A distinctive starting point for New Minas is The Links at Lockhart & Ryan Park: the course is Nova Scotia’s first public 18-basket disc golf course. The village’s history also leads to its Acadian founders and the conversion of tidal marshes into farmland. This makes it easy to plan your stay around clear interests: recreation in the park, local history, or other nature destinations in the broader Kings County.
Disc Golf, Rail Trail, and Park
The Village of New Minas built the disc golf course in Lockhart & Ryan Park in fall 2012. If you plan to play a round, check the current rules of use, as local operating policies may change. The New Minas Rail Trail can be accessed via Lockhart and Ryan Memorial Park, Jones Road, and Cornwallis Street.
Lockhart & Ryan Memorial Park is also home to the Splash Pad. It operates seasonally and may be subject to change; check current operating information before your visit. The disc golf course, Rail Trail, and Splash Pad offer different options for planning, without requiring the same kind of activity.
Acadian History in New Minas
New Minas was founded in the early 18th century by Acadians from the Grand Pré area. The Acadian settlement linked dykes with Oak Island to convert tidal marshes into productive farmland. The village’s founding story thus reflects both the settlers’ origins and the transformation of the marsh landscape.
Another point of interest is Turner House, one of the oldest surviving and largely unchanged buildings in New Minas. Together, the local history and historic buildings add a cultural dimension to a stay alongside the recreational offerings.
More Nature Destinations in the Broader Kings County Destination
In the broader Kings County destination, trails differ both in form and in the kind of experience they offer. Cape Split features a moderately difficult backcountry hike of about 13.2 kilometres round trip. The Blomidon Hiking Trails, by contrast, are a 13.5-kilometre network of interconnected trails offering access to a variety of habitats and viewpoints. The figures therefore refer to different things: Cape Split is a round-trip distance, while Blomidon is a trail network.
The Jodrey Trail runs along 183-metre-high sea cliffs and offers several viewpoints overlooking the Minas Basin. The Acadia Nature Trail passes through a wooded area north of Acadia University, with information along the route. The features described for Reservoir Park Trail include panoramic views of Cape Blomidon and the Minas Basin, an unsupervised beach at a pond, and access to the Millennium Trail.
The broader Kings County also has designated options for other ways to get active: Stronach Park & Fitness Trail is an easy loop through the woods with several fitness stations. The Gorge offers several trails for walking, hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Waterville Recreation Club makes 17 acres of meadow and woodland available to the public, with walking trails and an off-leash dog park.
A Seasonal Program for Specific Age Groups
The New Minas Recreation Summer Day Camp 2026 is a supervised recreation program. It includes groups for children aged 4 to 12, as well as LIT 1 and 2 for ages 13 to 15. As this is seasonal program planning and may be subject to change, check the latest program details before making plans.
Discover more destinations: Canning, Greenwood, Aylesford, Berwick, Grand Pré, Coldbrook, Port Williams, Wolfville.
Return to the broader travel guide: Kings County.
