Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality

Register for the NS Hiking & Snowshoeing Summit Jan. 28

2011-12-12T13:40:00.000-04:00

Hike Nova Scotia invites individuals and groups with an interest in hiking, walking and snowshoeing to the first annual Nova Scotia Hiking & Snowshoeing Summit.

This one-day event will take place on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site in Maitland Bridge.

The Summit is a celebration of Nova Scotia 's hiking culture, which includes sharing best practices, stories and networking opportunities. It will help us grow a hiking, walking and snowshoeing culture in the province. Space is limited, so register early to reserve your spot.

Check out the Summit flyer for a draft agenda, registration link, directions and more here: http://tiny.cc/pn05f.

Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia Videos

2011-10-14T09:31:00.001-03:00

While I am hiking I take many pictures, sometimes more than 100 on a particularly scenic trail. And on most trails I also take a short video, usually of between 30 sec. to one minute. I have been fortunate to visit some exceptionally beautiful locations, and for many of the trails I worry it might be the final time I will be able to hike them.

I have decided to post some of my videos - or who knows, maybe eventually all of them - on You Tube. Each video will be titled, "Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia", which will be followed by the trail's name. I am posting these under the name "hikerhaynes".

Not every trail is exciting or especially scenic, so neither are their videos. You might wonder why I have posted some those less dramatic films, but what you see will in every case be a fair representation of what you will encounter along the trail. And sometimes that is just a quiet walk through the forest - but that is ok too. Hope you enjoy whatever you view, and that it might inspire you to chose to hike a little more often.

Fall around the corner - Great Hiking!

2011-09-22T08:52:00.000-03:00

Although the end of summer can never be celebrated in a country like Canada, where the winters too often seem endless, nevertheless fall is the time of year that many hikers consider the best time to be exploring. True, the days are much shorter, but by the end of October there are still more than 10 hours of daylight - usually enough for any hike. And although temperatures at night may fall below freezing, during the day, especially in September, temperatures rise above 15 - very comfortable.

So I wish to make a few suggestions for some great fall hiking in the HRM.

Coastal hiking is always wonderful along the Atlantic coastline near Halifax, and I could suggest any number of options. However, for those who might only have time for an afternoon's outing, or wish for a short walk, I suggest you consider Polly's Cove on the St. Margaret's Bay peninsula. This 3 km informal footpath meanders along the shoreline in the coastal barrens near more well-known Peggy's Cove. If the ocean is calm you may walk along the exposed rocks at water level; if it is stormy, you can stay on the tops of the granite ridges. [pg. 147-149]

Those looking for an east stroll where they may view the changing colour of the leaves might consider a visit to Dollar Lake Provincial Park, nestled in the interior of the HRM near the Halifax Airport. With the end of summer the park's gates are closed where it connects with Highway 212. As a result, an 8 km walk may be had by following the park's access roads from the highway to the picnic grounds and the camping areas. Along the way, you will pass through hillsides covered predominantly by hardwoods, and have access to the lakeside. [pg. 129-131]

And for those who would prefer a more rugged trek, the Admiral Lake loop near Musquodoboit Harbour should both exercise your legs and please your eyes. Starting and ending with a gentle stroll along a former railbed, this trail provides a middle passage filled with steep hills, commanding views, and rugged footing. At 10 km in length, with more than 5 km of backcountry footpath, you will probably need at least three hours to complete it. However, you will probably be more than satisfied that whatever effort was required was worthwhile. [pg. 71-74]

But whatever type of outdoor experience you enjoy - except, maybe, sunbathing - this is the best time of year for it. Enjoy!

Error Found - Old Annapolis Road

2011-08-08T10:37:00.001-03:00

Well folks, it looks as if the first confirmed error in Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality has been found and communicated to me through this blog. It looks as if I made a huge mistake in the GPS coordinates for the Old Annapolis Road. Somehow, instead of its own latitude and longitude, I repeated those of the Charles MacDonald Sportspark - a considerable distance away!

Please accept my apologies; the error was mine in the writing and proof-reading phase of the book preparation.

The correct coordinates for the start of the Old Annapolis Road route are: N44° 45” 08.4’ N63° 56” 01.5’.

My thanks go to Tim Peach, who sent me notice of this on August 7, 2011.

Short Summer Coastal Walk - Pennant Point

2011-06-14T10:59:00.001-03:00

Good weather has been scarce this spring, but that only makes us appreciate even more the few days that have been sunny and warm. Sometimes, in coastal Canada, the window of opportunity - the time between when the fog lifts and the when next storm rolls in - is measured in only hours. When the weather is like this, if we want to venture outdoors we need something a hike where we can drive in minutes, not hours.

Let me introduce you to Pennant Point: A slender finger of granite extending into the Atlantic Ocean, located near the mouth of Halifax Harbour close to the picturesque village of Sambro, Pennant Point features sandy beaches, a short managed trail, an extended coastal back country track - and it is barely a 30 minute drive from the Armdale Rotary on Highway 349.

A popular recreation spot for decades, the beach area is more well known as Crystal Crescent Beach, and is a provincial park. Most of the remainder of Pennant Point has been incorporated into the Terence Bay Wilderness Protected Area, and is protected from further development. A few pockets of private property remain, but most are close to the small community of East Pennant.

Long before I hiked anywhere else in the province, I walked the coastline at Pennant Point. This area enjoys so much: a gleaming white sand beach, rugged and rocky coastline, magnificent coastal scenery, and a sense of isolation and wilderness remarkable in an area so close to the city.

In Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality I profile only the developed trail from the parking area, behind the beaches, until it ends at the rocks bordering the small nude beach at Mackeral Cove. However, for those who do not mind wet feet and a little scrambling over granite rocks, an informal footpath continues along the rugged coastline to the very tip of Pennant Point. I could gush about the scenery, which has always captivated and inspired me, but I will leave you to discover that for yourself.

So this summer, whenever - if ever - the clouds part for a few hours and you feel the urge to venture outdoors, head for Pennant Point. Maybe, like me, you will discover a place that will draw you back for the rest of your life. And maybe even go when it is cloudy. The scenery is still affecting.

Hike Nova Scotia Annual Meeting & Hike: May 15

2011-05-02T19:03:00.001-03:00

The Hike NS Annual General Meeting will be held at the Shearwater Aviation Museum in Dartmouth on Sunday, May 15.

A guided hike will be held beforehand at 10 am on the nearby Shearwater Flyer Trail, at noon a free lunch will be provided for those who RSVP (info@hikenovascotia.ca) and at 1 pm the AGM will begin.

Find details and directions here: Hike NS AGM Flyer

I will see you there.

Spring Hike - Admiral Lake Loop

2011-03-14T14:42:00.001-03:00

As spring arrives in Nova Scotia - rarely quickly - hiking can become somewhat of a challenge. Most of the terrain near Halifax is made up of granite and other protruding rocks with a thin layer of soil, usually found in bogs, barely covering them. With the snow mostly melted, those convenient snowshoes have to be stored away, but the ground is not dry enough yet for easy walking.

Nevertheless, I do not think you should not avoid all trails at this time of year. After all, with the warmer weather will also come black flies and mosquitoes, and although walking will be drier and easier, there will be those other, off-setting problems. Instead, for avid hikers consider selecting one of the more challenging trails, away from the coast with its cold winds and frequent April rains squalls, for your weekend walk.

I recommend the Admiral Lake loop, which features a jaunt to the edge of the Whites Lake Wilderness Protected area. This rugged 10-km loop, which climbs several granite hills, begins and ends in the village of Musquodoboit Harbour on the abandoned rail line. Hikers have the choice of warming up along this gentle path for 1.8 or 2.5 km before turning into the vegetation to their right and beginning their trek.

If the section along the rail-line was too easy, what you face once you leave it is anything but. From either of the two access points to the loop, you enter into a work of jumbled rocks and steeply climbing hillsides. There are so many rocks here, that I often think that one come hop from one to the next for the entire length of the trail, and never need to touch dirt.

But for those who enjoy a grunt over rough terrain, this is just fine!

And you will be rewarded for your effort. The Admiral Lake Loop features numerous, striking look-offs. There are picturesque views of the Musquodoboit River Valley, of Admiral Lake, and of the surrounding granite uplands. Not only that, but other interesting attractions, such as "The Cave" await discovery. (And admit it, doesn't the chance to see "Skull Rock" excite your sense of adventure just a little?)

The Admiral Lake Loop in not suitable for everyone. Even those who consider themselves fairly fit should allow extra time to complete this trail. However, I think that once you complete it, it will become one of your favourite hikes available within the HRM, and a suitable choice for a spring-like April scramble.

No Corrections - or Comments - Yet Received

2011-01-18T10:08:00.000-04:00

Happy New Year everyone. I hope that you getting outdoors and not permitting the winter weather to keep you housebound. (I did a 15km run at -25 [wind chill] Sunday morning with the Ottawa Orienteering Club. The hardcore added another 5km through unploughed forest trails.)

One of the reasons I established this blog was to provide updates to the routes that I have profiled in Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality. Some might think that unnecessary, especially when the book was only published in July 2010, but you might be surprised how often something changes, even on a popular managed trail. Bridges wash out, facilities are added, and forest fires occasionally shut trails. So, with the aid of comments submitted to this blog, I thought that I might be able to update readers on any variations on the ground from what is presented in the book.

However, to this point nobody has commented on any changes that they might have noticed. It is possible that I made no mistakes in the book (and anyone who has written a guidebook will know that this is impossible), or that they have yet to be submitted. I am guessing it is the later, so I would like to remind everyone that if they notice something different on the trail from what I wrote in the book, please make a comment on any story on the blog. I will review it and post it for the benefit of all other users of Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality.

Enjoy your snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Winter in the Halifax Regional Municipality

2010-12-14T18:40:00.001-04:00

When winter arrives in Nova Scotia, planning for outdoor activities can be more of a challenge than you might expect. In most of the country, winter means cold and snow, and that can be true of the HRM, but the problem is ... not always, and not necessarily everywhere.

Don't be confused, the explanation is quite simple, even if the implications are not. Nova Scotian weather is affected both by the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean and air currents that regularly push relatively warm air up the Atlantic coastline of North America from the Caribbean. As a result, there is a higher degree of variability in temperatures than normal in other parts of the continent, particularly along the coastline.

Snowfall amounts vary tremendously within the HRM. Annual accumulations at Dollar Lake Provincial Park are more than 100cm higher than those in Halifax. In addition, coastal winds scour headlands, keeping them nearly bare, while the continuous freeze/thaw/freeze cycle means that ground conditions are often icy.

Consequently, snowshoeing is the recommended mode of travel when visiting coastal parks such as Taylor Head. Although there are areas, sheltered from the wind, where the snow can be deep, usually it is fairly shallow and slippery. The metal grips of snowshoes are ideal in these circumstances. Cross-country skiers should head inland, to Oakfield and Dollar Lake parks. Here conditions are often superb, even if the tracks are not groomed.

In any case, whether visiting coastline or inland, be certain to check the weather forecast before you venture outdoors. Conditions can change rapidly, and it is vital for your safety that you be prepared for whatever a Nova Scotia winter can throw at you. Enjoy!

The Bluff Trail: Superb Wilderness Hiking

2010-09-13T13:08:00.006-03:00

Residents of Halifax may not know it, but a trek into of one of Nova Scotia's most extensive wilderness hiking trails is only a Metro Transit ride away. The Bluff Wilderness Hiking Trail, featuring more than 30km of footpaths reaching deep into the interior of the St. Margarets Bay peninsula, can be accessed from the Route 21 stop on Forestglen Drive at its intersection with Fraser Road. Simply follow the Beechville Lakeside Timberlea Trail, in the direction of Hubbards, for about 1.5km, and you will reach The Bluff Trail's trailhead.

Organized as a series of four interconnected loops, The Bluff Trail provides routes of whatever distance is desired. The shorest, the Pot Lake Loop, is approximately 9km. The Indian Hill Loop requires almost double the walking.

Most of The Bluff Trail runs through ecologically sensitive barrens, with the path being quite narrow and winding as it negotiates the complicated contours of the rugged landscape. It is critical that hikers stay on the path, given the sensitivity of the area, and the trail has been carefully routed to avoid wet areas and especially vulnerable places. Walkers are expected to pack out what they carry in, to help preserve the pristine appearance of the district.

In order to complete the two furthest sections, The Bluff Loop and Hay Marsh Loop, more than one day may be required. As the trails are located on Crown Land, but not designated as park land, camping is permitted. However, the Woodens River Watershed Environmental Organization (WRWEO), an environmental group dedicated to preserving and enhancing environmental values, who developed the trail system, discourage camping because few people know how to how to camp without partly damaging the area in which they camp.

If you think you might want to stay overnight along the fragile and sensitive Bluff Trail, WRWEO - and I - encourage you to become familiar with, and practice Leave No Trace principles whenever and wherever you camp.

The purpose behind the construction of The Bluff Trail is to allow the Woodens River community and the public generally to become aware of the extraordinary natural assets of this area. Those who love the wilderness believe that awareness is the first step in protection, and that this awareness will help preserve the area from expanding and encroaching urban development.

The Pot Lake Loop, the first of the four stacked loops, is profiled in Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality. For more information about The Bluff Trail, see WRWEO. I encourage everyone to explore this this wonderful trail, superb wilderness hiking at your doorstep (or at least, at a nearby bus stop.)

New Information about Lyme Disease in Nova Scotia

2010-08-17T10:04:00.000-03:00

On page 14 of the 2nd edition of Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality, I state that the American Dog Tick is present in Nova Scotia, but carries "no known dangerous diseases." Although this was apparently true when I wrote the manuscript in early 2010, a recently released study makes this now incorrect.

In an article published on August 11 in the Chronicle-Herald, it said: "Provincial records, kept since 2002, show that there have been 50 cases of Lyme disease treated in Nova Scotia, and 39 of those inflicted got the illness in this province."

"Lyme disease is an inflammatory illness causing swelling of the joints, fever, fatigue, headache and muscle aches. It can lead to heart problems and chronic joint trouble if left untreated", and symptoms may take years to appear. They are often difficult to correctly diagnose as Lyme Disease, due to their symptomatic similarity with other health problems and the fact that they arise long after the tick incident has been forgotten.

These cases of Lyme Disease are attributed to the blacklegged tick. This tick, according to the article, in confirmed to be established in Melmerby Beach, Kings Head, Pine Tree and Egerton in Pictou County, Admiral Cove in Bedford, Gunning Cove in Shelburne County and Heckmans Island, Blue Rocks, Garden Lots and First Peninsula in Lunenburg County.

Link to article : Chronicle Herald

Link to tick information: Public Health Agency of Canada

According to the article, "residents and visitors to Nova Scotia [are advised] to take precautions whenever they travel in wooded or grassy areas by staying on well-worn paths and tucking shirts into pants and pant legs into socks in order to avoid exposing skin."

Coastal Hiking #1

2010-08-11T10:05:00.000-03:00

One of the best features of the outdoors of the Halifax Regional Municipality is its close proximity to excellent walking routes on the Atlantic Ocean's coastline. The possibilities are many, and there are options available for people of any fitness level. Here are just a few.

The most well-known to residents, with the possible exception of the harbour boardwalk in the downtown, must be Point Pleasant Park. Situated at the tip of the peninsula, this popular park faces the mouth of Halifax Harbour, and walkers on its trails often are treated to views of commercial traffic on its way to one of the city's container ports, or of Canadian navy ships heading to or from its principal port. Of course, you might also be lucky enough to see the Bluenose.

Few people realize that there are paths surrounding the York Redoubt National Historic Site. This fortress, sited on a ridge, faces McNabs Island at the narrowest point of Halifax Harbour, opposite the lighthouse at Hangman's Beach. The view from the ramparts is always impressive, both looking back towards the urban centre or outward into the Atlantic Ocean. However, if you exit through the Sally Port, you can follow the former road down the hillside to the water's edge near the North Shore Battery. Side trails provide access onto the rocky shoreline.

One of my favourite hikes, for almost 30 years now, is Pennant Point. Long before I thought of myself as a "hiker", I would head to this beautiful stretch of coastline, which offers both outstanding white sand beaches and rugged granite headlands, and spend an entire day relaxing to the every present sound of waves breaking against the rocks. A formal trail has been developed that connects all the beaches. After that, if you choose to continue, you must scramble over a jumble of rocks interspersed with areas of boggy vegetation. (But it's worth it!)

One of the "must see" locations near Halifax for any visitor is Peggys Cove. Its iconic lighthouse, perched on the massive, smooth rocks that protect the tiny fishing harbour, must be one of the most photographed structures in Canada. Those wishing to experience the coastal barrens around Peggys Cove, but without sharing the rocks with thousands of tourists, should consider a trip to nearby Polly Cove. Starting by following the old road from the highway to the ruins of a former fish plant, this route traces the harsh coastline along exposed rock and virtually treeless hillsides between the communities of Peggys Cove and West Dover. It is a gorgeous area, and you just might have it all to yourself.

Launch Week a Success!

2010-07-18T18:40:00.000-03:00

If I do say so myself, all the launch week activities for Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality, 2nd edition, were a smashing success. From the launch at the Library at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, to the presentation at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History a week later, event after event was well-attended by friendly, enthusiastic people.

Frankly, despite it only being a few days after the last activity, the week passed in somewhat of a blur, and I am already forgetting some of the details. I visited Halifax for less than eight days, and with one exception - which I used to put together the final hour-long presentation - every day contained at least one scheduled event, several had three or more. There was the launch, of course, numerous signings at various stores and the Mountain Equipment Co-op, three presentations, and several newspaper, television, and radio interviews.

One of the highlights, from my perspective, was the walk on the Cole Harbour Salt Marsh Trail. This is a wonderful path to walk at any time, but it was especially so on this occasion because it was attended by so many friends. I cannot properly express how delighted I was to see so many familiar faces, and to share a few hours with them on such a beautiful trail. Regrettably, a scheduled hike on the Admiral Lake Loop, a somewhat more advanced trek, was rained out the following day.

There are many people to thank for making launch week happen. The publisher, Goose Lane, coordinated all the various activities and worked diligently to ensure that they were well advertised. The Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History very kindly agreed, with exceptionally short notice. to host a presentation on July 14. Various Chapters and Coles book shops and Mountain Equipment Co-op arranged signings, and made me feel welcome while I was there. The Halifax Regional Municipality's trail groups let me speak at their meeting. In these and other activities, many people were involved.

My greatest thanks, however, must go to Hike Nova Scotia. This not-for-profit organization, only founded in 2007, is undertaking the ambitious task of improving hiking opportunities throughout the entire province. In my case, Hike Nova Scotia generously agreed to co-host the launch and other activities throughout the week, and their board and volunteers put in quite a bit of time to make everything work smoothly. Debra Ryan, Janet Barlow, and Brian Mrkonjic, in particular, stand out.

Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality is now available in stores throughout the region, and based on the comments I received during launch week, it is being well-received. I hope that you get the opportunity to look it over, and get out and hike some of the trails.

And, should you wish to make a comment about one or more of the trails, maybe submitting a photograph showing your hike, please send it in to the blog.

Until then, enjoy the summer and enjoy the trails in Halifax Regional Municipality.

Launch Scheduled - July 7

2010-06-25T10:41:00.000-03:00

2010-06-20T15:15:00.001-03:00

I have a slightly different list myself for what I think people should carry when they go out for a hike, but this one from Coast Mountain Sports is worthwhile considering.

What do you take?

Draft Cover!

2010-03-05T10:42:00.002-04:00

Coyotes kill woman in Cape Breton

2009-10-28T09:52:00.008-03:00

Something extremely rare in North America has happened in Nova Scotia: Coyotes have attacked and killed a hiker in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. This happened on the popular Skyline Trail on October 27. Two coyotes were involved in the attack. One was killed shortly afterwards, and a search is being undertaken for the second.

In fact, coyote attacks of any kind are unusual, and most outdoor enthusiasts, myself included, have seen coyotes on dozens of occasions and have never felt threatened. The picture accompanying this article was taken be me in Arizona, and shows a typical western coyote. Eastern coyotes tend to be larger and darker, suggesting cross-breeding with eastern timber wolves. Coyotes only arrived in Nova Scotia in the 1970s, having spread across the continent from west to east.

There is considerable speculation on the reason for this nearly unprecedented attack, and further details about this story will be of interest to outdoor people as they become available. Additional information may be found at: Chronicle Herald.

October Hiking

2009-10-04T09:49:00.003-03:00

For me, October is the best month for hiking around Ottawa. The stifling humidity of the summer is a distant memory, even the most hardy mosquitoes have succumbed to the cooler temperatures, and the days, while much shorter, crackle with a crisp freshness that invigorates both mind and body.

But best of all, by October the millions of hardwood trees that carpet the sheltered parks and interior of the HRM go through their annual transformation from the rich green of summer to the colourful quilt of yellow, orange, and red of fall. This natural tapestry generates wonder and curiousity from even those who never venture into the forest at any other time of the year, and local trails, especially in nearby Laurie and Oakfield parks, throng with walkers. So do not think of hiking as only a summer activity, but expand your range to include trips in October as well.

What is "Degree of Difficulty"

2009-09-21T12:53:00.003-03:00

All the trails profiled in Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality are assigned a numerical rating from 1-3 that indicates my evaluation of their degree of difficulty. A trail with a rating of "1" indicates it as being suitable for all fitness and experience levels. A route listed as a "3" is recommended only for more experienced and fit outdoor people.

I assigned ratings based upon considerations of length, elevation change, condition of treadway, and signage. The base rating is founded on distance. Any trail up to 5-km is considered to be level "1", unless other characteristics, such as a steep climb, might increase its rating. Similarly, a trail from 5-10-km will be rated "2". No trail is rated "3" based only upon its length.

If the terrain over which the trail passes is rocky or difficult, or there is significant elevation change, the rating will be increased by one or even two levels. On the other hand, on level, paved or crushed stone covered routes such as rail-trails or municipal parks, the rating may be decreased by one level, even for longer routes.

Any hike rated as a "3" will include an indication of what qualifies them for this higher rating. And any route, regardless of distance, where more than basic navigation skills are required, will automatically receive a "3" rating.

Novices, or those wanting a family walk, should choose level "1" and "2" ranked hikes initially, and work up to higher rated routes as only they gain experience. This should ensure that the hiking experience you select is suitable for everyone.

Halifax/Dartmouth

2009-09-02T12:21:00.003-03:00

When many think of hiking trails, they envisage remote wilderness trekking far from urban development. In fact, the most heavily used off-road walking routes may always be found in city parks. Residents in Halifax probably need only think about their last weekend visit to Point Pleasant Park to recognize the validity of this assertion. On a sunny summer day, the paths near the water have almost as much traffic as Quinpool Road during rush hour.

Some would even argue that paths in the city are even more important than wilderness routes, as they provide essential green preserves for nearby residents and safe walking/biking places for children and families.

So it should be no surprise that 1/3 of the routes profiled in "Trails of HRM", a book designed for visitors, families with children, and new walkers, are found within the urban core.

Many of these will be familiar to long-term residents: Point Pleasant Park, Sir Sanford Fleming, Hemlock Ravine, and Shubie. However, there are others, such as the Mainland Linear Path, the Dartmouth Multi-Use, and Cole Harbour Herritage Park, that might be less well-known.

In fact, there are a variety of great walks available either in areas surrounded by housing or at the fringe of the urban area. The fairly new trail from Shubie Park along the shore of Lake Charles, for example, is a thoroughly delightful route that should be enjoyable for everyone.

Wherever possible, I have provided an indication of the nearest Metro Transit stop to the trailhead. City routes, in particular, should be accessible by transit.

Eastern Shore

2009-07-27T11:56:00.003-03:00

For the purposes of the book, I decided to consider the Halifax Regional Municipality in three distinct districts. I labelled these as Halifax/Dartmouth (although this includes several trails just outside the urban core), Central/South Shore (which includes Bedford/Sackville, everything toward Lunenburg County, Waverley and Grand Lake, and the Musquodoboit River Valley), and Eastern Shore (from Cole Harbour to Guysborough County). None of these areas provided better, or more challenging walking than the Eastern Shore.

Because of the superb beaches along this coastline, the province has created a number of provincial parks. Several of these, such as Clam Harbour, Lawrencetown, Martinique, and Taylor Head, are wonderful walking destinations. Some, particularly Martinique, provide a walk less along a developed trail than over long stretches of sandy beach, but are so scenic that few will be disappointed. Taylor Head, on the other hand, boasts an extensive trail system that should permit a full day's exploration for even the most experienced trekker.

With the creation of several wilderness protected areas among the rugged granite ridges of the eastern shore, and the supportive policies of the Department of Environment, the possibility was created for the development of new, outstanding hiking trail networks. Three of the the trails I selected for this book from this district, Crowbar Lake, Gibralter Hill, and the Admiral Lake Loop, fit this description. All developed by volunteers, these challenging routes are traditional narrow footpaths that work through the rugged, rocky slopes of the Atlantic interior. All three require fitness and determination to complete; all three will be among your favourites, as they are for me.

Two of the trails selected, Salt Marsh and Shearwater Flyer, have been created along the abandoned rail-line that extends from Dartmouth to Middle Musquodoboit. (You also walk portions of this in Lawrencetown, Admiral Lake, and Gibralter Hill). These are wider, level, and far gentler experiences than those in the wilderness protected areas, but no less scenic. Indeed, the Salt Marsh Trail has become an icon of the shoreline scenery of the province, and was the first trail outside the US featured by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in their magazine.

Finally, there is the short backcountry trail at Abrahams Lake, deep in the wooded interior of the Liscomb Game Sanctuary near Sheet Harbour. This is one of the oldest privately managed routes in the province, having been developed by a forest-industry company in the early 1970s. Abrahams Lake is also almost the only managed trail in this corner of the HRM.

These ten locations will all be profiled in the upcoming edition of "Trails of HRM". Most will be featured in their entirety. Others, such as Taylor Head and Crowbar Lake, will only outline a route that remains within the 10-km limit of the book. Taken together, these are an excellent mix of experiences, coastal and interior, easy or challenging. I hope that you are able to try them all.

How Were the Profiled Trails Selected?

2009-07-15T10:44:00.004-03:00

There are remarkably few managed trails within the Halifax Regional Municipality. The book will profile 30, but you might wonder how did I decide what to include, and what to leave out?

The first criteria that I used was to decide to include entries from every part of the municipality. That was a challenge, because although it would be fairly simple to profile all 30 trails close to the Halifax-Dartmouth urban core, the HRM is quite a bit more than the urban core and extends into areas, such as the Musqudoboit River Valley, that are a long drive from the "city". To be fair, I thought that an attempt needed to be made to include options everywhere in the municipality, even if the quality of experience for some of the listing might not be the best.

Fortunately, there has been tremendous work done in recent years, most often by volunteer community associations, to develop a network of walking/cycling paths in the HRM. As a result, the municipality actually contains some of the finest examples of wilderness hiking trails in the entire province. Add these to the beach walks available, the provincial parks, usually situated near lakes, and the municipal parks and trail systems, and there is actually a quite exciting range of options available.

To capture that diversity, I divided the municipality into three regions: Halifax-Dartmouth, Eastern Shore, and Central/South. In each of these regions I selected 10 listings, ensuring that there would be a trail found wherever you might live or visit.

Naturally, I was also concerned with what type of experience would be enjoyed by the hiker. I did not want every trail in the book to be the same. Ideally, I would want to have some routes that included climbs while having others that stayed mostly level. Winding forest footpaths are what I enjoy most, but I recognize that beginner hikers and groups of friends might like the wide corridors of rail trails. If possible, I wanted a loop route, but, as we know, many trails are only an "out-and-back" walk. And, of course, if a trail can take you to a lake, a waterfall, a look-off, or a good picnic site, that would ranked high on the list of what I wanted to include.

So essentially, the trails profiled in Trails of HRM were selected first for geographic location, but most importantly for the variety of experiences they provided.

And if you think that was easy, don't forget that in order to evaluate what trails would be included, I would need to walk every one of them, and many others that did not "make the cut". Of course, that hiking could be quite enjoyable as well, as you might discover when you try the trails that made it into the book..

Great New Trails!

2009-07-06T10:50:00.006-03:00

Hikers in the HRM should be pleased with the excellent new trails that have been developed in the past few years. There are two, in particular, that deserve special mention.

The Bluff Wilderness Hiking Trail is a supurb stacked loop system that delves deeply into the remote interior of the Chebucto peninsula. This provides rugged trekking, a slender footpath winding through the thick vegetation and rocky ridges of the peninsula's fire barrens. Trails of HRM will profile the Pot Lake loop, the first of four loops in the system, but a full 10-km of challenge.

The Crowbar Lake trail system, traversing the raised granite uplands around Porter's Lake, also offers single-track hiking that negotiates its way up and down rocky ridges and past pristine, undisturbed lakes. It has laso been designed as a stacked loop system, although requiring a much longer approach march to the first loop. In Trails of HRM, I will profile the trail as far a Granite Lake, which is a linear 9.5-km grunt.

These two trails systems, added to the excellent Grante Ridge and Admiral Lake loop trails in Musquodoboit Harbour, provide the HRM with some of the finest and most demanding hiking routes available in the entire province.

Big Changes in HRM Trails

2009-06-21T09:39:00.003-03:00

It will probably be no surprise to anyone that the greatest change I have noticed to the trails in the HRM is the damage caused by Hurricane Juan and Tropical Storm Noel. The first time that I rewalked Point Pleasant Park, Oakfield Provincial Park, Hemlock Ravine, and several others I was shocked - that is not too strong a word - by the extensive and transformative destruction of their forests.

In most cases it has been 10 years since I have hiked these areas, and because of the increasing interest in walking and hiking I had expected to see trail conditions improved from that time. Instead, many sections of trails in provincial parks still remain closed, six years after Juan, and on many of the trails that are open they pass through extensive areas of truly devastated landscape.

My compliments to the trail managers who have surmounted those challenges to reopen their trails. It may never look the same in our lifetime, but viewing the storm-ravaged woodlands cannot help but remind us of the power of natural forces.

Gibralter Hill Trail

2009-06-16T06:55:00.006-03:00

A new addition to Trails of HRM will be the short but challenging Gibralter Hill Trail. Located at the north end of the Musquodoboit Rail Trail, this 2.5-km loop features a steep climb up a rugged granite slope to a scenic viewing sight.

You might need to rest more than once during the ascent from the parking area, but the view from the top is worth your effort.

Updated Edition in Development

2009-04-26T11:18:00.002-03:00

A revised and updated edition of "Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality" has been scheduled for a spring 2010 publication and launch. While the exact date has not been established, it is currently planned for April.

Details on the precise date and location for the book launch will be published when available. If you are interested in attending the launch, please provide me with your name and e-mail address.

If you have suggestions for trails that you think should be included, I would be delighted to hear about them.