Top Ten Family Walks - Mainland: These are all routes that should be able to be completed in two hours of walking, or less. Hopefully you should not find any of them particularly difficult; non feature challenging climbs, nor do any have difficult footing, and none should require any navigation skill. I have scattered them around the province, so you may take a summer and explore.
Ten Family Walks - Mainland (Two hours or less):
- Salt Marsh Trail, HRM - Trailhead GPS: N 44°39'26.9" W 63°26'53.7". This is an exceptionally attractive coastal walk along a 3 km causeway crossing a large, shallow marsh, and is part of the Trans Canada Trail. A route description is available in Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality, pg. 94-97.
- Uniacke
Estate, Hants County - N
44º54’06.7” W 63º50’39.6”. There is a network of trails on the grounds of
the former Richard John Uniacke Estate, administered by the Nova Scotia
Museum. A route description is available in Hiking Trails of Nova
Scotia, 8th edition, pg. 68-71.
- Hemlock
and Hardwoods, Kejimkujik National Park - N 44º26’32.2” W 65º15’11.9”. This 6 km loop takes you along the
tranquil shoreline of Big Dam Lake, and into a magnificent stand of
Hemlock trees that are more than 300 years-old. A route description is
available in Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia, 7th edition, pg.
285-289.
- Belleisle
Marsh, Annapolis County - N
44°47’39.3” W 65°24’03.2”. This 3.5 km loop through agricultural lands
alongside the Annapolis River is a gentle and restful walk with ample
opportunities to sight waterfowl and many locations to enjoy a picnic. A
route description is available in Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia, 8th
edition, pg. 49-52.
- Caribou-Munroe’s
Island, Pictou County - N
45º43’19.3” W 62º39’25.1”. This is a wonderful stroll for a lazy Sunday
along the flat, wide beaches of the Northumberland Strait. Except for its
occasional rocky sections, this is a walk for everybody. Those not
interested in hiking may always remain on the supervised beach or the
picnic area on the high ground just behind. A route description is
available in Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia, 8th edition, pg.
213-216.
- Rogart
Mountain, Colchester County - N
45º33’53.7” W 63º09’12.1”. The Rogart Mountain Trail is a fine footpath
exploring one of the higher points of land on the Cobequid Mountains. But
what makes this special, almost unique in Nova Scotia, is its relationship
with the Sugar Moon Farm restaurant, a maple syrup and pancake house. The
restaurant provided access to its land for the trail to be built, and
promotes its use; the trail group returns that bounty by keeping the path
in excellent condition, year-round.
- Amherst
Point Bird Sanctuary, Cumberland County - N 45º47’50.1” W 64º15’36.8”. Designated a Migratory Bird Sanctuary
in 1947, the Amherst Point Migratory Bird Sanctuary assumed its present
size of 433 ha (1,070 a) in 1980, and together with 600 ha (1,480 a) John
Lusby Marsh makes up Chignecto National Wildlife Area. A surprising
variety of habitats lie within the sanctuary, but 66% of its area is open
water, marsh and bogs, or controlled water-level impoundments, an
environment ideal for waterfowl.
- Thomas
Raddall Provincial Park, Queens County - N 43º49’49.8” W 64º53’05.6”. Thomas Raddall Provincial Park
features a variety of natural habitats including tremendous coastal
scenery and excellent white sand beaches. The park has day-use picnic
facilities, including three unsupervised beaches, and also features 82
campsites. More importantly, from our perspective, the park contains more
than 11 km (6.9 mi) of trails.
- Fairmont
Ridge, Antigonish County - N
45º41’15.6” W 61º54’58.6”. The
Fairmont Ridge Hiking Trail System, constructed by the Antigonish Hiking and Biking Trails
Association, will appeal to either experienced hikers or a family of novices.
Within its compact boundaries can be found lakes, fields, beaver dams,
eagle nest, steep climbs, deep ravines, and mature woods.
- Black Duck Cove, Guysborough County - N 45º16”35.0’ W 61º01”52.9’. This is a walk for the entire family, particularly if you are looking for a place to have a picnic. In addition to picnic tables on the beach, others can be found along the Coastal Trail. Several of these are cleverly tucked into spaces among the krummholtz, the thick white spruce of the headlands, and provide some shelter from the wind. Be sure to sign the guestbook at the trailhead in the main parking lot.
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