A 10-kilometre trail network winds through stands of deciduous and coniferous trees and along brooks and streams in Port Hawkesbury. The Port Hawkesbury Trail System is open year-round to walkers, hikers, and cross-country skiers. A park, swimming pool, and arts and music offerings add to the picture. You can get to know Port Hawkesbury through both outdoor activities and specific leisure and cultural venues.
The Trail System: Routes and Getting Around
The trail network is 10 kilometres long in total. It runs through stands of deciduous and coniferous trees and along brooks and streams. Walking, hiking, and cross-country skiing are options year-round. You can tailor your time outdoors to the activity that suits your stay, rather than associating the Trail System with just one way of getting around.
Parking for the Trail System is available at Grant’s Pond, on Crandall Road, at the Recreation Grounds, and at the Tamarac Education Centre. These four named locations are helpful reference points when planning a visit to the trails. If the trail network is the focus of your trip, include your choice of parking in your plans.
Community Park and Swimming
The Port Hawkesbury Community Park on MacQuarrie Drive Extension brings together several recreational amenities: a playground, a splash pad, a bike pump track, and tennis and basketball courts. Restrooms and changing facilities are also available in the park. This makes it different from the Trail System: here you’ll find play and sports facilities within the park, while the trail network offers opportunities for walking, hiking, and cross-country skiing. You can decide for yourself which amenities matter most for your visit.
Another option for swimming is the Strait Area Pool. It has a 25-metre pool with six lanes and a wading pool, where recreational swimming is available. The town’s water activities therefore vary: the Community Park has a splash pad, while the pool has a lap pool and a wading pool. If swimming is part of your stay, you can take these different facilities into account when planning.
Art, Sports History, and Music
The Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre is home to two distinct cultural attractions. The J. Franklin Wright Art Gallery is a cultural space for exhibiting works of art. The Port Hawkesbury Sports Wall of Fame publicly and permanently showcases the sporting achievements of athletes, teams, and pioneers. The two attractions focus on different subjects: the gallery is dedicated to presenting art, while the Wall of Fame recognizes sporting achievements.
Granville Green is also part of the area’s cultural profile: the concert series has been a hallmark of summers in Port Hawkesbury for over 30 years. The Trail System offers opportunities year-round, while Granville Green is specifically associated with summer. This difference in timing can help you plan your stay without having to fit the outdoor and cultural offerings into a set itinerary.
Dining and Choosing Where to Stay
Miller’s Tap and Grill is a dining option in Port Hawkesbury for fresh seafood and steaks. This specific restaurant adds to the options for spending time outdoors, in the park, and at the Civic Centre. If you’re considering Port Hawkesbury as a place to stay, you can start by deciding what you’re most interested in: the Trail System, the Community Park facilities, recreational swimming, or culture.
Discover more destinations: Troy, Whycocomagh, Craggie, Grand Étang, Port Hastings, Margaree Forks, Petit Étang, Saint Joseph Du Moine
For the broader travel overview: Inverness County.
