Several years ago, while camping at Five Islands Provincial Park, I was out digging for clams on the mud flats and encountered several folks walking back from Moose Island with camping gear. After chatting with them I discovered that it was possible to walk out to Moose Island at dead-low tide and camp in any of the fields available on one side.  Although the island is bounded by steep cliffs on most sides, apparently it was possible to access the island from the side closest to the park. My curiousity was sparked and I vowed to one day explore this island.

Moose Island is the largest of the five islands located in the community of Five Islands, Nova Scotia.  The islands are comprised of weather-resistant volcanic rock (basalt) capping the much softer red sandstone of the Minas Basin.  The much sought-after amethyst gemstone is found throughout this volcanic basalt.

I decided that this was the year to discover Moose Island, and after checking the tides and packing my gear, I headed up to the Five Islands area.  There are a few ways to approach Moose Island at low tide... determined by where you choose to park your vehicle.  There are two campgrounds directly across from the island:  Sand Point Campground and Bay Gardens Campground.  With permission from the campground management these could be used as parking base-camps.  I chose to instead head on just past the North River bridge and exit left onto the narrow dirt road just past the bridge, at the top of the rise.  This road led down to the water and I parked in the field to the right, just before the beach access.

After strapping the hip waders and pack on I started down the beach.  Some advice... follow the ATV path through the mud to the fish weir, and keep to the stream channels.  Straying away from these I found myself knee-deep in muck!

After climbing onto the island I discovered an old camp, probably built by the clam diggers in the area.  Moving past this I found a nice trail leading up the center of the island.  The trail follows an old cart trail up past several fields as it climbs to the top field in the middle of the island.  There is an old well in the corner of this top-most field... all that remains of a small farm that once existed here 100 years ago.  Past this field the brush is quite thick and I could not locate a route to the other end of the island.  I did notice plenty of signs of deer... they must walk or swim over to the island.  I heard stories of Moose crossing to this island years ago... but I doubt that any have visited lately.

I setup camp in a lower field on the basin-side of the island and waited for the high tide to turn... then headed back down the trail to explore the shoreline of Moose Island.  There are some unique views from this island, especially of the other islands.  I walked around the island and found some nice samples of amethyst on the basin side.  Care should be taken along the cliffs as the rock slopes are very unstable.

It was nice having the island to myself for a night, but I was running short of water and had to head back the next morning on the low tide.  Some words of advice:  bring enough water to last the duration of your visit.  The only water source is the old well at the top field and this is unreliable.  I had to boil the small amount of water that I found.