Halifax 
A trip to McNabs Island in Halifax Harbour is a unique trip no matter your reason for visiting. The Island served as a military fort for over 60 years and is part of a much larger Halifax Defence Complex, which includes Georges Island, the Prince of Wales Tower, York Redoubt National Historic Site, and Halifax Citadel.
And while there is a great deal of history to explore on McNabs Island, there is also a great deal of nature to experience and see. The Island has various hiking trails connecting the Garrison Pier to each historic site, beach, cove, and pond. The trails are relatively short and mostly under 1km. This means a day trip will provide plenty of time to see all of McNabs Island and its historic sites.
Getting to McNabs Island
There are a handful of water taxi and boat services taking visitors from either side of the Halifax Harbour and to McNabs Island.
- A&M Sea Charters provides ferry service to McNabs and Georges Islands, as well as private charters, and deep-sea fishing tours.
- North West Arm Boat Tours provides sightseeing cruises, one of which stops at McNabs Island. They also offer shorter cruises, and an annual Halloween Ghost Story Tour of McNabs Island.
- Book private group tours with Amabassatours, which also provides a wide array of boat tours around Halifax Harbour.
Hiking on McNabs Island
Credit: Dennis Jarvis/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0
Ferries and water taxis all dock at McNabs Island Garrison Pier on the south/Halifax side. From here, the trails extend to both sides of McNabs Island with many sections from 500m-1km. These trails are perfect for starting off on a self-guided historical tour of McNabs Island.
- The Timmons Cove Trail leads hikers from the Garrison Pier to the Eastern Passage and Dartmouth side of McNabs Island.
- There is a fork in the Timmins Cove Trail that would take the hike out to Fraser Farm while travelling around wetlands and bogs.
- The Timmins Cove Trail also forks in the opposite direction, leading hikers to the Saltwater Lagoon/McNabs Pond, the Fort McNabb National Historic Site, and Wreck Cove.
- Hiking the Island’s old roads and rugged trails is a perfect way to enjoy birding on McNabs. Both Lawlor and McNabs Islands are home to a diverse bird population.
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Fort McNab National Historic Site & More
The Island’s historic site is completely free to visit, and it has buildings and structures that are original to the Fort. This Fort dates back to the 1890s and was built as a way to defend the Harbour and the city. The Fort was decommissioned after WW2 in 1959.
- The main part of the Fort is located beside the McNabs Pond. Here, you can walk amongst the abandoned barracks, buildings, and cannons! Closer to the shores is the final gun battery built on McNabs Island, the Strawberry Battery.
- The Matthew Lynch House and Fort Ives are located on the northwest side of McNabs near Ives Cove. There are even more cannons, old brick buildings, and a few parts where nature has reclaimed its space.
- Also, at Ives Cove, there is a long boardwalk trail that leads right out onto the water.
- Head back on the trail toward Hugoin Battery. This area was built as a sub-fort and to house some large artillery.
More McNabs Island Recreation
- Among the beaches that have a part in that history is Hangman’s Beach. It is now a gorgeous part of the Island’s shore but is part of a darker side of the Island’s history – it served as a grim warning spot where the Royal Navy displayed executed mutineers to incoming ships.
- The beaches on Wreck Cove offer views of Lawlor Island and, therefore, some great birdwatching opportunities.
- Each summer, the Friends of McNabs Island Society offers guided Island tours. The McNabs Island Tours run weekly in July and August. Tours continue into the fall months as well! Friends of McNabs Island offers various guided tours, including Fall Colour Tours, Heritage Tours, Nature Tours, Adventure Tours, Coastal Shoreline Tours or Family tours.
- Pack a picnic! There are no services or stores on the Island so bring in any food or water you need. This is a perfect opportunity for a scenic picnic on the Island shores after a day of exploring or hiking.
Planning your Trip – McNabs Island
What: Lawlor Island is an uninhabited and inaccessible Island but is a very important conservation area for birds and wildlife. McNabs Island is the larger of the two and is accessible by ferry service or boat tours. The Island has a rich military history the remains Fort McNab, built in 1890. All around McNabs Island are large remnants of Halifax’s military past.
Location and how to get there: in the Halifax Harbour and accessible by personal watercraft or the following companies: McNabs Island Shuttle, A&M Sea Charters, North West Arm Boat Tours.
Best time to go: April-October
Cost: ferry or tour ticket, otherwise free to access
For more information:
McNabs & Lawlor Islands Provincial Park
Friends of McNabs Island Society
