Hiking at Blomidon Provincial Park with Valley Family Fun
As kids, we used to do the hike at the Blomidon Provincial Park quite a lot with our parents. I also walked a portion of the trail with my son when he was 4 and we were part of a playgroup.
As a family, we had never walked the entire trail, and because we were camping at the park, we decided to give it a try!
You do NOT need to be a camper or pay an entrance fee to walk this trail.
Trail Information
The hikes at Blomidon Provincial Park actually start at the lower parking lot, and work themselves up the mountain. There is the Borden Brook trail on the left side of the road and the Jodrey Trail on the right side of the trail.
Because it was hot, and we were there for 2 days, we decided to break the trail into two sections.
On the first day, we hiked from the lower parking lot along the Borden Brook trail in as far as the waterfall.
This section of the trail took less than 15 minutes. It was slightly steep, but manageable.
Because it was the summer, there wasn’t much of a waterfall. I would like to return in the spring to see it in full force!
You can continue along this trail and meet up with the other trails at the top of the mountain.
We decided to hike the trail loop at the top of the mountain.
If you are a camper, the trail starts at the back of the campground where the wooded sites are. If you are a day visitor, park at the top of the mountain in the parking lot beside the registration kiosk.
You can pick up the Jodrey trail at the chain link fence along the edge of the cliff, following it to the left, through the campground.
The Route
We followed the Jodrey trail from the campground to the end point. It took us 45 minutes to walk the 3km section.
Here’s what the website says about this trail:
The trail skirts 183 m (600 ft.) sea cliffs with numerous viewing stations overlooking the Minas Basin. The trail gradually climbs to 190 m, winding through a sugar maple, yellow birch and beech forest and near a small fen, which seasonally, is the only known location of fairy shrimp (Eubranchipus intricatus) east of Manitoba. At Indian Springs Brook, a cairn commemorates the gift of 162 ha (400 acres) to the park by the late Roy Jodrey.
At the tail end is an additional loop, called the Look Off Trail. This is 1km and took us about 10 minutes to walk.
There are great views towards Parrsboro.
To complete the loop, we hiked back along the Woodlands Trail.
Here’s what the website says:
A pleasant walk through a mixed forest of sugar maple, yellow birch, white spruce and balsam fir. The highest elevation along the trail is 170 m. The trail crosses Ells Brook.
This section of the trail took us about 40 minutes to walk.
Overall Notes
Overall, the loop hike at the top of Blomidon took our family 1 hour and 40 minutes to walk the 6.4km trails.
The trails are extremely-well signposted with regular maps and directional signs.
Also, the trees are painted red when you are on the Jodrey trail and yellow on the woodland trail, so you always know what direction you are heading.
The trails are not stroller friendly, as there are a lot of roots along the way. The path is not steep, but there are a few ups and downs along the way.
The Woodland Trail is much easier to walk, so if you are looking for a point-to-point trail, especially with small children, try this one.
Take time to explore Blomidon Provincial Park. This is a great hike to do in spring, summer and fall to watch the changing of the trees and water levels.
Besides, you might see a hare along the way!
Directions and more about the walking trails here
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