At Raven Haven Beachside Family Park in West Springhill, a public sandy beach meets free watercraft. Visiting the park is free, and canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards are also available at no charge. Tourism Nova Scotia highlights the park’s sandy beach as the largest public sandy beach in Annapolis County. This makes it a clear choice for travelers who want to include beach time and paddling in their plans.
Planning a Beach Visit and Paddling
The municipality recommends booking canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards in advance, especially for larger groups. If you plan to paddle with several people, you can take this recommendation into account when making plans. The free park visit and free watercraft should be distinguished from the recommendation to reserve boats for use.
Access to the Water and Beach Wheelchair
Raven Haven Beachside Family Park also offers a Mobi-Mat, providing a stable path to the water, and a floating beach wheelchair, available by reservation. These details offer practical guidance for planning a visit: the Mobi-Mat leads right to the water, while the beach wheelchair requires a reservation. If you plan to use the wheelchair, take this requirement into account before your visit. This allows you to consider water access separately from planning to use the paddle boats.
Trails in the Wider Annapolis County Destination
The wider Annapolis County destination also has designated trails for nature outings. The Delaps Cove Wilderness Trail system includes the Bohaker Trail, a 2.2-kilometre loop with an approximate walking time of one hour, and the 1.9-kilometre Charlies Trail loop. The 2.7-kilometre Shore Road Trail connects the two in one direction. The distances and walking time offer different points of reference when choosing between the trails.
A 43-foot waterfall is located on the Bohaker Trail at Bohaker Cove. Basalt lava cliffs can be seen from a viewing platform. The trail system passes through 130 acres of wooded land along the wind-swept coast of the Bay of Fundy. It also offers opportunities for birdwatching and photography. In more remote sections, visitors may see stone walls, foundations, and lilac bushes, combining landscape views with visible traces of earlier settlement.
More Routes in Annapolis County
For a longer-distance perspective, the Harvest Moon Trailway runs for about 115 kilometres through communities in the Annapolis Valley, between Annapolis Royal in Annapolis County and Grand Pré in Kings County. The route officially opened in 2017; much of it consists of multi-use trails for walking and cycling. Historically, it was known as the Dominion Atlantic Railway (CP). Compared with the loops at Delaps Cove Wilderness Trail, the Trailway offers a different type of route on a much larger scale.
Themed guides are also available to help you explore Annapolis County. The free print and online cycling guide Bicycle Annapolis County – A Cyclist's Guide to Outdoor Adventure features 22 colour-coded routes, ranging from easy to challenging. Canoe Annapolis County lists 27 paddling routes and covers topics including trip planning, safety, equipment, and wilderness ethics. The county routes and guides provide additional regional context; Raven Haven Beachside Family Park’s beach and paddling offerings remain the specific point of interest in West Springhill.
Discover more destinations: Bridgetown, Deep Brook, Granville Ferry, Annapolis Royal.
For the wider travel overview: Annapolis County.
