Pomquet Acadian Trail The Google rating is 4.2

The Pomquet Acadian Trails is a 5-kilometre stacked loop multi-use trail system located at Monk’s Head, a prominent headland along St. George’s Bay in the small Acadian village of Pomquet, Antigonish County. The trailhead is located at Chez Deslauriers, a heritage home converted to a small restaurant maintained and operated by the Pomquet Development Society, a local volunteer organization. The entire trail has a natural surface, including both forest floor and sandy/rocky beach.

The trail begins atop a drumlin (a glacial deposit) and winds through inland forests with 100-year-old pine trees and a variety of coastal environments. The various stages of forest succession are visible along the trail. Hikers will also see sandy beaches, cobble beaches, barachois ponds, and limestone/gypsum cliffs. The trail provides spectacular views of St. George’s Bay and Pomquet Beach. 

Chez Deslauriers, located at the trailhead, provides authentic Acadian cuisine each Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM during the months of July and August.  Picnic tables are on site and available for use at any time. An interpretive centre highlighting the history of Pomquet from its geological beginnings to its cultural heritage is open for viewing each Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM during the months of July and August. 

Pomquet Provincial Park Beach is within walking distance of the trailhead. The beach is one of the best examples of a prograding dune system in Nova Scotia, and extends for three kilometres from Chez Deslauriers in the northwest to the mouth of Pomquet Harbour to the southeast.

The quaint Acadian village of Pomquet wraps around Monk’s Head and Pomquet Harbour. See Great Blue Herons in the many salt marshes and estuaries, and watch bald eagles soar. The local museum showcases community artifacts and provides genealogical information. The nearby Ste. Croix Church was built in 1862. 

The trail is predominantly for hiking and snowshoeing/cross-country skiing in winter months. The trail is open to the public during all seasons. Cell phone coverage is excellent.

Date Details/Hours of Operation

trail (no off-season maintenance). Interpretive Centre and tearoom open July 4–Aug 29, Fri only.