Tag: coastal

  • Hiking Burntcoat Head Park in Nova Scotia

    WARNING- Be aware of the tide schedule

    We took advantage of the low tide along the Bay of Fundy and drove up to Burntcoat head park to walk along the ocean floor. for a few hours before the tide came back.

    The Bay of Fundy tides this time of year drop from 44ft to 4ft, allowing you to walk along the ocean floor in several spots. Depending on which are, you either walk in mud or hard rock.

    Burntcoat head park is such a location, settled in 1796, there were three lighthouses that kept boats away from the coastline. The original lighthouse was actually on the tea pot island which is the landmark feature of the park, but once erosion were down the connection, another lighthouse was rebuilt more inland.

    The lighthouse now contains a museum and you can climb up to the top free of admission. Recent park upgrades now include flush toilets, picnic tables, chairs and redeveloped stone stair down to the ocean floor.

    The hiking path at the park is a looped path through the garden and lookout spots. When you arrive during low tide, then you will be able to get down to the ocean floor.

    You’ll be able to venture about for a few hours, but once the tide comes in, you absolutely need to make it back to shore. The rising tides along the Bay of Fundy are deceptive and quick.

    Expect to hike a good 4-5km depending on your route and how far out you are able to go at low tide.

    burntcoat head park hiking track file

     

    waypoints at park

     

    View this track via google maps

    Learn more about the park via http://www.burntcoatheadpark.ca/



  • Blomidon Provincial Park Hiking Trails

    Blomidon Provincial park is a great micro adventure location as you have several options for activities. You can do some camping at the top of the Cape or walk the ocean floor at the day-use beach section.

    On a cool spring day, we attempted the do the “big” loop starting at the bottom and hiking along sections of Joudrey, Loop, Woodlands and Borden Brook Trails. The total distance is close to 13kms and features a BIG uphill at the start, but once you reach the top, the elevation change is moderate with mostly flat for a lot of segments. You’ll be walking a section of the Joudrey trail along the campsite access roads.

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    Jodrey Trail
    5.6 km (3.5 mi.) | Moderately Challenging 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

    Look-Off Trail
    900 m (0.6 mi.)| Basic trail
    The trail climbs through sugar maple and yellow birch forest reaches 160 m, offering views of the Minas Basin and Five Islands Provincial Park, 24 km (15 mi.) across the bay.

    The Woodland Trail
    2.5 km (1.3 mi.) | Basic trail
    A pleasant walk through a mixed forest of sugar maple, yellow birch, white spruce and balsam fir.

    Borden Brook Trail
    3.5 km (2.2 mi.) | Moderately Challenging Trail
    Located about halfway between the day-use area and the park office. The trail climbs to a height of 185 m crossing Borden Brook, with a short walk to a waterfall.

    More about the park:
    http://parks.novascotia.ca/content/blomidon-hiking-trails

  • Cape Chignecto Day Use Hiking Trails in Eatonville

    We headed out to the Day Use trails at Cape Chignecto Provincial Park – Eatonville section. The visitor centre was closed on our visit in early October, but we still were able to enter the park and explore the almost 6 kms of trails along the coastline of the Bay of Fundy.
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  • Cape d’Or

    Quick stop at Cape d’Or lighthouse & Restaurant. This was a manned lighthouse until it was automatized in the 1980’s. Today, the light keeper’s house is now a restaurant and guest house.

    Samuel de Champlain visited the Bay of Fundy in 1604 and legend has it that he named this area of cliffs Cap D’Or because the copper reminded him of gold. However, the copper was known to the local Mi’kmaq far before that time. I have heard that artifacts have been found, but have not seen any myself.

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  • Graves Island Provincial Park

    Quick video on the new walking trail that was built in 2011 at Graves Island Provincial Park.

    I’ve done some research on the island, and sharing the text I’ve used to create an earth cache.

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