Need a suggestion of a good hike?
Hiking Groups Here
*Any hike that has a Tried and Tested check mark beside it means we have done that hike and written a blog post about it. Click on the CHECK for more information*
Avondale Trail System, West Hants – The Avondale trail system offers three different trail options. The Westbrook trail is a 2.3km loop with a trailhead at the Avondale Community Hall.
Belleisle Marsh Trail – near Annapolis Royal, travels over protected marsh and water fowl land. The trail is great for walking – hiking and mountain biking. The dirt ox-cart track trail over the flat land makes an easy family walk or biking experience. The total distance of the loop is 8.2 km
Berwick’s Apple Capital Heritage Trail – This 2.2 km section is a shared-use trail which provides great access to the community.
Bigelow Nature Trail, Canning: The Bigelow Nature Trail is located at 969 J. Jordan Road – on the left (adjacent to the football field where the old Cornwallis High School used to be). The trail is approximately 7km in total, but smaller loops can be completed.
Bird Sanctuary Hike – Kentville. 1.3km loop hike near a lake. Great in all seasons.
Black Rock Community Trails – A unique collection of forest and shoreline trails located in the Eastern Annapolis Valley about 30 km from the shire town of Kentville, Nova Scotia. The starting point for most hikes is just behind the Black Rock Community Centre located on Black Rock Road.
Bridgetown Historic Cyprus Walk – is a 90 minute, 3.5 km self-guided tour covers many interesting features of historic Bridgetown, Nova Scotia. The trail is easy to follow as it is marked with a painted blue line.
Canaan Heights Subdivision Trails, New Minas – A small walking path or off-shoots for more challenging and scenic trails. Park with amenities and great for all ages and abilities.
Cape Split, Scott’s Bay – the quintessential hike. 16KM round trip.
Caroline Shipwreck Monument Trail, Baxter’s Harbour – a 4km round trip, point-to-point trail to see a monument dedicated to where the schooner the Caroline came to shore in 1831.
Castle Frederick, Falmouth – Castle Frederick Farms Inc. consists of a herd of approximately 300 head of cattle, a flock of 180 sheep, 200 acres of pasture and 200 acres of productive marshlands for hay and forage to feed the livestock through the winter. Our trails are open Mon-Sat 10am-4pm with a $3.50/person admission charge. Picnic sites available throughout the trails. Wagon rides available. (902) 790-7173. EMAIL. MAP
Crystal Falls, Greenwood BLOG POST WITH DIRECTIONS
Coldbrook walking Trails – These trails weave and wend behind the Laurie Lane Subdivision in Coldbrook, and hook up with the Kentville Bird Sanctuary.
David Morse Trail, Greenwood – an 8.2-kilometre stretch of multi-use trail as a connecter trail between Johnson Pond Road and Crystal Falls.
Delaps Cove Wilderness Trail – near Annapolis Royal, has three trails. Interpretive signs and picnic areas.
Fales River Falls, Greenwood – The first part is easy…just follow the path to the stream. Immediately upstream of the path you may be able to jump across rocks to span the stream. If you take the road McDonalds is on into Fales River subdivision to the very end, it starts there.
French Basin Trail – in Annapolis Royal, The French Basin Trail is 1.2 km long as it follows around the perimeter of the Ducks Unlimited pond. The trail is great for walking – hiking, snow shoeing and mountain biking.
Gaspereau Canal Trail – This trail is actually close to New Ross, about 15 minutes from Kentville. This 3km loop trail is great in all seasons and easy to walk with your family.
Hall’s Harbour Eco-Trail – There are two sections to this trail through the woods.
Harvest Rail Trail – The 117-kilometre Harvest Moon Trailway traverses the Annapolis Valley through beautiful towns along the former rail line, connecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Grand Pré to the historic seaside town of Annapolis Royal.
Hennigar’s Farm Market in Greenwich has a beautiful 2.5 trail that goes through the woods and around a field. It is steep in some place and is not stroller friendly. No dogs permitted. Blog post
Hidden Valley, New Minas – Print off these instructions and take them along. The trail is NOT marked. (Valley Family Fun blog post about the hike)
Hiking Trails of Kings County (Click on Hiking trails of Kings County to download the brochure and maps) Even More hiking trails in Kings County
Hike Nova Scotia – There are wonderful trails and places for hiking, walking and snowshoeing all over Nova Scotia. Find maps, descriptions and directions to trails.
Irishman’s Road Recreation Site – Windsor, A shared use trail network with a mix of singletrack and doubletrack. There’s not a lot of elevation change but there’s lots of punchy ups and downs.
Kentville Gorge is a great place to hike and to go mountain biking. Easy walking loop. VIDEO
Kentville Research Station – The Ravine Trail winds past a small pond, a waterfall, and over many small streams. Hiking in Kentville provides the experience of being lost in nature among hemlock growth over 250 years old, but access to the trails is actually very close to the centre of Town. The trail can be accessed at the East end of Town at the top of the Research Station Property.
Kingston Family Fitness Trail – This 700m loop, located at the Kingston Duck Pond in Stronach Park has fitness equipment along the wooded trail.
Laurie Saulnier Trail, Hantsport – This trail is maintained by the Hants West Wildlife Association (HWWA) and is dedicated to one of their members. This stacked loop trail offers 2 km in mixed woodland with tall alder, birch and spruce trees. There are red squares marking the trail. A short side trail leads down to a pond that is a great spot to take in some wildlife. Blog Post Review
Lockhart & Ryan Park, New Minas -The Lockhart Ryan Memorial Park has quite a large system of multi-use trails which are great for walking-hiking, mountain biking and cross country skiing. Great for families and beginners.
McMaster Mills Falls, Greenwood – a historical site within Nova Scotia; this 7.18-acre property was
donated to the Municipality of the County of Kings by the members of the McMaster family. There are interpretive panels outlining the mill history and the McMaster family history. 1km.
Mickey Hill Provincial Park – in Milford (South of Annapolis Royal) is a day-use park with a 1-km loop trail and a swimming area. The park features gravelled trails, with boardwalks in rough areas and steep staircases through rocks, and a suspension bridge. Trails are marked with nature interpretive signs.
Miner’s Marsh, Kentville – The Kentville Ducks Unlimited Site also known as “Miner’s Marsh” is found in a wetland habitat constructed by Ducks Unlimited Canada which supports a variety and abundance of wildlife. The protected site also includes 1.7 kms of maintained trail. The site is complete with viewing stands, picnic tables and interpretive signage which makes it an ideal location for birdwatchers, and nature enthusiasts. Miner’s Marsh can be accessed from the abandoned rail line trail at the intersection of the trail with Leverett Avenue, and from the parking area behind the County of Kings Municipal building on Cornwallis Street.
Moore’s Brook Falls, located north of Kentville in North Alton. This is a 1km hike (1 way) to see an incredible waterfall. Rough path runs along the bank. Blog post review
Noggins Corner Farm Historic Trail, Greenwich – walking trail offers information about the history of the land while providing an enjoyable and vigorous hike. The trail is approximately 3 kms in length with shorter trail options available.
Nova Trail’s list of hikes in the Valley
Old Mill Trail – in South Farmington is fully wheelchair accessible. The trail is situated on 2.2 acres of land along the beautiful Annapolis River and features benches, picnic tables and bridges all along it.
Roxbury Ghost Town, Paradise – Although nothing much of it remains today, Roxbury can still be defined as an actual “ghost town”. In the late 1800’s Roxbury was a logging community with a population of several dozens, until a poor supply of lumber and harsh winters forced people to reconsider settling in the area. 7 kms , 2hours.
Scotian Hiker for a list of guided hikes in the area.
Shingle Mills Falls – Nestled on Aylesford Mountain, it’s just 10 minutes to see these falls.
Sunken Lake hiking trails – A number of trails into the surrounding woodlands begin around Sunken Lake. These are near the Scout camp.
Trail Nova Scotia hikes
Trail Peak has a list of hikes for the province. Great descriptions, directions and maps.
White Rock Community Trail – The trail is a figure-8 shape and is an easy walk suitable for people of all ages any levels of fitness. The entire trail takes about 20 minutes to walk.
Windsor Town Trails – Within the town limits, there are 5 walking trails varying in length from 1-2km
Wolfville Reservoir Trails -These trails have a direct connection with the Millennium and Mountain Bike Trails. There are 1.8 kilometres of trails in Reservoir Park, of which the majority travel around two former reservoir pond. BLOG
Wolfville Watershed Nature Reserve – Located on the South Mountain. The trail is about 950m and takes 1-2 hours. More information here. (Valley Family Fun blog post here)
Woodville Community Trail – a series of longer and shorter loops. (Valley Family Fun blog post about the hike) CLOSED AS OF DEC 2020
Hiking Groups
Hike It Baby, Wolfville – Hike it Baby is an organization dedicated to developing communities that get families outside and on trails with children from birth to school age. Hikes are posted to this calendar first and then promoted through Facebook posts and events. Facebook events are used for special events to keep the group page free for discussion.
Scotian Hiker – We regularly hike trails throughout the province and take part in a variety of outdoor activities, and invite others to do the same. If you are looking to explore as well, you can either use this site as a guide to help you do your own thing, or you are welcome to join in on the group events offered here. Children who are able to keep up with the adults are invited to attend.
Valley Trekkers – Join the Valley Trekkers, member of the Canadian Volkssport Federation.
