Martinique Beach Provincial Park
Difficulty: Easy - Moderate (Distance). Facilities: Parking, bathrooms, large picnic areas, on-site surf rentals & lessons. Signage: Minimal. Features: The province's longest sand beach (5km). Lifeguard supervised (July & August). Biodiversity: Bar Clam | Red Fox | Piping Plovers | More
Clam Harbour Beach Provincial Park
Difficulty: Moderate (terrain). View: hiking stats & elevation profile. Facilities: Parking, washrooms, change rooms, large picnic areas, on-site surf rentals & lessons. Signage: Minimal, adequate, sparse signage along the coastal hiking trail. Features: 1.5km sand beach, supervised on weekends (July 1-
The Dynamite Trail
Difficulty: Moderate (Distance/Inclines) Elevation profile. Facilities: Parking & benches. Signage: Map kiosks, kilometer markers & basic info. Features: 11km (one way) section of the Rum Runners Trail which extends from Halifax to Luneburg (123km). Scenic Railway bridges with lofty
Pennant River Conservation Lands
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate (Terrain, Navigation). Facilities: (Minimal) Parking. Signage: None. Features: 3.2km, 1hr return trip to "Grand Lake Run". Rugged, narrow, un-marked trails. Popular swimming hole with plenty of scenic access points. Biodiversity: Gaspereau | American Mink | Bunchberry |
Gaff Point Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Moderate (distance & rugged terrain). 7.5km (~2.5hrs). Relatively flat elevation profile. Facilities: Parking, benches, and toilets. Signage: Minimal, adequate trail signage with an info panel at the trailhead. Features: One of the province's best beaches followed by a looped coastal
The Atlantic View Trail
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (Distance). Facilities: Parking, picnic areas, beach, benches, and toilets. Signage: Minimal. Features: Less than 10km (~1hr by bike) one way. Access to Lawrencetown Beach. Scenic coastal, rails-to-trails. Part of an extensive route from Shearwater to Musquodoboit. Biodiversity:
The Rum Runners Trail
Difficulty: Difficult (distance). Facilities: Parking lots, picnic tables, benches, public beaches & parks. Signage: Minimal, info kiosks at each section's trailhead. Features: 123km route connecting Halifax to Lunenburg. Converted railway with compacted crusher dust base (except paved Chain Of Lakes Trail). Scenic
Nichols Lake Trail
Difficulty: Moderate. Facilities: Parking. Signage: None. Features: Picturesque cascade waterfall hike, doable in as little as 1 hour. Small sandy beach, pristine lakes, and rivers. Biodiversity: Loon | Osprey | Striped Skunk | More
Taylor Head Provincial Park
Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult (Terrain/Distance). Facilities: Parking, outhouses, covered picnic areas, and benches. Signage: Information kiosks, interpretive panels, map, and trail markers throughout. Features: Over 20km of coastline with 15km of hiking trails. Day-Use park with days worth of adventures.
Susies Lake – Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes
Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult (Navigation/Terrain). Facilities: None. (Pack out what you pack in & Leave No Trace.) Signage: Little-to-none. Occasional "wilderness area" signs. Unmarked trails. Features: Part of the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area. Popular, scenic "Flagpole Hill" lookoff
SS Atlantic Heritage Park
Difficulty: Easy. Facilities: Interpretive Center/Museum with refreshments (Open May-October). Lots of benches and picnic tables. Coastal boardwalk. Small sand beach nearby. Signage: Interpretive panels and info throughout. Habitat: Blue-Eyed Grass | Sunburst Lichen | Common Yarrow |
Shubie Park
Difficulty: Easy. Facilities: Visitor's center, boat rentals, canteen, campground, benches, bathrooms. Signage: Interpretive panels and trail signage throughout. Features: Fully equipped campground. Paddling destination with on-site rentals. Off-leash dog area. Categories: #Bird-Watching, #Camping, #Dog-Friendly, #Off-Leash, #Historic-Site, #Paddling, #Park, #Paved, #Picnic, #Playground, #Wheelchair-Accessible,
Sandy Lake Park
SAVE SANDY LAKE! - Take Action Difficulty: Easy - Moderate (distance/navigation). Facilities: Parking Lot, Beach, Change rooms/Bathrooms, picnic area, and beach volleyball court. Signage: Minimal. Features: Supervised beach. Change room & bathroom facilities. Popular dog-friendly park with off-leash trails (see rules
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.
St. Margarets Bay Trail
Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult (distance). Facilities: Access to parking, parks, and beaches. Signage: Map and info at trailheads, minimal signage. Features: 32km stretch of the 123km Rum Runners Trail. Access to public parks and beaches along the route. Categories: #Beach, #Biking,
The Purcells Cove Backlands
Difficulty: Difficult (Navigation/Terrain/Hills/Distance). Facilities: None. Signage: Only via McIntosh Run Trails & Shaw Wilderness Park, other trails unmarked. Features: 1350 hectares of highly unique landscapes and ecosystems. A top-notch mountain biking and hiking location without leaving the city. Categories:
Musquodoboit Trailway
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (distance/elevation/terrain). Facilities: Parking Lot, sheltered picnic areas, toilets. Signage: Trailhead information kiosk, map, trail markers. Features: 5 different wilderness hiking trails. 15km multi-use, rails-to-trails spine trail. Spectacular views from various lookoff points. Categories: #Backcountry, #Biking,
McDonald Sports Park
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate (Length, hills). Facilities: Picnic Areas, Portable Toilets, Parking. Signage: Maps & signage throughout. Features: 6km of maintained trails for hiking, biking & groomed cross-country skiing. Tags: #Biking #Dog-Friendly #Mountain-Biking #Park #Picnic #Skiing #Snowshoeing McDonald Sports Park - Something
MacCormacks Beach Provincial Park
Difficulty: Easy. Facilities: Parking, shops, visitor's centre, covered picnic tables, benches & public washroom. Signage: Interpretive panel about Devil's Island & other basic info. Features: 1.2km boardwalk loop with beach access points. A vibrant waterfront with unique shops & restaurants. Popular launch
Long Lake Provincial Park
Difficulty: Easy - Difficult (distance/terrain/navigation). Facilities: Parking, toilet, bike racks, paddling launch & equipment rentals. Signage: Minimal. Mostly along the Lakeview Trail. Features: 5km semi-looped Lakeview Trail with wide, compacted crusher dust base. Over 2000 hectares of wilderness with a few unmarked
Kejimkujik National Park
Difficulty: Easy - Difficult (destination dependent). Facilities: Parking, canoe rental, washrooms, food, campsites, showers, supervised beach, sky observatory, visitor center. Signage: Excellent signage, trail markers & information panels throughout. Features: Nova Scotia's top camping destination. Accommodates adventures large and small. On-site
Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes: Kearney Lake Trails
Difficulty: Difficult (Terrain/Navigation). Facilities: None. Signage: Minimal markings & signage. Periodically posted trail maps. Features: Part of the extensive Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area. Rugged, unmarked #Backcountry trail system for experienced hikers. Trails encompass Charlies, Fox, Ash & Hobsons
Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park
How-To Guide Difficulty: Easy. Facilities: Parking, Fishing Piers, Toilets, Covered Picnic Areas, Charcoal BBQ Pits. Signage: Sparse but adequate. Features: Open Victoria Day (May) to October. Accessible to people of all abilities. Drive-up picnic spots & accessible fishing piers. Connects
Fox Lake Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Difficult (Terrain/Hills/Navigation). View the trail elevation profile. Facilities: None. Signage: None. Features: 2-3 hour return trip. Connects to a broader range of trails in the Kearney Lake trail system. Hilly, rugged & unmarked trails for experienced hikers. Plenty of great
Sir Sandford Fleming Park
Difficulty: Easy. Facilities: Parking, Bathrooms, Playground, Picnic Areas, Public Wharf & Boat Launch. Signage: Excellent - Interpretive panels and other posted info. Features: Popular Northwest Arm waterfront destination. Great views from (and of) the Memorial Tower (Open May-Nov. 9am-3pm daily). A family-friendly picnic park with plenty to
Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park
Difficulty: Difficult (Length/Terrain/Navigation). Facilities: Parking, outhouses. Signage: None. Features: Over 11km of stunningly beautiful, rugged coastal hiking. Unmarked trails, rocky coastal dangers & rapidly changing weather require preparation. Sensitive coastal ecosystem demands you stay on trail & Leave No Trace. Habitat:
Shaw Wilderness Park
Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult (Navigation, Terrain, Distance). Facilities: Parking. Signage: Trail markers for main trail, little signage. Features: Ecologically diverse landscape. 153 hectares of urban wilderness with access to 2 lakes. Unique vistas of downtown Halifax. Borders the MacIntosh Run Singletrack
Charlies Lake Trail
Difficulty: Difficult (terrain, hills, navigation). View elevation profile. Facilities: None. Signage: Unmarked, sparse signage & maps. Features: Challenging 4km (2hour) loop. Rugged, rocky, hilly landscape with a natural amphitheater-like lookoff. Part of a broader system of trails with plenty to
The Bluff Wilderness Trail
Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult (Distance/Terrain). 4 stacked loops (~4 hours each). Facilities: Parking, bike rack, and garbage cans at the trailhead. Signage: Info kiosk at the trailhead, periodic maps, and trail markings throughout. Categories: #Backcountry, #Full-Day, #Lake, #Lookoff, #Nature-Reserve, #Old-Growth, #Paddling,
Indian Lake Trail
Maps & Resources - How To. Difficulty: Moderate (Terrain/Hills). Facilities: None. Signage: None. Biodiversity: River Otter | Lake Trout | American Robin Categories: #Lake #Mountain-Biking Not Marked or Maintained. Linear ATV trail. Good for off-road biking and fishing. Access To Big Indian Lake. Off of Prospect Road, just