Trails, Tides and Coastal Views

The Cobequid Trail is an 18-kilometre network of hiking and cycling trails in central Colchester County. From the trail, you can enjoy views of the Salmon River and a salt marsh. The 18 kilometres refers to the trail network, not a single route.

The Cobequid Trail is also located near the Fundy Discovery Site. It is suitable for leisurely walks, cycling, running and wildlife watching. At the Salmon River by the Fundy Discovery Site, a tidal bore occurs twice daily at predicted times during the incoming tide. You can watch the event from the site, so plan your visit around the forecast. The site has bike racks, a repair station, washrooms, and maps and information about the area. A water station is available from May to October.

The north coast of Colchester County runs along the warm waters of the Northumberland Strait. Five Islands Lighthouse Park is part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Cliffs of Fundy. From there, panoramic views extend across the Minas Basin and all Five Islands. The park also provides access to a long pebble beach.

Mills, Museums and Local History

The Balmoral Grist Mill Museum is a three-storey mill in a wooded ravine on Matheson’s Brook. Balmoral Mills, a park, is right next to the museum. You can picnic or go for a walk there. Sutherland Steam Mill is also a museum and is connected to Nova Scotia’s industrial heritage.

Willow Church Cemetery is one of the oldest known cemeteries on the North Shore of Nova Scotia and dates from the late 18th century. A cairn erected in the cemetery by the Nova Scotia Museum in 1971 commemorates the first church built in this area. The church was funded by the Willow Church Community.

The Colchester Historeum in Truro brings together different ways of exploring the county’s history: the museum holds more than 10,000 artefacts, and its archives include thousands of records from Colchester County. It also hosts community events on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, which everyone is welcome to attend.

Trails and Route Planning

The Trans Canada Trail in Colchester County includes the Butter Trail and the Short Line Trail along the Northumberland Shore. A government announcement in 1999 also proposed a 10.3-kilometre route from Sutherland Steam Mill in Denmark to the Village of Tatamagouche. Check current trail conditions before using it.

Discover more destinations: Truro, Tatamagouche, Five Islands, Stewiacke, Upper Stewiacke, Great Village, Shubenacadie East, Riverside, Brookfield, Alton, Eastville.

For the main travel overview: Nova Scotia.