The Shearwater Flyer Trail
Difficulty: Easy - Moderate (Distance). Facilities: Parking. Signage: Map at trailhead, interpretive panels & trail distance markers. Features: 8.5km (30 minutes by bike, one way). Connects Shearwater to Bissett Road & the popular Salt Marsh Trail. Well maintained, flat,
Jack Lake Trail
Difficulty: Moderate (terrain). Facilities: None. Signage: None. Features: 3.5km (1hr) return trip to Jack Lake. Easy to navigate along an old logging road. Rugged, wet, muddy terrain dotted with rocky features & old-growth trees. Biodiversity: Barred Owl | Pitcher
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
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.
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:
Point Pleasant Park
Difficulty: Easy - Moderate (distance). Facilities: Bathrooms, parking, benches & picnic areas. Signage: Information kiosks, maps interpretive panels, and trail signage. Features: Off-leash trails. Centuries-old fortifications. Open to cyclists (restrictions on weekends/holidays). Open-air theatre in summer. Categories: #Park, #Dog-Friendly, #Biking,
McIntosh Run Singletrack Trails
Difficulty: Easy - Difficult (Terrain, Distance). Facilities: None. Signage: Marked with signposts throughout with maps at trailheads and on select signposts. Features: 15km of trails, stretching from Spryfield to Herring Cove. Designed by, and for mountain bikers, with hikers equally
McIntosh Run Community Trail
Difficulty: Easy - Moderate (length). Facilities: Dedicated parking lot off of Herring Cove Rd. Signage: Map at trailhead. Features: Less than 2-hour return trip. Various access points to the water throughout. Wetland area, ideal for urban bird-watching Habitat: Beaver
Mainland North Trail
Difficulty: Easy (some hills) Facilities: Parking, benches, garbage cans. Signage: Trail signs at most major intersections with distance info (in KM's). Features: 4km linear, multi-use trail. Compacted crusher dust surface. Direct & nearby access to many different parks, playgrounds, trails
Halifax Mainland Common Park
Difficulty: Easy. Facilities: Parking, toilet, covered picnic tables & water-dispensing rain barrels. Signage: Info panels & maps. Features: Off-leash dog trails & fields. 1km loop trail with bog lookoff (great for birdwatching). 1km of unmaintained nature trails. Connects to
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
Hemlock Ravine Park
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (hills). Elevation profile. Infrastructure: Parking lot, garbage cans, benches, wide trails with crusherdust base. Signage: Trail signage throughout (little-to-none on Ravine Trail), maps at entrances & key intersections. Features: #Bird-Watching, #Biking, #Bus-Access, #Dog-Friendly, #Family-Friendly, #Historic-Site, #Loop, #Off-Leash,
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
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
Chain Of Lakes Trail
Difficulty: Easy (distance-dependant). Elevation profile. Facilities: Parking & porta-potty in Bayers Lake. Signage: Interpretive panel at First Chain Lake, kilometer markers & distance signage. Features: The longest paved trail in Halifax (7.3km). Maintained in winter. Access to Chain Lake Park.
Belchers Marsh Park
Difficulty: Easy. Setting: Urban marsh, pond, gravel paths. Facilities: Benches, garbage cans, dog bag dispensers. Signage: Educational info panels, maps, and signs. Features: An easy, #Accessible trail for all. Great look-off in the middle of the marsh, an ideal spot for birdwatching.
Bedford-Sackville Greenway Trail
Difficulty: Easy. Facilities: Parking, benches, dog waste bags, garbage cans. Signage: Plenty of info panels signs and maps. Features: Follows 4km of the Sackville River. Multi-use, active transportation route between Bedford & Sackville with direct access to sports fields. Educational
The BLT Trail
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (distance). Facilities: Parking. Nearby bicycle & paddling rentals at Lunar Adventures. Signage: Distance markers, periodically posted maps, info panels & info kiosk at the trailhead. Features: A 13km section of the 123km Rum Runners Trail.
York Redoubt National Historic Site
Difficulty: Easy. Facilities: Parking, washrooms, picnic tables. Signage: Interpretive panels. Features: Great views of the mouth of Halifax Harbour, opposite McNabs Island. 200-year-old fortifications, a key part of Halifax's harbour defence system. Scenic #coastal bluffs and walking trails. Biodiversity: Fiddlehead