Halifax 
Hawk Beach – Cape Sable Island; Credit: Dennis Jarvis/Flickr
Home to Cape Sable Island, several beaches and trails, and some unique outdoor adventures, there’s never a dull moment in Shelburne. It’s one of the smaller Nova Scotia counties, so with a bit of careful planning, you could explore this whole list over a long weekend trip.
Walk From Bay to Harbour
Starting off with a lovely 12.3km trail, the Barrington Bay to Wood’s Harbour Trail takes you through town and forest as you walk past the coast. With several access points along the way you can walk as far as you want, with lots of places to stop and relax. This trail is well known as a birdwatcher’s trail, and it also has a wide diversity of flora to observe. It’s multi-use and lovely, so if you’re up for a long walk this is a great place to start.
Cost: Free
Address: Highway 330, Barrington Passage
Website
A Birdy Beach
Crow Neck is a bit of an odd name for a beach, but it’s certainly home to enough birds. An out of the way beach, Crow Neck Beach is better for shore activities than swimming. If you go beach combing, you’re likely to find treasure of various kinds (pretty rocks, sea glass, driftwood, etc.). And of course, it’s a good place for bird watching, not least because it’s home to piping plovers, an endangered species of birds (so don’t approach too closely).
Cost: Free
Address: Baccaro Road, Baccaro
Phone: 902-637-2015
Website
Have a Long Beach Day
You’ll want to spend an entire day at Daniel’s Head Beach, and they’ve got the facilities to make that easy. The beach is miles of white sand beside sparkling blue water, so there’ll be plenty of room to make beach camp and to walk in the sand. The swimming is good here, and like Crow Neck you’ll see birds aplenty. It’s also a great place to look for sea glass with so much shoreline, so keep your eyes peeled!
Cost: Free
Address: Daniel’s Head Road, Cape Sable Island
Phone: 902-740-4764
Website
Find Your Footing
Footbridge Trail, fittingly enough, can only be traversed on foot. The trail crosses the Sable River, where you’ll find a hundred-year-old swinging bridge. You’ll find a panel by the bridge that tells you about the history of the Mi’kmaq people in the Sable River area. The trail is 2km round trip on flat terrain, so it’s a nice easy walk (unless you’re afraid of bridges, but it’s a pretty short bridge so you can close your eyes). If you want a longer walk, the Footbridge Trail connects to the Tom Tigney Trail (see below) at Highway 103.
Cost: Free
Address: Near East Sable Road, Sable River
Website
Play and Splash
Named for a dedicated community member, Graham’s Park & Splash Pad is the perfect place to take the little ones on a hot summer day. The playground equipment is simple and appropriate for children toddler-age and up, and there’s a splash pad to cool off. There are picnic tables and benches scattered around so you can take a break and have some snacks, so you can get needed outdoor time. On a low-energy day, a playground in a new place is just the right blend of familiar and adventure to keep everyone’s spirits up.
Cost: Free
Address: 35 King Street, Shelburne
Phone: 902-875-2991
Website
Find the Drowned Forest
Another bird-named beach, the Hawk Beach is known as an Important Bird Area on Cape Sable Island. There’s even more to see at this beach at the southern tip of Nova Scotia, though. You get an excellent view of the Cape Sable Lighthouse, which is the tallest in Nova Scotia, and you’ll get to explore the drowned forest at low tide. These petrified trees are 1,500 years old and still hold the original soil between their roots, creating a haunting memory of times long past.
Cost: Free
Address: Cape Sable Island
Phone: 902-637-2015
Website
Camp on the Islands
Credit: The Islands Provincial Park
The Islands Provincial Park allows you to stay in the heart of nature while remaining close to the rest of Shelburne County. Right across the harbour from the town of Shelburne, the Islands has 63 wooded camp sites. Pets are welcome, and they’ve got plenty of amenities to keep you comfy. Some recommended activities on the island are hiking, canoeing/kayaking, and fishing, so get ready for outdoor fun to start the moment you step out of your tent!
Cost: 27$ for camping
Address: 183 Islands Park Road, Highway 3, Reid’s Hill
Phone: 902-875-4304 or 902-648-3540 or 888-544-3434
Website
Visit a Pond and Beach
This is an interesting beach because it’s called Johnston’s Pond. Johnston’s Pond is right next to the beach, which explains the name, and you’re welcome to visit either. This beach and pond combo is highly recommended for birdwatchers thanks to conservation projects—it’s a critical habitat for Sandpipers, Piping Plovers, and Harlequin ducks. Be mindful of your feathered friends as you enjoy this beautiful spot, and take only pictures and video.
Cost: Free
Address: Shelburne
Website
Cross the Wind Chime Bridge
The salt marshes of Nova Scotia have a unique beauty, and the Jordan River Trail will take you through some lovely examples. This 2.6 km trail takes you across the Jordan River and into the salt marshes, where you can see the local flora and fauna. The bridge in itself is very special, because thanks to Hayward Meisner, there are wind chimes along the bridge as part of an outdoor art project.
Cost: Free
Address: Hayden’s Road, Jordan River Trail
Website
Visit the Animals’ Beach
If you follow the Sable River to its mouth, you’ll find Louis Head Beach. Another designated habitat for the Piping Plover, this kilometre-long beach is perfect for a pretty beach walk. You’re sure to see plenty of pretty birds, but you’re also likely to see footprints of other mammals at the beach. Who knows? If you go early in the morning and stay very quiet, you might just see the deer or racoon making those tracks.
Cost: Free
Address: Close to 1668 West Middle Sable Road, West Middle Sable
Website
Go to Boardwalk Avenue
There is a causeway that takes you to Cape Sable Island where you’ll be able to see boats come in and out. And the best place to observe this and enjoy a nice picnic is the McGray Avenue Boardwalk and gazebo!!! Yes, there’s an example of my favourite building just beside the causeway, where you can have a picnic before you explore the boardwalk and beach. When you’re there, look for the fishing equipment pile, you’ll know it when you see it.
Cost: Free
Address: 48 McGray Avenue, North East Point
Website
The Twin Beaches
Beaches don’t often have siblings, but Roseway and Round Bay Beach are the exceptions: they’re twins! They’re separated by a thin ribbon of freshwater from the wetlands, but it’s easy to walk across from one to the other, especially at low tide. Whichever twin you choose, you’ll find great swimming and exploring opportunities. And of course, lots of birds, as this is yet another habitat for the Piping Plover.
Cost: Free
Address: Beach Road, Shelburne
Website
Find Solitude at Stoney Island
Cape Sable Island is a fairly secluded part of Nova Scotia, especially since it’s right at the southern tip. If you’re looking for seclusion on the secluded island, you can find it at Stoney Island Beach. It’s a big and beautiful beach with breathtaking sunsets and plenty of room for all. The silvery sand makes it perfect for photography and beach walks, while the water is great for swimming. Bring a picnic and enjoy a semi-private beach day.
Cost: Free
Address: Stoney Island, Cape Sable Island
Phone: 902-637-2015 ext. 237
Website
Get Sandy at the Hills
Credit: Visit Barrington
Sand Hills Beach Provincial Park is well named. There are huge dunes all along this 2.5 km white sand beach (note: do not climb on the dunes, they’re for looking only). Thanks to the sand flats in the water, the water is warmer than the other beaches in the area. Bring a picnic and some binoculars for bird watching, and (here’s a local’s tip for you) some clean towels for the car so you can rub the sand off before you get in, wet or dry.
Cost: Free
Address: 28 Sand Hills Beach Park Road, Villagedale
Website
Find the Lighthouse and Sand Dollars
Credit: Dennis Jarvis/Flickr
While driftwood, sea glass, and pretty rocks are found on Nova Scotia’s beaches with reasonable regularity, there’s one beach collectible that’s a bit rarer: sand dollars. If you’re looking for them, you’ve got to check out the Sandy Point Lighthouse Beach. You can hunt for sand dollars along the beach at low tide, and when the tide comes back in you can enjoy the rest of the park area with a picnic and pictures of the lighthouse. The lighthouse can actually be reached on foot during low tide, so you can look for sand dollars over there and take a selfie with the lighthouse behind you and a sand dollar in your hand.
Cost: Free
Address: 1586 Sandy Point Road. Shelburne
Phone: 902-875-2229
Website
Find the Secret Park
I’ve got to say, I’m a bit confused by the fact that there’s a detailed listing for a park called “The Secret Park”, but I suppose the cat’s out of the bag. It’s not officially open, but it’s been a play space for children for decades. It’s a quiet place to enjoy being outdoors, and there’s now a carved panel created by a local Mi’kmaq artist named Ed Benham to see too. Follow the directions at the link below to find this special, “secret”, park.
Website
Enjoy History by the Waterfront
Credit: Shelburne’s Museums by the Sea
Shelburne has history stretching back to the American Revolution, and it all started at the Historic Waterfront. When you walk the ten blocks, you can learn all about the history of the different groups that came and made the town of Shelburne. There are several museums along the way, all with gift shops that sell everything from books to jewelry to ornaments. Walking through history is made even easier thanks to filming that’s been done in Shelburne over the years, with some buildings erected just to call back to those olden times.
Website
Enjoy the Nature Island Trail
There are several islands in Shelburne County, and one of them, Sherose Island, has a Nature Trail that gives you both forest and sea. Stretching out of a parking lot, the Nature trail takes you through woods and clearings, and for about half of the trail you’ll get gorgeous sea views. There are a few different loops within the park, so you can choose how far you want as you explore nature as a group; this trail is especially great for kids who love the outdoors.
Cost: Free
Address: 12 Park Lane, Sherose Island
Website
Find Two Trails
Like the Footbridge Trail (see above) that runs almost parallel, the Tom Tigney Trail crosses the Sable River. However, it starts beside another smaller river—the Tom Tigney River. It’s a 1.2 km trail that crosses mainly through the suburbs, though it does have a few intersections with roads. There’s a restaurant just opposite the trailhead, or you can bring your own picnic and eat beside the river.
Cost: Free
Address: Highway 103, beside East Sable Road
Website
Welcome to Welkum
Credit: Shelburne Municipal Recreation & Parks
It wouldn’t be a proper article without mention of a place for freshwater swimming, now would it? Welkum Park is just on the edge of Welshtown Lake, perfect for swimming. When you’ve got your filling of being wet on a summer day, there’s an accessible playground to enjoy, a couple of short walking trails, and picnic tables if you’re feeling peckish. Best of all, it has not one, not two, but three gazebos!
Address: 8946 Upper Clyde Road, Shelburne
Website
Walk the Woodlands
Credit: Shelburne Municipal Recreation & Parks
The Woodland Multi-Use Trail is actually multiple trails connected together loosely and leads from Sable River to Queens County. Two of those trails are the Footbridge Trail and the Tom Tigney Trail, but there’s also 10 km that goes from Tom Tigney to Allendale. There’s more to come too, with over 15 km connecting Allendale to the Jordan River Trail. It also connects to the Queens Rails to Trails trail in Queens County). The map is unfinished right now, and there are parts that aren’t fully connected, but it’s already an impressive linkage of trails both intra-county and inter-county, and the finished product is bound to be even more inspiring.
Cost: Free
Address: 1784 East Sable River Road
Phone: 902-656-2793
Website
Harbour Nature Fun in the Woods
The Woods Harbour Multi-Use Trail is short, sweet, and to the point. It’s 1.5 km long and was converted from a rail line, like so many others in Nova Scotia. This happened in 1984, though, which makes it a bit older and established than some of the other rails-to-trails. Heading through a combination of settled land and forests, this is a great easy hike for a hotter day. If you want to go even further though, you can—it connects to the Woodland Multi-Use Trail system.
Cost: Free
Address: Woods Harbour, Nova Scotia
Phone: 902-637-2015
Website