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Outdoor Nova Scotia: Features ... an In-depth Look at 'The Great Outdoors' in Nova Scotia!
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Wilderness
Walks in Nova Scotia by Danielle Wharton The Port L'Hebert Pocket Wilderness (the first of a four-part series) How do I get there? This popular wilderness park is in south-western Queens County on Highway #103 between Port Joli and Granite Village, Nova Scotia. It's about 30 minutes from the towns of Liverpool or Shelburne depending on whether you are traveling west or east on the highway. En route, visitors may want to explore scenic coastal regions of The Lighthouse Route, especially beautiful in autumn. Services: This small park features a parking lot, washrooms, picnic tables and fresh water that can be pumped by hand from the well. A 3 kilometre 'loop' walking trail leads to the shores of Port L'Hebert Harbour and the Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary located there. Description:
September 22nd was a beautiful day, but definitely cool, marking the autumn equinox. The weather was in sharp contrast to the warm temperatures Nova Scotians had experienced most of the summer. Beginning from the picnic area, the trail winds through a forest quite typical of South Western Nova Scotia. Having been burned by severe fires years earlier, the forest is regenerating with hardwoods, making it particularly beautiful this time of the year (the leaves were just beginning to turn). The undergrowth however, have begun to change, the sarsaparilla, ferns and the 'wild flower' leaves, have turned golden and brown. Recent rains have stimulated a sudden growth of all types of mushrooms which had been latent during our dry hot summer.
As the trail descends to the shoreline, things begin to change.
Suddenly, visitors are treated to several wooden benches and 'look-offs' Following a narrow path off the main trail, meanders a small brook, which empties into the harbour. Along here, a stand of poplar trees, reveals signs of gnawing beavers and unusual piles of clam shells. The origin of these shells is unknown but the harbour was once a very popular area with Mi'kmaq Indians. The ancient campsites of the Mi'kmaq dot the shoreline. Availability: The park is open 12 months of the year. Overall Impressions: A great destination for families and groups; an excellent trail to visit, especially in the fall. The trail will take about a half hour to an hour to cover, but remember it is fairly long and there are some steep hills. Rating: An Outdoor Nova Scotia recommended destination - 'moderate' level walk (a good workout, but not too strenuous). The Canada Agriculture Research Station Natural Park (second of a four part series) How do I get there? This park, known locally as "The Ravine", lies
adjacent to the Kentville Agricultural Center along Route1 on the outskirts of the town of
Kentville, Nova Scotia. Services: Unfortunately there are no services to compliment this lovely hiking trail. There is a large parking area but no garbage bins, washrooms, picnic tables, benches or interpretative information. The trail is about two kilometres long and is not graveled, so it can be muddy in spots. Description: This small natural park is on land owned and managed by the Kentville Agricultural Center. The center itself is comprised of several buildings, beautiful grounds and gardens. There is as well as an old homestead, now the Blair House Museum. I arrived at the park on what turned out to be a beautiful and busy Sunday afternoon. The parking lot was nearly full. Several people with whom I spoke indicated it was their first visit. The trail began with beautifully mowed green fields
decorated with several varieties of huge hardwoods. From the comfort of the warm sunshine, the trail led to a cool canopy of old growth forest which was mostly hemlock. Throughout the walk, a small brook was always present, and on several occasions crossed the trail. During much of the journey the trail followed a valley formed from two steep embankments. This led one to wonder if the trail lay on an ancient river bed, and if hundreds of years ago, the persistent little brook may have been a ragging river. There were interesting geological formations in the soil on the side of the embankments, although it was difficult to trace their origins. There was not much wildlife to be seen during the walk, although one could hardly avoid a persistent red squirrel, some nattering nuthatches and chickadees and few juncos. In anticipation of a waterfall finale, the trail climbed one of the steep embankments and soon, there was a 100 foot drop, but no water! The dry, hot summer had taken its toll. The trail petered out here, eventually ending in a residential area. I was then compelled to retrace my steps for the journey home. Availability: The park is open 12 months of the year. Overall Impressions: A good family outing, but be careful, some parts of the trail are steep and potentially dangerous. Rating: An Outdoor Nova Scotia recommended destination - "moderate" level walk ( a nice walk, but walking the embankments is real work). Wilderness Walks in Nova Scotia - parts three and four, CLICK HERE! Danielle Wharton lives in Port Joli, Nova Scotia. Danielle is a seasonal employee at the Thomas Raddall Provincial Park and operates her own adventure tour company, Coastal Trails Hiking Tours. Ms. Wharton is a regular contributor to Outdoor Nova Scotia.
Wiilderness Walks in Nova Scotia, first published September, 1997. Designed & maintained by Outdoor Nova Scotia, Liverpool, N.S. BOT 1KO. Material protected by copyright. Last revised: December 29, 2001 |
Nearly 20 years ago, The Bowater Mersey Paper Company (Brooklyn),
created this public park on forest land owned by the company. Bowater is one of the
largest landowners in the province. The park is serviced on a daily basis with well
maintained gravel trails and boardwalks throughout.
One couldn't help but notice the enormous boulders scattered along the trail,
as if placed there by some huge hand. These boulders, known by geologists as
"erratics", were dropped here thousands of years ago during the last ice age, as
the huge mountains of ice slowly melted. Now, they are decorated with varieties of lichen
that are centuries old.
along the harbour
shore. Signs posted by the Canadian Wildlife Service indicate the area is a protected bird
sanctuary. Canada Geese and many species of ducks come here for shelter and food during
the cold winter months. Mid- September however, is too early to experience the excitement
of seeing and hearing hundreds of Canada Geese just yards from shore.
For visitors and local residents alike the park is a convenient
stopover when traveling the Evangeline Trial in the Annapolis Valley.
The colourful landscape was more an
image of summer than fall. Scads of beautiful blue asters lined the trail as it meandered
through an old field.
Take
me to the 
