In all four seasons, the Annapolis Valley offers an abundance of outdoor activities. These include camping in our beautiful parks, whale watching close by, hiking, cycling, kayaking and canoeing, golf, sightseeing, swimming, boating, skiing, skating, snowshoeing, sport fishing—even hot air ballooning.
Hiking trails |
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If you like to hike, the Annapolis Valley is calling to you! The Harvest Moon Trailway offers 110 kilometres (68 miles) of cycling and walking trail from Grand-Pré National Historic Site to Fort Anne National Historic Site in Annapolis Royal. With ease of grade and a safe route, the Trailway takes you through orchards, vineyards, farmland, towns and villages and alongside shorelines and nature reserves. The Cape Split Trail, a loop trail with spectacular views over the Bay of Fundy, is one of the most popular hiking trails in Nova Scotia. The Harvest Moon Trailway and Cape Split are only two of our amazing trails. You'll find links to 70+ Annapolis Valley trails at ValleyConnect.ca. |
Parks and camping |
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The Valley has plenty of parks for camping and day use. For camping, visit these three Provincial Parks:
Other parks are available for day use, such as Mickey Hill, Cottage Cove, Scots Bay and Cape Split. The Municipality of the County of Annapolis Outdoor Recreation Map includes safety tips, details of protected wilderness areas, parks and trails, playgrounds, cycling, boating, bouldering, golfing, skateboarding, snowshoeing, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, walking, geocaching, exploring and more. The Municipality of the County of Kings Parks and Recreation includes information on parks and trails, active transportation, programs, Aylesford Lake Beach, and more. In West Hants Regional Municipality, the Recreation Department offers details of Recreation Sites, Parks and Open Spaces. |
Biking |
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The Annapolis Valley hosts a thriving cycling community. Download Cycle Nova Scotia's route maps to get you started. if you're into mountain biking, routes and descriptions are mapped on the Trailforks Annapolis Valley Mountain Biking Trails. Annapolis Valley Cycling also offers details of off road trails and maps. Municipality of the County of Annapolis Recreation publishes A Cyclist's Guide to Outdoor Adventure on their website. This map-based guide lists 22 colour-coded bicycle routes ranging from easy to moderate to challenging. |
Golf |
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You're never far from a golf course in the Annapolis Valley. You can browse golf listings by region to find a dozen in the Valley. |
Skiing |
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Windsor is home to some of the best skiing in Atlantic Canada with Ski Martock. Open from early December to late March, Martock has facilities for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and cross country skiing. For the downhill skiers and snowboarders the 600-foot mountain has seven trails with two trails ranked as easy for the beginners, and five trails more difficult for the more experienced. For the experts, in addition to the downhill trails there is also the park and half pipe for more daring adventures. Martock also offers a large selection of cross country trails through the woods with a range of difficulty. |
Historic sites |
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It's easy to reconnect with the past in the Annapolis Valley. The Mi'kmaq have lived here for more than 11,000 years. The Valley is home to Canada's earliest European settlement, dating from 1605 and recreated at Port-Royal National Historic Site. Explore the Landscape of Grand Pré UNESCO World Heritage Site, which celebrates the history of the Mi'kmaq, Acadians, and New England Planters in a living agricultural landscape. Details of the Valley's five National Historic Sites are on the Family Fun page. |
Gardens |
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Explore the Annapolis Valley's beautiful gardens! The Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens are known as “seventeen acres of paradise.” The gardens showcase gardening methods, designs and materials representing more than 400 years of local history. At Acadia University in Wolfville, the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens are six acres of public gardens representing native plant communities of the Acadian Forest Region, a glassed-in winter garden, and a garden of medicinal and food plants. Tangled Garden in Grand Pré is five acres that combine beauty and function, because the garden grows fruits and herbs used in the products they sell. The gardens also incorporate many pieces of outdoor art. |
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