{"id":38930,"date":"2026-02-12T19:18:39","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T23:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/?p=38930"},"modified":"2026-02-12T20:19:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T00:19:45","slug":"top-halifax-trails-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/top-halifax-trails-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Most Popular Parks &#038; Trails of 2025 (And Why You Should Hike Them in 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The 5 Most Popular Parks &amp; Trails of 2025 (And Why You Should Hike Them in 2026)<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I looked back at a full year of website traffic to see which guides you visited most. From lakeside strolls at Long Lake to the rugged beauty of Polly&#8217;s Cove, thousands of hikers favoured these 5 trails as their top picks for 2025. These community-vetted favourites are the perfect starting point for your 2026 adventures.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>5) <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/gaff-point-hiking-trail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Gaff Point Hiking Trail<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4856 size-full\" title=\"Hirtles Beach - Gaff Point\" src=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/gaff-point-hiking-trail-nova-scotia-hirtles-beach.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial panoramic view of Hirtle's Beach and the Gaff Point hiking trail trailhead, showing the rocky barrier beach between the Atlantic Ocean and Romkey Pond in Kingsburg, Nova Scotia.\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/gaff-point-hiking-trail-nova-scotia-hirtles-beach.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/gaff-point-hiking-trail-nova-scotia-hirtles-beach-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/gaff-point-hiking-trail-nova-scotia-hirtles-beach-50x29.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>7.5km return hike (~2hrs)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Looped peninsula trail. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Huge, beautiful 3km sand beach.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Scenic, rugged hike with plenty of inland and coastal\u00a0stretches.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The cat is out of the bag with Gaff Point.\u00a0 This former South Shore secret is claiming its spot among the province&#8217;s most scenic places and has now become the #1 most-viewed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/tag\/coastal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">coastal<\/a> hiking guide. Just past the beautiful town of Lunenburg, tucked amidst charming coastal communities, lies a slice of what it means to visit Nova Scotia.\u00a0 The moment your car door closes, the immense 3km smooth sand &#8216;Hirtles Beach&#8217; will impress you with sheer, natural awe.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0After walking along 1.5 kilometers of beautiful <a href=\"https:\/\/kuula.co\/share\/7g9lp?fs=1&amp;vr=1&amp;sd=1&amp;autorotate=0.1&amp;thumbs=1&amp;alpha=0.60&amp;card=1&amp;info=0&amp;logo=1&amp;logosize=40\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hirtles Beach<\/a>, you&#8217;ll hike a peninsula rich in visual and biodiversity.\u00a0 This bastion of nature offers rugged coastline cliffs, lush forest, and a &#8220;secret beach&#8221; to boot.\u00a0 Nova Scotia&#8217;s coastal beauty at its protected best, reminding us how increasingly rare sights like these are.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The trail was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ckbw.ca\/2019\/09\/11\/gaff-point-closed-left-in-shambles-by-hurricane-dorian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hit hard<\/a> by hurricane Dorian in 2019, which required lots of volunteer time and money from to the <a href=\"https:\/\/secure.natureconservancy.ca\/site\/SPageNavigator\/Forms\/landing.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nature Conservancy of Canada<\/a> to be able to safely re-open the trail.\u00a0 They have since kindly reopened it after extensive work.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Read more in my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/gaff-point-hiking-trail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Gaff Point guide<\/strong><\/a>, including a detailed map, interactive 360\u00b0 virtual tour, photos, and videos.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>4) <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/herring-cove-provincial-park-reserve\/\"><strong>Herring Cove Provincial Park<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21440 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/herring-cove-provincial-park-hfx.jpg\" alt=\"Herring Cove Provincial Park\" width=\"700\" height=\"370\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Open-ocean views without leaving your car.<\/li>\n<li>Parking Lot-Adjacent benches<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Rugged, unmarked, 2km hike<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>~25-minute drive from downtown Halifax.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 When the parking lot is best described as being &#8220;like a drive-in theatre for people who like nature&#8221; by Weather Network Host <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/natetwn.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nathan Coleman<\/a>, you can be sure that it&#8217;s going to be a beautiful destination. While views from the car are nice, the benches adjacent to the parking lot are a treat for all the senses.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0For the more adventurous types, a rugged, unmarked coastal trail leads to a high point overlooking the entrance to Halifax Harbour.\u00a0 Listen to the power of the open Atlantic Ocean as you watch fishing boats, tankers &amp; towering cruise ships come and go from this busy port.<\/p>\n<p>Use plenty of caution as surf is unpredictable, dangerous &amp; unforgiving if you get too close. This area is a protected nature reserve, an important habitat for migratory seabirds &amp; at-risk species of plants and animals, so tread lightly &amp; stick to the most well-used paths.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Read more in my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/herring-cove-provincial-park-reserve\/\"><strong>Herring Cove Provincial Park guide<\/strong><\/a>, including a detailed map, interactive 360\u00b0 virtual tour, photos, and videos.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>3) <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/pollys-cove\/\"><strong>Polly&#8217;s Cove<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4063 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/pollys_cove_hiking_trail.jpg\" alt=\"Polly's Cove Hiking Trail\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/pollys_cove_hiking_trail.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/pollys_cove_hiking_trail-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/pollys_cove_hiking_trail-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/pollys_cove_hiking_trail-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Next to the ever-popular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/peggys-cove\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Peggy&#8217;s Cove<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Rocky, coastal barren landscape.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Unmarked, muddy trails.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Great for boulder climbing.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0A 45-minute drive from downtown Halifax and located next door to one of the region&#8217;s most popular tourist destinations, this area has all the natural beauty of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/peggys-cove\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Peggy&#8217;s Cove<\/a> without the large crowds.\u00a0 Offering a different perspective of Peggy&#8217;s Cove and a larger area to explore, Polly&#8217;s Cove is great for anyone looking to do some coastal hiking.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The trails are narrow, unmarked, and often muddy.\u00a0 Keep to the well-established paths as this sensitive nature area is home to nesting coastal birds and easily disturbed vegetation.\u00a0 Full of low-lying bushes and shrubs, it&#8217;s the type of terrain that can scrape up your legs, so come prepared with pants, high socks, or <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.halifaxtrails.ca\/?term=&amp;s=gaiter&amp;post_type=product&amp;taxonomy=product_cat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">gaiters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0With plenty of <a href=\"https:\/\/kuula.co\/share\/7sLBx?logo=1&amp;info=1&amp;fs=1&amp;vr=0&amp;sd=1&amp;autorotate=0.06&amp;thumbs=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">coastal beauty<\/a> to feast your eyes and camera lenses on, you can easily spend an entire day exploring.\u00a0 You can spend hours listening to crashing waves as fishing boats come and go, rock climbing on the glacially sculpted landscape, or maxing out your phone&#8217;s storage.\u00a0 Finding a new favourite nook on every visit, trips are often 1 part hiking, 2 parts stopping to take in views.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Read more in my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/pollys-cove\/\"><strong>Polly&#8217;s Cove guide<\/strong><\/a>, including a detailed map, interactive 360\u00b0 virtual tour, photos, and videos.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>2) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/salt-marsh-trail\/\">The Salt Marsh Trail<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21450 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/salt-marsh-trail.jpg\" alt=\"The Salt Marsh Trail\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Well marked, maintained &amp; patrolled.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Popular bird-watching destination.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>9km (one way) linear &#8220;rails-to-trails&#8221;.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Plenty of benches &amp; picnic areas.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Unchanged after ranking up 2 spots the previous year is the beloved Salt Marsh Trail.\u00a0 30 minutes from downtown Halifax, located in Cole Harbour.\u00a0 Part of the province&#8217;s extensive &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/tag\/rails-to-trails\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">rails-to-trails<\/a>&#8221; network, this one ranks as the most popular according to my website data.\u00a0 This linear (up &amp; back) trail is great on its own or as part of a longer trip continuing onto the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/atlantic-view-trail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Atlantic View Trail<\/a>, popular Lawrencetown Beach &amp; beyond.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The unique salt marsh habitat is a haven for birds and prime hunting ground for eagles &amp; osprey.\u00a0 You&#8217;ll often see bird enthusiasts and nature photographers here due to the diverse wildlife.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.halifaxtrails.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shop.HalifaxTrails.ca<\/a><\/em>: <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.halifaxtrails.ca\/product-tag\/birds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Local Bird Guide Books<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This scenic causeway is a former railway that stretches across the water for 3.5km.\u00a0 Complete with periodic <a href=\"https:\/\/kuula.co\/share\/79D8V?logo=1&amp;info=1&amp;fs=1&amp;vr=0&amp;sd=1&amp;autorotate=0.06&amp;thumbs=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bridges<\/a>, benches &amp; picnic tables, there are plenty of places to stop to take in the view.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The trail is well marked, maintained, and even patrolled for safety thanks to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chpta.org\/p\/donate.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cole Harbour Parks &amp; Trails Association<\/a>.\u00a0 The work of these dedicated volunteers is why this trail has come to be revered by all of HRM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Great for a stroll or jog, and ideal as part of an extensive bike ride on its compacted crusher-dust surface.\u00a0 Be sure to have a bicycle bell, as it can be busy during peak times.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Read more in my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/salt-marsh-trail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Salt Marsh Trail guide<\/strong><\/a>, including a detailed map, interactive 360\u00b0 virtual tour, photos, and videos.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>1) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/long-lake-provincial-park\/\">Long Lake Provincial Park<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4070 size-full aligncenter\" title=\"Long Lake Provincial Park\" src=\"http:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/long_lake_provincial_park_halifax.jpg\" alt=\"Long Lake Provincial Park Halifax\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/long_lake_provincial_park_halifax.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/long_lake_provincial_park_halifax-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/long_lake_provincial_park_halifax-50x28.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2000 Hectare, urban wilderness park.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>5km &#8220;Lakeview Trail&#8221;.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Public (non-motorized) boat launch.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>On-site kayak &amp; paddleboard rentals.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Only a 15-minute drive from downtown Halifax it&#8217;s the only one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/tag\/bus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">destinations accessible by public transit.<\/a>\u00a0 At just over 3km, Long Lake lives up to its name.\u00a0 Beyond the large lake lies 2000 hectares of wilderness.\u00a0 The easily accessible 5km &#8220;Lakeview Trail&#8221; loop offers a large, wide crusher dust pathway, making it inviting to all.\u00a0 Other features, including a public paddling launch and on-site rentals, keep Long Lake as the reigning most popular guide page, dating back to 2020.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0It&#8217;s easy to see why Long Lake is the #1 most popular.\u00a0 Whether you&#8217;re looking for an easy stroll, a challenging wilderness hike, a bike ride or a swim, Long Lake has <a href=\"https:\/\/kuula.co\/share\/78Ws2?fs=1&amp;vr=1&amp;zoom=1&amp;sd=1&amp;autorotate=0.1&amp;thumbs=1&amp;alpha=0.60&amp;card=1&amp;info=0&amp;logo=1&amp;logosize=40\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">plenty of room<\/a> for adventures of all kinds.\u00a0 There are many rugged, unmarked trails, nooks, and new discoveries to be made with every visit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0A very popular swimming destination in summer with plenty of spots to lay your towel, it even has a <a href=\"https:\/\/kuula.co\/post\/78Wzl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marked<\/a>, measured 2.5km open water swim course for anyone looking to do some high-level swim training.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Accessible via 3 separate parking areas, including year-round access via St. Margaret&#8217;s Bay Road (un-marked nature trails &amp; lake access).\u00a0 A\u00a0 large main parking area off of Northwest Arm Drive connects to the Lakeview Trail and paddling launch area.\u00a0 A small, gated auxiliary parking area off of Old Sambro road is for access to boat rentals and the paddling launch (closed in winter).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Read more in my <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/long-lake-provincial-park\/\">Long Lake Provincial Park guide<\/a><\/strong>, including a detailed map, interactive 360\u00b0 virtual tour, photos, and videos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 5 Most Popular Parks &amp; Trails of 2025 (And Why You Should Hike Them in 2026) I looked back at a full year of website traffic to see which guides you visited most. From lakeside strolls at Long Lake to the rugged beauty of Polly&#8217;s Cove, thousands of hikers favoured these 5 trails as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38931,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"templates\/template-full-width.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[337,335,336],"tags":[142],"class_list":["post-38930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","category-hiking","category-nova-scotia","tag-halifax"],"wppr_data":{"cwp_meta_box_check":"No"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The 5 Most Popular Parks &amp; Trails of 2025 (And Why You Should Hike Them in 2026) - HalifaxTrails.ca\/Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The 5 most-popular hiking trails based on a full year of local data. From Long Lake to Gaff Point, find your next Nova Scotia adventure here.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.halifaxtrails.ca\/blog\/top-halifax-trails-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The 5 Most Popular Parks &amp; Trails of 2025 (And Why You Should Hike Them in 2026) - HalifaxTrails.ca\/Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The 5 most-popular hiking trails based on a full year of local data. 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