Top Trails of 2025
Top 5 Trails of 2025
The 5 most-viewed hiking trail guides on halifaxtrails.ca for the calendar year.
5) Gaff Point Hiking Trail
- 7.5km return hike (~2hrs)
- Looped peninsula trail.
- Huge, beautiful 3km sand beach.
- Scenic, rugged hike with plenty of inland and coastal stretches.
The cat is out of the bag with Gaff Point. This former South Shore secret is claiming its spot among the province’s most scenic places and has now become the #1 most-viewed coastal 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. The moment your car door closes, the immense 3km smooth sand ‘Hirtles Beach’ will impress you with sheer, natural awe.
After walking along 1.5 kilometers of beautiful Hirtles Beach, you’ll hike a peninsula rich in visual and biodiversity. This bastion of nature offers rugged coastline cliffs, lush forest, and a “secret beach” to boot. Nova Scotia’s coastal beauty at its protected best, reminding us how increasingly rare sights like these are.
The trail was hit hard by hurricane Dorian in 2019, which required lots of volunteer time and money from to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to be able to safely re-open the trail. They have since kindly reopened it after extensive work.
Read more in my Gaff Point guide, including a detailed map, interactive 360° virtual tour, photos, and videos.
4) Herring Cove Provincial Park
- Open-ocean views without leaving your car.
- Parking Lot-Adjacent benches.
- Rugged, unmarked, 2km hike.
- ~25-minute drive from downtown Halifax.
When the parking lot is best described as being “like a drive-in theatre for people who like nature” by Weather Network Host Nathan Coleman, you can be sure that it’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.
For the more adventurous types, a rugged, unmarked coastal trail leads to a high point overlooking the entrance to Halifax Harbour. Listen to the power of the open Atlantic Ocean as you watch fishing boats, tankers & towering cruise ships come and go from this busy port.
Use plenty of caution as surf is unpredictable, dangerous & unforgiving if you get too close. This area is a protected nature reserve, an important habitat for migratory seabirds & at-risk species of plants and animals, so tread lightly & stick to the most well-used paths.
Read more in my Herring Cove Provincial Park guide, including a detailed map, interactive 360° virtual tour, photos, and videos.
3) Polly’s Cove
- Next to the ever-popular Peggy’s Cove.
- Rocky, coastal barren landscape.
- Unmarked, muddy trails.
- Great for boulder climbing.
A 45-minute drive from downtown Halifax and located next door to one of the region’s most popular tourist destinations, this area has all the natural beauty of Peggy’s Cove without the large crowds. Offering a different perspective of Peggy’s Cove and a larger area to explore, Polly’s Cove is great for anyone looking to do some coastal hiking.
The trails are narrow, unmarked, and often muddy. Keep to the well-established paths as this sensitive nature area is home to nesting coastal birds and easily disturbed vegetation. Full of low-lying bushes and shrubs, it’s the type of terrain that can scrape up your legs, so come prepared with pants, high socks, or gaiters.
With plenty of coastal beauty to feast your eyes and camera lenses on, you can easily spend an entire day exploring. 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’s storage. Finding a new favourite nook on every visit, trips are often 1 part hiking, 2 parts stopping to take in views.
Read more in my Polly’s Cove guide, including a detailed map, interactive 360° virtual tour, photos, and videos.
2) The Salt Marsh Trail
- Well marked, maintained & patrolled.
- Popular bird-watching destination.
- 9km (one way) linear “rails-to-trails”.
- Plenty of benches & picnic areas.
Unchanged after ranking up 2 spots the previous year is the beloved Salt Marsh Trail. 30 minutes from downtown Halifax, located in Cole Harbour. Part of the province’s extensive “rails-to-trails” network, this one ranks as the most popular according to my website data. This linear (up & back) trail is great on its own or as part of a longer trip continuing onto the Atlantic View Trail, popular Lawrencetown Beach & beyond.
The unique salt marsh habitat is a haven for birds and prime hunting ground for eagles & osprey. You’ll often see bird enthusiasts and nature photographers here due to the diverse wildlife.
Shop.HalifaxTrails.ca: Local Bird Guide Books.
This scenic causeway is a former railway that stretches across the water for 3.5km. Complete with periodic bridges, benches & picnic tables, there are plenty of places to stop to take in the view.
The trail is well marked, maintained, and even patrolled for safety thanks to the Cole Harbour Parks & Trails Association. The work of these dedicated volunteers is why this trail has come to be revered by all of HRM.
Great for a stroll or jog, and ideal as part of an extensive bike ride on its compacted crusher-dust surface. Be sure to have a bicycle bell, as it can be busy during peak times.
Read more in my Salt Marsh Trail guide, including a detailed map, interactive 360° virtual tour, photos, and videos.
1) Long Lake Provincial Park
- 2000 Hectare, urban wilderness park.
- 5km “Lakeview Trail”.
- Public (non-motorized) boat launch.
- On-site kayak & paddleboard rentals.
Only a 15-minute drive from downtown Halifax it’s the only one of the destinations accessible by public transit. At just over 3km, Long Lake lives up to its name. Beyond the large lake lies 2000 hectares of wilderness. The easily accessible 5km “Lakeview Trail” loop offers a large, wide crusher dust pathway, making it inviting to all. 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.
It’s easy to see why Long Lake is the #1 most popular. Whether you’re looking for an easy stroll, a challenging wilderness hike, a bike ride or a swim, Long Lake has plenty of room for adventures of all kinds. There are many rugged, unmarked trails, nooks, and new discoveries to be made with every visit.
A very popular swimming destination in summer with plenty of spots to lay your towel, it even has a marked, measured 2.5km open water swim course for anyone looking to do some high-level swim training.
Accessible via 3 separate parking areas, including year-round access via St. Margaret’s Bay Road (un-marked nature trails & lake access). A large main parking area off of Northwest Arm Drive connects to the Lakeview Trail and paddling launch area. A small, gated auxiliary parking area off of Old Sambro road is for access to boat rentals and the paddling launch (closed in winter).
Read more in my Long Lake Provincial Park guide, including a detailed map, interactive 360° virtual tour, photos, and videos.