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One of Nova Scotia's hidden treasures, the Glooscap Trail offers a view of the world's
highest tides. Hunt for fossils and agates along the Minas Shore, or move inland
to discover numerous woodland trails and cascading waterfalls.
Explore the trails of the Glooscap Trail by browsing through the listings below.
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Bramber Shore
Take Exit 5 (Newport) off 101, through Newport Station and left onto 215 (Glooscap Trail along Minas Basin). Drive to shore along left access roads from Cheverie to Bramber. Hike along shore for unusual rock formations and fossil hunting.
Note: Please watch tides!
Category: Backcountry Hike
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Cape D Or Light
Follow Hwy 102 from Halifax to Truro, exiting left (exit #15) onto Hwy 104 towards New Brunswick. Exit right onto Glenholme Loop, then turn right onto old highway. Follow a short distance and exit left on Hwy 2 towards Parrsboro. Turn right in Parrsboro and follow road out of town, then exit left onto 209. Follow route 209 towards Advocate Harbour, and exit left onto dirt road at signs for Cape d'Or
Explore trails overlooking lighthouse; then walk down road to lighthouse area. Cape d'Or was once the site of a copper mining operation and you can still find traces of copper in the rocks along the shoreline.
Category: Walking Trail
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Five Islands Park
Follow Hwy 102 from Halifax to Truro, exiting left (exit #15) onto Hwy 104 towards New Brunswick. Exit right onto Glenholme Loop, then turn right onto old highway. Follow a short distance and exit left on Hwy 2 towards Parrsboro. Follow road to Economy and watch for park entrance at left just past summit of Economy Mountain.
Beautiful Provincial Park with beach and abundant hiking trails. Don't miss clam digging on the beach or rock-hounding along the shore. This park is one of my favorites!
Category: Walking Trail
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Burncoat Head
Follow 101 west towards Annapolis Valley; exit right onto Hwy 215 and continue along Minas Shore. Just past Minasville turn left onto road towards Burncoat Head (watch for signs). Follow this road for a short distance and turn left onto dirt road towards Burncoat Head Community Park. Very nice park developed on site of old lighthouse... Follow trails through park or walk boardwalk to viewing platform overlooking Minas Basin; or take a tour of the reconstructed lighthouse.
Category: Walking Trail
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Burnside Falls
Take Exit 12 (Brookfield) off 102 towards Truro. Follow 289 East towards Upper Stewiacke, then left onto Pembroke Road (unpaved - marked by sign to "Burnside"). Follow road through Pembroke to Burnside, keeping right to Upper Burnside. Watch
for "Burnside Community Park" sign on right before bridge. Park and follow steps down to falls.
Category: Backcountry Hike
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Butcher Hill Falls
Follow Highway 102 North to Truro and exit #13 right to Brookfield. Continue on 289 east to Middle Stewiacke, and exit right to South Branch. Follow road through South Branch and turn right onto unpaved Higgins Mill Road (marked by sign).
Continue on dirt road to first house on left (Butcher's Farm).
The falls are located across from house, over embankment, and can be easily accessed roughly 300 feet before the house, on right. The falls consists of a beautiful 50 foot vertical drop into
a pool which then cascades over a 20 foot rock slope.
Note: Please show courtesy by asking for permission to access falls trail.
Category: Backcountry Hike
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Cape Sharp Light
Follow Hwy 102 from Halifax to Truro, exiting left (exit #15) onto Hwy 104 towards New Brunswick. Exit right onto Glenholme Loop, then turn right onto old highway. Follow a short distance and exit left on Route 2 towards Parrsboro. At Parrsboro, continue through town past Partridge Island and onto gravel road towards Black Rock. At the bottom of a hill that veers right look for a left turn onto the old lighthouse access road, which is no more than a cart track now.
Park and follow the old access road up over the hill to the Cape Sharp Light. There is a spectacular view across the Minas Basin (at it's most narrow point) towards Cape Blomidon. Look for the rip tide during a tide change. A nice spot to watch the sun setting over the Minas Basin.
Category: Walking Trail
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Devils Bend Trail
Follow Hwy 102 from Halifax to Truro, exiting left (exit #15) onto Hwy 104 towards New Brunswick. Exit right onto Glenholme Loop, then turn right onto old highway. Follow a short distance and exit left on Hwy 2 towards Parrsboro. Follow road to Economy, then turn right onto unpaved River Phillip Road (road is marked by sign to "Economy Falls"). Follow dirt road up over mountain until you see parking area for Devil's Bend trail on the right.
The Devil's Bend Trail meanders just over 6kms along the Economy River to intersect with the Economy Falls Trail. The look-off stands on a 150m bluff overloooking the "Devil's Bend" in the river, and affords an expansive view. Look for abundant wildflowers in the spring. This trail is part of the very well developed Economy Falls Trail System, and is a beautiful hike through mature forests and sculpted cliffs.
Category: Walking Trail
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Joggins Fossil Cliffs
There are two suggested routes to reach Joggins:
- From Parrsboro, follow Highway 2 north; keep left through "Boar's Back" area of Chignecto Game Sanctuary towards River Hebert and follow signage to Joggins.
- Follow Highway 102 to Truro, and exit left on Highway 104 towards Amherst. Turn off at Exit #4 and follow road south through Upper Nappan, keeping right. Turn right onto Highway 302 south through Nappan and exit right onto Highway 242 towards River Hebert and Joggins.
Follow road through town of Joggins, turning right on unpaved road towards shore. Park in lot at left and walk to shore. Follow shoreline and look for petrified trees in cliffs, or search for fossils along the beach. Look for coal mine shafts in the cliffs (long since collapsed), identified by red groundwater (rust) and old rails poking out of ground. A visit to Joggins is not complete without a stop at the Fossil Interpretation Centre to view the extensive fossil display gathered over many years by a local collector.
Category: Walking Trail
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Kenomee Canyon
Follow Hwy 102 from Halifax to Truro, exiting left (exit #15) onto Hwy 104 towards New Brunswick. Exit right onto Glenholme Loop, then turn right onto old highway. Follow a short distance and exit left on Hwy 2 towards Parrsboro. Follow road to Economy, then turn right onto unpaved River Phillip Road (road is marked by sign to "Economy Falls"). Follow dirt road up over mountain, following signage to Economy Falls. The Kenomee Canyon trailhead is located at the top of Economy Falls.
The Kenomee Canyon trail loop is the largest of the Economy Falls trail system, and one of the nicest trails in the Province. Borrowing from the brochure... "This is a spectacular 18km wilderness hike into the Economy River Wilderness Area along the edge of the Economy River gorge."
The trail follows the river's steep banks upstream to the headwaters at Murphy and Black brooks, then loops around, crossing both brooks, and heads back downstream on the opposite bank. The trail crosses several feeder streams which must be forded on foot, however there is a sturdy bridge spanning the river just above the falls.
There are several backcountry campsites along the trail, including Chain Lake Falls, Murphy Brook Falls and Newton Lake campsites.
Watch for spectacular wildflower blooms in the spring and brilliant fall colours throughout the abundant hardwood stands in the fall.
This backcountry trail is one of my favorites, and makes a great two-day hike.
Category: Backcountry Hike
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