E/M 4 hrs Crusher dust, wood chips; Yes Seven loops ranging from 0.3 km to 2.5 km. Evidence of
roots/rocks early settlement, connects to Saltmarsh Trail. One trail
bicycles-only.

Taylor Head Provincial Park, Sheet Harbour

Beach Walk Trail 1 km L E 1 hr Gravel, mowed grass, sand Yes Birdwatching area.

Bull Beach/Bob Bluff Trail 9.5 km L E 5 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Bog, coastline, beach. Look-off at Bob Bluff.

Entrance Road 5 km L E 2 hrs Gravel Yes Views of Spry Bay.

Headland Trail 8 km O C 3 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Backcountry hike to ocean view at Taylor Head Point.

Spry Bay Trail 4 km O M 1.5 hrs Soil; roots/rocks Yes Backcountry hike. Rugged coastline.

Waverley Salmon River Wilderness Area, Porters Lake

Crowbar Lake Trail 18 km O/L M 2–10 hrs Soil, forest duff Yes Three loops: Salmon River – 7 km, West Lake – 5 km, and
Porters Lake – 1.5 km. Sprigs Brook (linear) Trail 4.5 km.
Spectacular scenery; rugged setting. Birdwatching.

White Lake Wilderness Area, Musquodoboit Harbour

Wilderness Ridge Trail North 16.7 km O/L C 7–8 hrs Soil; roots/rocks No Leads across 2 look-offs, down to Meadow Brook,
cross the White Lake portage. Well worn portage along
Meadow Brook.

Information Circular PKS – 84 (2015)

CAPE SPLIT

This document is not meant to be a comprehensive list of trail opportunities, nor does it contain all the information you’ll need.