Sackville Lakes Provincial Park
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (Distance).
- Facilities: Parking, garbage cans, dog bag dispensers, toilets.
- Signage: Information kiosks at trailheads, periodically posted maps.
- Features: Access points to both First & Second Lake. Accessible trails & facilities. Wide, smooth, crusher dust pathways. Encompasses nearly 300 hectares of wilderness.
- Biodiversity: An impressive level of biodiversity, with community scientists having documented nearly 800 distinct species of plants, animals, and fungi within its boundaries (view the Nature section below).
- Trail Conditions: View and sign the Logbook for updates from fellow explorers.
Sackville Lakes Provincial Park
Off of the Cobequid road, in Lower Sackville, Sackville Lakes Provincial Park (formerly called Second Lake Provincial Park) consists of a 283-hectare greenway surrounding First Lake and Second Lake. With the help of the Friends of First Lake Society and Sackville Lakes Parks and Trails Association, the trails are well-maintained.
Wide, crusher dust trails are mapped at the parking lot and trailhead off of First Lake Drive. A new, extensive parking area has been constructed on the Second Lake side of the road, which also includes an info kiosk and wheelchair-accessible toilet.
First Lake
Access Points
There are 3 main access areas to First Lake. The South end of the lake is where the main trailhead parking is located. The North end of the lake is accessible via the Sackville Arena or Sackville Sports Stadium, each of which has direct trail access, and are roughly a 300m walk to the beach/splash pad/playground area. Numerous other pedestrian access points surround much of the lake. Where you enter depends, in part, on what sort of activity you’re looking to do.
Swimming, Paddling & Lake Access
The North end of the lake provides great access for swimming and paddling. A public sand beach, playground, public splash pad, and Gazebo make it a great #family-friendly destination. This area is a short (~300m) walk along First Lake Trail from the Sackville Arena & Sackville Sports Stadium, making it a good #paddling access point for your canoe, kayak, or paddleboard.
Multi-Use Trails
The 3.5km Glen Slauenwhite Trail lines half of the lake counter-clockwise from the South end to the West end. This linear, non-looped trail means up-and-back routes only. The wide, compacted crusher dust trail is appropriate for ruggedized strollers, wheelchairs, and bicycles. A bicycle bell is a must, especially during peak times when the trail is most busy. Plenty of scenic benches line the trail, offering peaceful resting spots with views of First Lake. The trail is well-marked and maintained thanks to the Sackville Lakes Park & Trails Association.
Fenced Off-Leash Field
Complimentary dog poop bags are available at the main trailhead, and dogs are required to be on leash along the trails. 1km from the First Lake Dr. trailhead are 2 baseball fields and a third fenced-in area intended as an #off-leash field. The fields are directly accessible from the Glen Slauenwhite Trail. These fields can also be accessed directly from their own parking area off of First Lake Drive.
Second Lake
Access Points
Second Lake has one main access point via First Lake Drive and other pedestrian access points from adjacent neighbourhoods. The parking lot off of First Lake Drive has plenty of room and includes an accessible toilet and information kiosk with a large map and other useful info.
Lake Access
There are 3 or 4 good lake access points along the trails, offering much more of a remote wilderness feel than First Lake. Unlike First Lake, there is no lifeguard-monitored beach or easy paddling access points. There is a small beach area a 500m walk from the Metropolitan Avenue access point. There are other points of access near scenic benches overlooking the lake shore.
Beech Hill Trail
The park’s newest trail, opened in September 2024, spans 3km from the main parking lot on First Lake Drive to Cobequid Road near Windsor Junction Road. This 2-meter-wide compacted crusher dust trail is full of twists, turns, ups & downs, making it like an amusement park ride for nature lovers.
There are a couple of steep ups and downs, but save for them, the rest of the trail is moderately hilly. If you’re biking the trail, make sure your brakes are in good working order, and expect to take it very slow, as twists and turns make for very short sight lines (typical throughout all the park’s trails). Click here to view the Beech Hill Trail elevation profile to get an idea of the topography.
The trail’s piece de resistance is a serene view from a bench atop one of the aforementioned steep climbs, a perfect spot to catch your breath and enjoy the surroundings.
Great Oak Trail
This semi-looped trail is approximately 3km in length, offering a return trip of just under 3 km, starting from the First Lake Drive parking area. The trail is the same wide, compacted crusher dust base as the rest of the trails, making it appropriate for ruggedized strollers, bikes & wheelchairs. Benches placed at regular intervals along the trail offer places to take a peaceful break. Popular with dog-walkers, keep in mind that all trails here are on-leash only. There is a moderate hill on the Western side of the loop, which you can see by clicking here to view the trail’s elevation profile.
The largely wooded trail offers a fulfilling nature experience throughout, with large old-growth trees and whimsical, moss-accented, wild woodland scenery. Midway through the loop, you’ll come to Second Lake and benches overlooking some of the most scenic parts of the lake.
Lakeside Trail
The 1km Lakeside Trail is a picturesque trail that runs alongside Second Lake. Lined with tall trees & colourful wildflowers, it’s a short, yet biodiverse stretch of trail. Half a dozen lakeside benches offer peaceful places to sit and enjoy your surroundings. The west end of the trail offers access to Second Lake on a gravel beach with shallow water, making it a popular place for a quick dip.
Canopy Creek Trail
A short, 500m connector between the Hemlock Trail & Lakeside Trail, Canopy Creek Trail is true to its name. A towering canopy offers peaceful shade, as squirrels scamper throughout their small kingdom of wilderness.
Hemlock Trail
Just over 1km in length, the Hemlock Trail connects from Armcrest Drive to Metropolitan Avenue, inward to the park & onto Canopy Creek Trail. The trail has a couple of benches, one at Wilson’s Brook, and another in the middle of the trail. Home to fairy dwellings, you never know what magical creatures you might catch in the corner of your eye.
Volunteer Partnership
The area is currently managed as a provincial park reserve through a joint agreement with the Department of Natural Resources. The Sackville Lakes Parks & Trails Association (a volunteer group) help design and maintain the area, and is responsible for many recent improvements. The Sackville Lakes Park is another example of volunteers stepping up to be the stewards of a special area of our municipality for the enjoyment of all.
Sackville Lakes Provincial Park Photos
Nature And Wildlife
Sackville Lakes Provincial Park has a lush mixed Acadian forest. The canopy is a beautiful collection of towering Eastern Hemlock, Northern Red Oak, American Beech, and Eastern White Pine, which provide ample shade for a vibrant understory. Forest floor treasures await keen-eyed explorers; depending on the season, you might spot the striking blooms of the Pink Lady’s Slipper and delicate Canada Mayflower, or fascinating fungal and lichen species like Turkey-Tail and Tree Lungwort clinging to the damp bark.
This habitat is also a fantastic haven for local wildlife, offering year-round opportunities for nature observation. Birdwatchers can listen for the distinct calls of Pileated Woodpeckers and Blue Jays echoing through the trees, while friendly Black-capped Chickadees flit playfully between the branches. If you look closely along the damp forest floor and near the water, you might spot an Eastern Red-backed Salamander hiding beneath a log, Mallards paddling gently in the lakes, or even cross paths with a grazing White-tailed Deer and busy American Red Squirrels gathering seeds. View and record Sackville Lake Provincial Park observations on iNaturalist.
Trip Tips
For the latest news and updates on the park, visit the Sackville Lakes Parks & Trails Association Facebook page.
- Accessibility & Terrain: This park is one of HRM’s premier destinations for accessible outdoor recreation. The 14-kilometre trail system—including the popular Great Oak Trail loop and the linear Glen Slauenwhite Trail, features wide, well-groomed, and flatly compacted crusher dust pathways. It is perfectly suited for rugged strollers, wheelchairs, bicycles, and anyone looking for a smooth, stable walk under a canopy of old-growth hemlocks and oaks.
- Parking & Access Points: Depending on what you want to do, there are a few primary ways to access the park:
- Main Trailhead (First Lake Drive): This is the official parking lot. It features the primary information kiosk and an accessible vault toilet, and it provides immediate access to the Great Oak Trail and Second Lake.
- First Lake: Across the street from the main lot is a smaller lot with direct access to First Lake Glen Slauenwhite Trail. If you want an extended up-and-back trek right from the main parking lot, this 3.5 km crusher-dust trail snakes counter-clockwise along the edge of First Lake toward the western side of the community.
- North-End Access (Sackville Arena / Sports Stadium): Best if you are travelling with kids. Parking here leaves you with just a short 300-metre walk directly to the public beach, splash pad, and playground area on First Lake.
- Neighbourhood Gates: Secondary pedestrian-only access points with limited side-street parking can be found at the ends of Armcrest Drive and Metropolitan Avenue to access Second Lake trails.
- Dog-Friendly Rules & Off-Leash Field: The trails are a major hub for local dog walkers. While dogs are required to remain strictly on-leash on all main trails, the park features a fantastic perk: a large, fully fenced off-leash dog field located roughly 1 km down the trail from the First Lake Drive entrance (adjacent to the baseball fields). Complimentary waste bags and trash cans are located throughout the trail system to make cleanup easy.
- Swimming, Paddling & Summer Fun: On a hot summer day, the north end of First Lake is the place to be. Kinsmen First Lake Beach offers a mid-sized sandy stretch for swimming, accompanied by a gazebo and a shaded playground. For paddlers, both First and Second Lake offer excellent walk-in launches for canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards.
- Family-Friendly Adventure: Try “The Secret of the Gnomes” to learn about the forest gnomes and embark on a figgywinkle. The step-by-step instructions for this 2.8 km (return) trail adventure and a route map can be downloaded at earthadventures.ca. The approximate time to complete the adventure is 2 hours.
Explore Nearby: If you want to log a few more kilometres or try a different surface, there are great local options nearby:
Local Eats & Refreshments: Lower Sackville is home to some incredible, long-standing independent small businesses just minutes from the trailheads:
- Apartment 3 Espresso Bar: Located at 833 Sackville Drive. This highly popular, independent specialty cafe serves up exceptional espresso drinks, locally sourced pastries, scratch-made treats, and ice cream in a styled, cozy community space.
- Kaiser’s Sub & Sandwich Shoppe: A small, nostalgic, old-school takeaway joint located at 799 Sackville Drive in the Villa Plaza. Open since 1976, making it one of the longest-running food establishments in the community, still run by the same family.
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@HalifaxAuthor We live near Sackville Lakes Provincial Park. Trees are important.