Day Use Parks in Nova Scotia

Day Use Parks in Nova Scotia



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Hubbards

A boat launch site on St. Margarets Bay. Limited picnic opportunities. Located on Hwy 3, about 3 km west of Queensland Beach Provincial Park.

Irish Cove

Located on a hill overlooking Bras d' Or Lake, this site offers a short trail and scenic views. Located 32 km (20 mi) northeast of St. Peter's.

Accessible Facilities

Jerry Lawrence

A day use park providing access for seniors and those with disabilities. Drive-in picnic areas, barrier-free vault toilets, fishing pier and accessible trails that provide a connection to the St. Margarets Bay Rails to Trails. The park is bordered by Lewis Lake and Round Lake. The latter is stocked several times throughout the season with brook and rainbow trout.

Lake George

A freshwater sandy beach with adjacent launch for canoes and kayaks.

Lake Midway

One of few access points to a fresh water beach in the area. Picnic tables located in hardwood area and open fields. Trout fishing (seasonal).

Lake O' Law

The only provincial park in Inverness County located on the Cabot Trail. A rock cairn dedicated to first Irish settlers in the area. Popular with traveling public; especially tour buses as a rest/viewing location.

Accessible Facilities

Laurie

The quiet lakeside setting offers a wide range of outdoor opportunities including camping, canoeing, water skiing, fishing, and swimming.

Lawrencetown Beach

Lawrencetown Beach is noted for its surf, and is a mainstay of surfers living here or visiting the province. Surfing instruction and outfitters located near the park. There is supervised swimming (July – August). Strong rip tides and currents are common - swimmers must exercise caution. Provincially and regionally significant coastal park system; includes regionally significant beach parks, proximity to rails to trails corridor, Trans Canada Trail passes through Cole Harbour Heritage Park

Lennox Passage

A pleasant park on Isle Madame with two kilometres of shoreline, an operating lighthouse and site of a former post office (c.1910), ferry terminal and two limestone quarries. Picnic in forest or open areas, enjoy the 2 km of trails, or explore the lighthouse. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities in the winter, however parking is available at the gate only. Located on Hwy 320, 5 km (3 mi) east of the junction of Routes 320 and 206.

Lochiel Lake

A quiet area with picnic tables under mixed wood trees beside an open field and overlooking Lochiel Lake. A short walking trail and some snow shoeing opportunities in winter. Located 6.5 Km (4 mi) north of Aspen.

Londonderry

A small memorial park with an interpretive display of the history of mining and iron production in Londonderry (Acadia Mines).  Located off Hwy 4.

Long Lake

Managed by the Long Lake Park Association

Lumsden Pond

Escape the hot Valley temperatures with a swim in the pond (unsupervised). Surrounded by hardwoods, canoe or kayak the pond in autumn and enjoy the leaf show. Near dam and sluice for NS Power.

Mabou

Hillside park with a panoramic view of the Mabou Valley. Located 1.5 km (1 mi) north of Mabou.

MacCormack

The park overlooks the Bras d' Or Lake. Picnic under the softwood forest or stroll the beach. View of picturesque Plaster Cove. Located 0.3 km (0.2 mi) north of Iona.

MacCormacks Beach

Located in Eastern Passage adjacent to Fisherman’s Cove, this park offers an extensive boardwalk that provides coastal walking opportunities and beautiful views of Halifax and McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park.

MacElmons Pond

Adjacent to a headpond and wildlife management area. The rich waters of the headpond support a small population of American widgeon as well as being an important staging area for migratory waterfowl.

A 1 km (1/2 mi) trail meanders through reclaimed pasture, a pine forest and alongside the lake.  Popular location for fall foliage photography.  

Marie Joseph

A picturesque roadside park with a view of offshore islands providing carry-in boating opportunities. Located 1.5 km (1 mi) west of Marie Joseph.

Martinique Beach

A 3.7 km crescent, white-sand beach with open and wooded picnic areas behind the dunes. Boardwalks and hard-surfaced paths offer access for beachcombing and swimming. Supervised swimming (July-August/STC). Wildlife refuge area for migratory waterfowl and protected area for piping plover. Parking may be limited on summer weekends. Located 11 km (7 mi) south of Musquodoboit Harbour.

Mavillette Beach

A 1.5 km (1 mi) long sandy beach backed by fragile marram grass-covered dunes. Extensive sand flats exposed at low tide. Supervised swimming (July-August STC). Please use boardwalks to protect the dunes when accessing the beach. No picnic tables.

McNabs and Lawlor Islands

Located at the mouth of Halifax Harbour, the park carries visitors back in time, and back to nature. Just a short boat trip (commercial providers offer service) from various points in the metro area. Military and history buffs, birders, and hikers will be enthralled with this park’s intriguing past and beautiful natural surroundings so close to the dynamic downtown.

Melmerby Beach

One of Nova Scotia’s most popular beaches, this 2 km (1.25 mi) sandy beach is supervised beach (July-August/ STC). Even on the busiest days, there’s lots of room to spread out and enjoy yourself whether that would be strolling the beach, swimming, flying a kite with the kids kayaking away from it all.

Mickey Hill

Popular system of graveled hiking trails along Lambs Lake. The park features boardwalks in rough areas and staircases through rocks. There is a picnic area on the river, as well as an unsupervised beach on the lake.

Accessible Facilities
Electrical Hook-up

Mira River

Jutting out into the famous Mira River and only minutes from Sydney or Fortress Louisbourg National Historic site, Mira River Provincial Park is the perfect escape.

Accessible Facilities

Moose River Gold Mines

The park commemorates the 1936 Moose River mine disaster.