HIKING & WATERFALLS AROUND NOVA SCOTIA

Community: Forest Hill

Region: Valley

Notes: Anima Mundi Trails operates as a beautifully hand-built, multi-use singletrack trail network situated on 52 acres of private land at the summit of Gaspereau Mountain in Forest Hill. Maintained in collaboration with the Annapolis Valley Mountain Bike Association, the 6-kilometre system weaves through a dense, mossy Acadian forest. The design features tight, fast, flowy loops over gentle mounds with minimal roots or rocks, making it highly popular for intermediate mountain biking, trail running, hiking, and winter snowshoeing. Roadside parking is available near the marked trailhead off East Davison Street.

Community: Benjamins Mill

Region: Valley

Notes: A rugged wilderness destination situated on the Southwest Branch of the Avon River near Benjamins Mill. Baker Falls is a unique 15-foot chute-and-slide waterfall framed by massive riverside boulders. Reaching the water feature requires an arduous, unmaintained bushwhack from Mines Road with no established footpaths, demanding advanced navigation skills, thick outerwear, and highly stable footing.

Community: Baxters Harbour

Region: Valley

Notes: A spectacular coastal waterfall that cascades directly over a rugged basalt cliff onto the rocky shoreline of the Bay of Fundy. The falls are easily visible from the parking area at the end of Old Baxter Mill Road, making it an easy destination to explore. Visitors can walk along the stony beach at low tide to stand directly below the rushing waters, but absolute caution must be taken to monitor the extreme Fundy tides to avoid becoming stranded against the high cliffs.

Community: Lower Vaughan

Region: Valley

Notes: A beautiful, secluded waterfall hidden along the loops of the Avon River system near Lower Vaughan. Accessing the falls involves a moderate forest walk along old woods roads and unmarked footpaths. The final approach to the riverbed requires careful foot placement over uneven terrain, mossy roots, and slick shoreline boulders, rewarding hikers with a peaceful view of the cascading water.

Community: Baxters Harbour

Region: Valley

Notes: Black Hole Falls is a rugged wilderness waterfall and coastal hiking destination situated along the Bay of Fundy near Baxters Harbour. Accessed via an unmarked trailhead off Old Baxter Mill Road, the trail descends an unmaintained path to the top of the cascades before dropping sharply to the rocky shoreline below using fixed ropes. Because the base of the falls and the adjacent Black Hole Cove completely fill with deep water during high tide, visitors must strictly coordinate their hikes with the receding tide cycle to safely explore the sea-carved rock formations and basalt shoreline.

Community: Blomidon

Region: Valley

Notes: The Blomidon Vernal Pool is a unique, protected ephemeral ecological site located high atop the Cape Blomidon sea cliffs along the back loop of the Jodrey Trail inside Blomidon Provincial Park. This seasonal, fish-free wetland basin provides highly specialized breeding habitats for woodland frogs and yellow-spotted salamanders. Most notably, it stands as one of only three verified locations in Nova Scotia home to the rare invertebrate fairy shrimp (Eubranchipus intricatus) east of Manitoba. Accessible via the main provincial park trail systems, hikers can park at the day-use lot and trek through an old-growth sugar maple and beech hardwood forest canopy.

Community: Ellershouse

Region: Valley

Notes: A beautiful natural wonder nestled near Ellershouse within a classic Acadian forest landscape. The main logging access road provides an easy, straightforward walk to the top of the gorge where visitors can view the rushing falls. For hikers wishing to descend down to the base of the pool, the terrain becomes a steep scramble through exposed roots and slippery rocks, utilizing a series of anchored assist ropes to safely manage the grade.

Community: Delaps Cove

Region: Valley

Notes: A spectacular wilderness asset featuring the Bohaker Trail, a 2.2 km loop that winds through a dense moss-covered coniferous forest to a 15-meter vertical waterfall plunging directly into a rocky coastal cove. The trail runs along the high volcanic basalt cliffs of the Bay of Fundy, providing exceptional coastal viewing platforms, historical interpretive panels, and immediate access to the longer 4.3 km Charlies Trail loop.

Community: Wolfville

Region: Valley

Notes: The Dykes Trail is a scenic public walking path and recreational trail system accessed off Dykeland Street in the town of Wolfville. Winding along the historic Acadian dykelands, the flat gravel pathway offers panoramic views of the Minas Basin, Cape Blomidon, and active agricultural fields. The infrastructure serves as a popular route for local runners, birdwatchers, and cyclists, anchoring municipal greenway networks within the regional Annapolis Valley landscape.

Community: Falmouth

Region: Valley

Notes: A 3.9-kilometre loop trail located in the French Mill Brook Watershed Protected Area. It features a 12-foot roadside waterfall on Allen Brook alongside a winding network of well-groomed, forested paths.

Community: Cambridge

Region: Valley

Notes: Foote Woods features an immersive wilderness trail network traversing the southern slopes of the North Mountain ridge near Cambridge. The primary loop track guides hikers through a beautiful, dense mixed Acadian forest environment rich with mossy forest floors, ancient boulder formations, and localized creek crossings. The singletrack trail involves moderate elevation changes and uneven terrain with tree roots and stones, providing a rewarding escape for traditional hikers, trail runners, and snowshoers.

Community: Gaspereau

Region: Valley

Notes: The Gaspereau River Trail is a scenic, flat linear walking path running alongside the rushing waters of the historic Gaspereau River. The trail weaves underneath a beautiful canopy of mixed mature Acadian forest, providing an immersive nature experience with several riverbank look-offs. Highly popular for trail running, dog walking, and fishing access, the pathway can be accessed at the Deep Hollow Road bridge trailhead where limited dirt-roadside parking is available.

Community: Harbourville

Region: Valley

Notes: A magical, fairy-tale waterfall cascading roughly 100 feet down a lush, moss-covered ravine along the North Mountain. Located just half a kilometer down Barley Street from Highway 360, a well-marked sign flags the short 100-meter descent from the roadside. While the walk to the gorge ridge is flat and easy, descending to the pool at the base is short but quite steep, utilizing a few anchored assist ropes to navigate the dirt path and slippery tree roots.

Region: Valley

Notes: The western trailhead of a sprawling 110-kilometre multi-use trail following an old railway corridor through orchards, fields, and historic valley towns.

Community: White Rock

Region: Valley

Notes: Also locally celebrated as 'Three Pools', this stunning canyon destination features a series of three cascading drops along the Black River that spill into deep rock basins. The approach requires a short but strenuous wilderness trek involving a steep, technical descent down a mossy cliffside embankment utilizing exposed tree roots for stability. Because all routes to the canyon floor interface with utility or surrounding private boundaries, hikers must exercise absolute geographic awareness, utilize established access roads from Deep Hollow Road, and respect local signage.

Community: Kentville

Region: Valley

Notes: A primary urban access point and trailhead staging area for the multi-use Harvest Moon Trailway network passing through downtown Kentville. Running along the historic Dominion Atlantic Railway bed parallel to Memorial Park, this fully paved, high-density multi-use path accommodates hikers, runners, and cyclists, featuring designated active transportation directional signage blocks, public benches, and nearby bicycle repair stands.

Community: Sunken Lake

Region: Valley

Notes: A hidden gem in the Kings County backcountry near Sunken Lake and White Rock. The trail follows an old logging logging road and unmaintained ATV track before narrowing down into a mature deciduous forest gorge. At the look-off, a unique hand-crafted global distance milestone post awaits hikers, while a brief 50-metre steep decline equipped with rope assists guides you down to a deep 20-foot waterfall pool ideal for seasonal swimming.

Community: Wolfville

Region: Valley

Notes: The Millennium Trail is an enchanting 2-kilometre municipal linear park system built in 2000 within the town of Wolfville. Acting as a key urban nature corridor, the flat, well-maintained crusher dust gravel pathway establishes a direct route from the historic Wolfville Harbour up through the heart of town. It meanders alongside a peaceful stream through the mature-growth canopy of Sherwood Ravine and Rawding Ravine before connecting directly into the extensive trail loops at Reservoir Park.

Community: Lower Vaughan

Region: Valley

Notes: A beautiful double waterfall along the Mint River cascading into Falls Lake. The short 1.6 km out-and-back trail is highly family-friendly and easy to navigate. Visitors must park on New Ross Road near the intersection with Destination Way and walk down Falls Lake Road, as the access road itself is private and does not allow public trail parking.

Community: Maitland Bridge

Region: Valley

Notes: A premier highlight within Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, Mill Falls features rushing waters cascading over smooth, ancient rock formations along the Mersey River. The 2 km out-and-back trail is wide, flat, and hard-surfaced, making it fully stroller and wheelchair accessible. The site features extensive amenities, including a scenic wooden viewing platform, picnic tables, and educational interpretive panels highlighting the area's rich cultural and natural history.

Community: Kentville

Region: Valley

Notes: Miner's Marsh is a protected wetland habitat and nature reserve developed by Ducks Unlimited Canada and maintained by the Town of Kentville. The site features a 1.7-kilometre double-loop gravel trail equipped with viewing platforms, an observation tower, and interpretive signage. It is a premier destination for birdwatchers, supporting over 160 wildlife species, and connects directly to the regional Harvest Moon Trailway infrastructure.

Community: North Alton

Region: Valley

Notes: Moores Brook Falls is a scenic hidden natural attraction situated just off Prospect Road near North Alton, outside Kentville. The short but steep and rugged out-and-back trail follows a ravine up a rocky riverbed, leading hikers past a series of three distinct cascades. The main seasonal waterfall features an impressive 50-foot drop over an angled rock face, requiring proper footwear due to slippery, washed-out paths and rope-assisted climbs near the upper pools.

Community: Greenwood

Region: Valley

Notes: A scenic community recreational trail running alongside the river, perfect for walking, running, and exploring local nature.

Community: Beaconsfield

Region: Valley

Notes: A challenging 2.5km to 3km trek featuring a steep 165m climb up the North Mountain. The trail is often unmarked and involves crossing a latched gate on what is technically private property, though it is a local favourite. Hikers are rewarded with an exposed rock buttress offering panoramic views of the Annapolis Valley and the winding Annapolis River below. Sturdy, waterproof footwear is recommended due to potentially muddy and slippery sections.

Community: Dalhousie

Region: Valley

Notes: A beautiful hidden waterfall located deep within the woods of Kings County along the upper stretches of the Lahave River system. Access requires parking off Aylesford Road and following an old woods road before navigating an unmarked, rugged bushwhack down to the riverbanks. The trail requires navigating uneven forest floors, dense brush, and slick rocks near the rushing water.

Community: Canning

Region: Valley

Notes: A dramatic and rugged waterfall tucked deep within a steep ravine along the North Mountain near Canning. Reaching the bottom of the falls requires a strenuous trek down an unmaintained, unmarked wilderness path. The descent is highly technical, challenging hikers with loose dirt embankments, slick rocks, and steep drops that demand advanced physical navigation and sturdy hiking footwear.

Community: St. Croix

Region: Valley

Notes: A beautiful hidden waterfall located along the St. Croix River system. The route follows unmaintained woods roads and rustic, unmarked wilderness paths beneath a mixed forest canopy. The final descent into the river ravine features steep, uneven banks, exposed root systems, and slippery shoreline rocks, requiring hikers to exercise careful foot placement to safely view the cascading pools.

Community: Wolfville

Region: Valley

Notes: The Trail Head for Wolfville Woodland Trail serves as a prominent public access point to Acadia's Woodland Trails network, located just uphill from the Acadia University campus off University Avenue in Wolfville. Spanning approximately 50 acres of managed forest land adjacent to the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens, the network features 2.3 kilometres of easy-to-moderate walking loops. The location provides hikers, students, and visitors with access to scenic natural landscapes, native Acadian tree species, and local wildlife networks.

Community: Clementsport

Region: Valley

Notes: A short, beautiful forest walk located just off the Evangeline Trail corridor along the Moose River system. The trail features an easy, brief trek that leads hikers through a peaceful woodland stand straight to the edge of the rushing rapids and lower falls. It is a highly accessible natural stopover point for travelers looking to view the local river pools and rapids.

Community: Springfield

Region: Valley

Notes: A scenic backcountry waterfall hidden along the upper river channels of south Annapolis County near Springfield. Accessing the water feature involves walking along old logging tracks and unmaintained woods paths that can get heavily overgrown in summer months. The final approach down the stream valley cuts through uneven forest floors and requires cautious footing over slick, moss-covered river rocks.

Community: Woodville

Region: Valley

Notes: Woodville Waterfall is a scenic seasonal cascade nestled along the community-managed Woodville hikings. Accessed via a rustic trailhead network off Bligh Road north of Highway 221, the path to the falls features a brief but somewhat steep and rocky climb following a ravine along the side of the North Mountain. Part of an interconnected multi-use trail system, the waterfall flows most dynamically during the spring thaw or following heavy regional rainfalls, making it a popular local highlight for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts exploring the Annapolis Valley.