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24 Must-Visit Provincial Parks in Nova Scotia

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24 Must-Visit Provincial Parks in Nova Scotia

Outdoor Adventure

Nova Scotia is home to over 140 provincial parks. From spring to fall, visitors can enjoy camping, swimming, picnicking, hiking, fishing and boating.

Here are 24 of our favourite provincial parks… but there are dozens more to experience! How many will you explore during your visit to Nova Scotia?

Blomidon

Home to some of the highest tides in the world and spectacular sea cliffs rising from the Minas Basin, this park is a spectacular setting for camping, beaching, and picnicking. Accessible facilities available.

Cape Chignecto

Adventurers will be right at home at this wilderness park. Explore hiking trails, stay overnight at remote walk-in campsites, and kayak 29km of coastline. Day-use area at Eatonville also available with lower difficulty trails.

Cape Smokey

Plan to stop along the Cabot Trail and check out the stunning views at this park. A picnic spot, scenic look-offs and 10km round trip hiking trail await you here.

Cape Split

This iconic Nova Scotia landmark pairs unforgettable views with a moderately challenging 13.2 km round trip, back country hike.

Crystal Crescent

Less than 45 minutes from downtown Halifax, this park offers up three picture-perfect, white sand beaches to explore.

Ellenwood Lake

Plan your next camping trip to this 282 acre site offering up swimming (also available for day-use), an easy 2km hike, playground, and boat launch—all just 20 minutes from downtown Yarmouth.

Five Islands

The 90 metre sea cliffs along the Bay of Fundy coast, overlooking the world’s highest tides, offers one of the most breathtaking camping locations in the province. Hiking trails, beach access, playground and serviced sites round out the camping experience here.

Graves Island

Camp on this small island, which is connected to the mainland by a short causeway and overlooks Mahone Bay. Enjoy a 3km coastal hiking trail, bring your kayak for a paddle, or pack a picnic if you’re visiting for a day trip.

Lawrencetown Beach

Located just 19km east of Dartmouth and 30 minutes from downtown Halifax, this beach is most popular with surfers. Suit up for a lesson with the onsite surf school (all equipment and instruction is provided), or enjoy a relaxing beach walk.

Martinique Beach

Welcome to the longest sandy beach in Nova Scotia! Beach walkers rejoice and soak up the views and salt air on this 5km stretch of coastline. After, get refuelled at the picnic area.

Mavillette Beach

Visit during low tide an explore the expansive sand flats at this 1.5 km beach. The sun warms the flats and when the tide rises, the sand heats the water—perfect for a refreshing swim.

McNabs and Lawlor Islands

Located in Halifax Harbour, this island offers 22km of hiking and biking trails, interpretive panels and historic sites, including Fort McNab. McNabs Island is accessible by commercial or private boat from Dartmouth, Halifax, Eastern Passage or Purcells Cove. Lawlor Island is a nature area and is not open to the public.

Melmerby Beach

This popular beach on the northern shore of Nova Scotia—where waters average 19° C (66° F) in the summer—is the perfect place to enjoy a beach day. Stretching for nearly 2km, there is plenty of space even during busy season. This beach is supervised during July and August and is located 20 minutes outside of New Glasgow.

Mira River

Conveniently located approximately 20 minutes from both Sydney and the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, this water-side park is the perfect location for your next Cape Breton camping adventure. Enjoy hiking, kayaking, fishing, and swimming on site.

Point Michaud Beach

This 3km sandy beach is mostly frequented by swimmers, with supervised swimming offered in July and August. But when conditions are right, you will find surfers riding waves.

Pomquet Beach

Located just east of Antigonish, this sandy beach runs 3km in length and offers great summer swimming. A Mobi-mat and Mobi-chair are available onsite for those with mobility challenges.

Queensland Beach

Located just 40 minutes outside of downtown Halifax and arguably one of the most popular beaches in the province (especially with Haligonians), arrive early for a parking spot and a prime location on this white sand beach.

Rissers Beach

There are many places to camp near the beach in Nova Scotia, but you won’t find many places in the province where you’re setting up camp mere feet from the waves. Book early, these campsites at Little Rissers are understandably popular! Wooded camping at North Rissers is also available.

Rushtons Beach

Splash in the warm water and enjoy the sand bars at low tide with a boardwalk leading visitors to a sandy beach. The perfect place for viewing a sunset, just 15 minutes outside of the quaint village of Tatamagouche.

Summerville Beach

This quintessential South Shore beach offers up a wide and powdery white sand shoreline and a refreshing dip in the Atlantic Ocean. Located next to Quarterdeck Beachside Villas and Grill.

Taylor Head

Explore 14.2km of hiking trails along unspoiled coastline. Enjoy wildlife viewing, scenic look-offs, picnic areas, boardwalks, and secluded beaches at this park which sits on a peninsula and juts 6km into the ocean.

The Islands

Located across the harbour from the historic and scenic coastal town of Shelburne, this quaint park offers tranquil camping with access to town via the nearby Roseway River Trail located just outside the park.

Thomas Raddall

This 650-hectare park overlooks Port Joli harbour on the South Shore. Explore 11 km of coastal and wooded hiking trails, historic sites, and three white sand beaches, while camping or day-tripping to this park. Located across the harbour from Kejimkujik National Park Seaside.

Uisge Bàn Falls

Follow a 1.5 km trail to the impressive 15 metre waterfall in a granite gorge. To make an afternoon of it, pack a picnic and enjoy at the picnic tables onsite. Located just 20 minutes outside of Baddeck.