Farmlands Trail – Kejimkujik National Park
Difficulty: Easy (gradual elevation ascent of 40m). Infrastructure: Parking. Signage: 4 information panels which narrate a guided cultural & natural history of the area. Features: 1.5 km (30-minute) semi-looped hike up a drumlin to a plateau, the site of a 19th-century farm. Categories: #Backcountry,
Webber Lake Falls
Difficulty: Easy (some navigation challenges). Facilities: None. Signage: None (some flagging & markings). Features: A short hike with a waterfall, lake access & scenic forest. Categories: #Easy, #Family-Friendly, #Fishing, #Lake, #Loop, #River, #Short, #Snowshoeing, #Swimming, #Waterfall Webber Lake Falls Hiking Trails Webber Lake Falls
West Dover Provincial Park
Difficulty: Difficult (Terrain, Navigation). Facilities: Large parking lot. No garbage cans or other facilities (pack out what you pack in). Signage: None. Features: 5km (2.5hr return trip) or 1.5km (1-hour return trip) directly to a scenic bench. Rugged, narrow, natural
Nine Mile River Trails
Difficulty: Easy - Difficult (Distance). Elevation profile. Facilities: Parking, benches. Signage: Excellent. Features: Up to 10km (~3-4hrs), with options as short as 1km. Easy to navigate with excellent signage & trail construction. Remote wilderness with unreliable cell phone coverage. Tags: #Backcountry,
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
Crowbar Lake Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Difficult (terrain, hills, navigation). Facilities: Parking. Signage: Sparse trail markers, little-to-no signage. Features: Challenging hike with rewarding scenery. Various trails and loops extending 18km+. Categories: #Backcountry, #Lake, #Long Distance, #Old-Growth. Crowbar Lake Trails Part of the much larger Waverley
Victoria Park
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (distance, hills). Facilities: Parking, canteen, pool, restrooms, bandstand, picnic areas, playground. Signage: Interpretive panels, maps, and trail markings throughout. Features: Over 1000 acres to explore. Family-friendly destination with public pool (closed for upgrades), splash pad &
Uniacke Estate Museum Park
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (distance). Facilities: Parking, toilets, picnic tables, tea room, estate museum. Signage: Interpretive panels and trail markings. Features: 930 hectares with 7 hiking trails. Estate Museum open daily until 5pm June 1-Oct. 5 (admission under $5). Park
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
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
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 below). Biodiversity: Sackville River Watershed | American
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:
Polly’s Cove Hiking Trails
Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult (Terrain/Navigation). Click to view the elevation profiles for the Basin Trail & Loop Trail. Facilities: Minimal parking. Signage: None. Categories: #Coastal, #Bird-Watching, #Hiking, #Lookoff. Polly's Cove Guide Polly's Cove will encompass you with memorably striking scenery
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
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
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
Mill Falls & Beech Grove Trail
Difficulty: Moderate (distance) Setting: Riverside, Waterfalls, Old-Growth Forest. Facilities: Parking, Picnic Shelter, Benches, Outhouse. Features: 1.3km (linear) Mill Falls trail connected to Beech Grove trail (2km loop) via a bridge with scenic views of the Mersey River. Biodiversity: Drumlin |
Hemlocks and Hardwoods Hiking Trail – Kejimkujik National Park
Difficulty: Easy - Moderate (distance). Facilities: Parking, bike racks, outhouse. Signage: Interpretive signage throughout. Features: 5km loop trail (allow 2 hours). Boardwalk for over half of the trail makes for easy walking with very few ups and downs. Hemlock
Keji Hiking Trails – Grafton Woods
Difficulty: Easy. Setting: Diverse forest and wetlands. Facilities: Parking, bike rack. Signage: Minimal. Features: Two 1.6km loops. Dense Hemlock & Pine Forest. Lush #wetland views. Biodiversity: Eastern Hemlock | Bulrush | White Pine Categories: #Hiking-Short #Bird-Watching #Kejimkujik #Lake #Wetlands Grafton Woods Trail Grafton woods
Gold Mine Trail – Kejimkujik National Park
Difficulty: Easy. Setting: Forest, old gold mining pits. Facilities: Parking Signage: Interpretive panels and displays throughout. Tags: #Hiking-Short #Historic-Site #Kejimkujik GPS Files | Maps & Resources - How To. A short 3km (Approximately 1 hour) hike. Flies & ticks can be bad. Fully interpretive trail with
Flowing Waters Hiking Trail – Kejimkujik National Park
Difficulty: Easy. Features: Forest, 1km looped trail following the Mersey River & adjacent wetlands. No bikes allowed. Facilities: Parking, Bike Rack, Picnic Table. Signage: Interpretive panels, minimal signage. Biodiversity: Brook Trout | American Crow | Green Frog Categories: #Short #Kejimkujik #River #Wetlands GPS Files
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
Hobsons Lake Trail, Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (Terrain/Navigation). Facilities: None. Signage: Unmarked trails with occasional signage and maps (sparse). Features: 3-hour roundtrip loop or 40min up-and-back to Hobson's Lake. Scenic cascade waterfall along Hobson Brook. Part of the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness, and
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
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
Cole Harbour Heritage Park
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (distance, hills). Facilities: Parking lot, toilets, benches & lost & found. Signage: Map at the front kiosk. Well-signed trails with marked distances. Features: 400 acres with 7 looped, accessible trails. Wide-open spaces with scenic views. Heritage
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
Cape Split Provincial Park
Difficulty: Difficult (distance, periodic 4-5° sloping incline/declines). Facilities: Parking lot, toilets. Signage: Trail markers & info kiosk at the trailhead, well marked and signed throughout. Features: 13.5km (4-5 hour return trip) of forested trails with spectacular coastal views. New "Scots Bay
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,
Blue Mountain Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Difficult (terrain/navigation). View elevation profile. Facilities: None. Signage: None. Features: The highest point of Halifax's Chebucto Peninsula. Part of the #Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area. A rugged 3.5km (~1 hour) return trip to the top & back. Tags: #Blue
Blomidon Provincial Park
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (hills, rugged terrain, distance). Facilities: Parking, camping, washrooms. Signage: Adequate signage throughout. Features: Over 10km of hiking trails with views of the Minas Basin. Home to some of the world's highest tides. Fully equipped provincial park campground (click
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.
Bayers Lake Mystery Walls
Difficulty: Moderate (5-sided structure) to Difficult (the rest) due to terrain. Trail elevation profile. Facilities: None. Signage: No trail markings or signage. Features: Protected by the Nova Scotia Special Places Act. Near the Chain Of Lakes Trail. Tucked in an unassuming
Admiral Cove Park
Difficulty: Moderate (Terrain/Navigation). Facilities: None. Signage: Minimal signage, unmarked trails. Features: 29-hectare urban wilderness park. 2km, 1hr return trip. Beautiful views of the Bedford Basin. Biodiversity: Old-Growth Forest | Osprey | White Pine | More