This Kid Hiked 11 KM!: Cape Split (Scots Bay, NS)

Cape Split is one of Nova Scotia's very popular hikes. The linear trail is fairly average in terms of what you are going to see along the way (mostly a bunch of Nova Scotian forest along a fairly straight well-maintained path), but the 'peak' of the trail is absolutely stunning! Sea cliffs are a fun feature of Nova Scotian hikes, and the sea cliffs and chasms at this cape are gorgeous. 

I have heard many people comment on how hard of a hike it is, but I would personally rank it moderate. I would say it is an easy hike in terms of how smooth the trail is (there are no technical bits and minimal elevation gain) and because no navigation is required; however it is 12 km so I would call it moderate for length. 

Her new favourite thing is leading the hike!

When we planned our trip to Cape Split, we thought it would be a fun day hike with our 5 year-old. We expected her to make it most of the way in and that we'd have to carry her intermittently on the way out since the trail is 12 km after all. After hiking the first five years of her life though, this kid was ready! She hiked the whole way in without breaking a sweat and hiked most of the way out with some occasional piggybacking during the last 2 km. Her only complaint was that we weren't camping because she wanted to hang her food in the trees away from the bears! Talk about proud mama moment!!

“But I wanted to hang our food in the trees away from the bears!”

Pack a picnic for this hike for sure! The cape is the best part, so you should sit and enjoy the view when you get there. There are hundreds of gulls just past the cape (and potentially chicks depending on when you go!). Bring binoculars for kiddos to check them out. If you are really up for an adventure, you can descend to the beach (depending on tides). I would only do this if you are a more experienced hiker and understand how dramatic the Fundy tides are. We did not descend to the beach with the kiddo.

If you are looking to camp nearby, check out Blomidon Provincial Park. There is also a lovely hike at Blomidon along the Jodrey trail. 

A Cautionary Note 
Sea cliffs are incredibly dangerous! It is not a joke. People who are careless can and do fall off, and some die. Whether you are hiking this trail as an adult or as an adult with child, make sure no one goes too close to the edge! With respect to kiddos, I say parents know their children best. If you have a wandering 2 year-old, save this trail for another time. If you have a strapped on baby or a trail-smart preschooler, go for it but never let that child out of your sight while on the cliff. 


Info for baby-slinging folks

• Keep kids away from the cliff edge! This is not a hike for toddlers (see note above on cliffs). 
• Use a kidcarrier for this one. It is not a stroller-friendly hike. 
• There are outhouses at the beginning and at the midpoint of the trail. This is a long hike for kiddos though so be prepared should nature call before you get to the outhouse! 
• It is usually quite windy on a cape, so try to put hats with chin straps on the wee ones so theirs hats don't blow away. 

A New Favourite Morning Walk: Conrad's Beach (West Lawrencetown, NS)

I attribute my satisfaction with this beautiful Saturday to a combination of starting off with fresh air and to going with the flow. Today started with a walk on the beautiful Conrad's Beach. We spent a couple hours wandering the shoreline and meandering back through the woods. I can't think of a better way to start the day!

The best part of walking a beach first thing in the morning is you beat the crowds! It is truly peaceful.

The trail from the second beach through the woods is short and sweet. A perfect blend of beach and Nova Scotian forest! We even saw wild irises growing! 

A bit more about Conrad's:

• There are two beaches separated by a bed of rocks. 
• The boardwalk, which had been badly damaged, has been replaced! 
• This is a breeding area for Piping Plover, so stick closer to the water especially with dogs and don't go near restricted areas.

"A is for Adventure": A Nova Scotian Kids' Adventure Book!

Hey folks, 

There is a great book in the works by Jan LaPierre and Chris Surette (from Canso, NS) called "A is for Adventure". I can't wait to get a copy myself to read to my wee one. (A review is sure to follow!)

These folks are looking for support for their initiative. Please check out their Kickstarter campaign to learn more about the book, to get a copy, and to support their efforts!


Support local! Teach your kiddos to be brave! And enjoy this beautiful day! 

Cape Breton Highlands' Only Backcountry Camping: Fishing Cove (Cape Breton Highlands National Park, NS)

I am proud to say that my daughter is 3-years-old and has already been to three National Parks. On the list for this year, as posted here, was Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The park is incredibly vast with so much hiking to offer. What shocked me though is that it only has a single area for backcountry camping: Fishing Cove! 

The hike to Fishing Cove is described as an "8 km hike down to the rugged coastline cradled at the base of MacKenzie Mountain." It was indeed a rugged hike! The 8 km hike was no way near comparable to the 7 km of the Skyline trail, which was level, even, simple, and boardwalked most of the way. Fishing Cove was really more like the kind of hiking we were looking for complete with switchbacks, steep climbs, lots of roots and rocks on the terrain, and of course, wildlife!

The first kilometer or two were old logging roads like this.

Most of the trail resembled this after the old logging road.

So, how did we do this arduous 8 km with a 40 pound child and carry everything we needed for a night of camping?  

Good question! Our 3-year-old is exceptional on the trails. She has the confidence and physical strength to walk long distances and to surmount obstacles, however I don't know any 3-year-old who can hike 8 km in a day without help let alone on steep trails! Soo, we had to carry her approximately 80 % of the trek. To make this possible, my partner carried her on his back in a mei tai (a soft kid carrier), and I carried everything else. We initially tried to strap some items onto the kid carrier as well but it proved to be too heavy and awkward. Because not all of our gear is lightweight yet (such as our tent, which weighs over 8.5 pounds!), I carried about 45 lbs in my backpack. This included food, tent, cookware, clothes, sleeping bags (2 for the 3 of us), first aid, drinking water, etc. Wearing the toddler, while lighter, proved to be much more tiring than a heavy load in a well-fitted pack.

The hike was a fantastic level of challenge for fit parents with wee ones looking to get into the backcountry! The trail was gorgeous!

Loving life!!

There was so much wildlife on the trail and in the cove: moose (be prepared to respond appropriately!), pheasants, toads, snakes, squirrels, seals, whales! The trail is covered with moose scat, and moose are observed often. We did not see any signs of bear on this trail. We saw a family of pheasants walking on the trail ahead of us. And in the cove, we observed seals, whale spray, and thousands of tadpoles metamorphosizing into froglets! This was very fun to see, especially for a 3-year-old! 

I spy a froglet swimming!

My recommendations/observations for this trail:
*kid carrier is necessary
*bring trekking poles for the climbs!
*pack a swimsuit for the gorgeous cove! We ended up skinny dipping! 
*there is a bear hang, which we used, but it is far too close to the ground
*the outhouse was really nasty!
*there is one bear-proof garbage can at the outhouse, but it was left overflowing when we arrived! Be prepared to pack it out! 
*the tent platforms may have rope left attached to them for securing your tent without pegs, however I recommend bringing guidelines for your tent!
*you may end up singing Dun-na-na-na-na-na MOOSE POOP a lot on the trail to occupy your wee one! Haha! 

Have a good sleep! You don't get to enjoy this view everyday! 

A Hike for All Skill Levels: Skyline Trail (Cape Breton Highlands National Park, French Mountain, NS)

The Skyline trail is part of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It is the most popular and famous hike in the whole park. It is 7.5 km return (or 9.2 km return if you do the whole loop) and is wide, crushed gravel paths all the way to the boardwalks at the headland lookoff. 

This hike is for everyone!  There are many families on the paths! They are so wide and level that are excellent for accommodating strollers. Even wheelchair users could probably take advantage of most of the hike (though, I suggest checking with park staff to be sure!). 

We were surprised at how "frontcountry" this hike felt, but once we reached the headland, the views were stunning! There are many other trails in the national park that are backcountry, so it is great that this is one for people of all skill levels and nearly all ability levels to enjoy! 

The trail is so easy that it does not feel like 7.5km/9.2km. And of course, our 3-year-old loved it and was so proud to be as high as the clouds! 

Things to keep in mind:
-You will need a park daily entry pass to access the trail. 
-The roads leading to the trail are very steep and sharp.
-The trail is quiet long for toddlers to walk the entire distance, so I recommend taking a kid carrier or stroller to give little legs breaks periodically. 
-Be weary of very high winds on the headland. 
-Be cautious of wildlife.

A "5-Star" Provincial Park for Family Camping: Blomidon Provincial Park (Canning, NS)

Blomidon Provincial Park is awesome!! Let me tell you why!

1. It is found on a gorgeous cape in the Annapolis valley!

2. It is magnificently clean!

We saw one piece of garbage (part of a pop cap) the entire weekend! As an avid camper who frequents Nova Scotia provincial parks often, I was genuinely amazed! Most sites we visit have cigarette butts, beer caps, twist ties, and bandages caked into the grass so much so that the first thing I always have to do on a relaxing camping weekend is none other than cleaning up garbage! I was so impressed with Blomidon and commended their efforts! 

(They also give out bags upon registration for garbage, compost, and recyclables!) 

I did not get a great picture of the clean site, but I think you can appreciate how spotless it looks.

3. There is so much to do! Whether you are just getting into camping and would like to participate in activities hosted by the park or if you like to get your boots on and get hiking, there is so much to do!

-A 12.5 km system of 5 interconnected trails
-Explore the beach/mud flats of the Minas Basin
-Various park-hosted events (sky tours, hiking, campfires, etc.)

4. Forget fire bans; you can have campfires any time in this park using [non-sparking] Fibre Fuel bricks (sold at the park)!!  

5. Excellent for families looking to transition into more outdoors activities! 
-If you are just starting to camp with your kids for the first time, there are activities to fall back on if things really aren't going so hot (such as film screenings) in a pavillion. Just knowing this is enough to give some parents a little confidence boost to get their kiddos outdoors for the weekend! 
-Not down with being dirty? For a super wilderness-y campground, you will be happy to hear that there are flush toilets and showers!!
-Want to be camping & hiking, but lack the gear and/or experience to hit the backcountry yet? You can camp and then day-hike the cape! 
-Oh, and in case I am not the only crazy mama who thought it: yes, you can take babies/toddlers! No, they will not crawl off the cliff while you're cooking! Most campsites are not even close to the menacing line showing the cliff. (We stayed in 18 and could not even see the cliff.)

"Don't forget your bugspray or bug clothing!" says this little guy.

* * *

Off-Season Hiking in Five Islands Provincial Park: Estuary Trail (Five Islands, NS)

Five Islands Provincial Park (28 minute drive east of Parrsboro) is known for its beautiful views along the sea coast and receives lots of visitors in the summer months. What I want to tell you about though is off-season hiking at Five Islands. In the off-season (October 14 to June 12), the park is very quiet and the trails feel extra remote and peaceful. 

We hiked the Estuary Trail (below in yellow) with our three-year-old in April. It is a well-marked 4km hike. 

The Estuary Trail is seen here in yellow. This is the map at the beginning of the trail next to the parking lot. Please note that the "You Are Here" is misplaced on this map! You are on Estuary not Economy Mountain Trail.

Trail markers on the Estuary Trail, Five Islands Provincial Park.

Because our spring is so late this year, we still encountered some snow and ice on the trail in late April despite the sunny and mild weather, so I would recommend having traction devices with you for this trail during the shoulder seasons. 

The trail is about moderate difficulty, though great for beginners. It is not stroller-friendly and babies should be worn in a kid carrier or allowed to toddle if appropriate. One thing I should note is that because of the very windy winter we had in NS, there were a number of trees down along the trail. Some were easier to cross than others, and the trail became slightly unclear at one point where several trees had fallen within a short distance. 

The fallen trees really added to the experience for us, and our 3-year-old loved climbing over...

...and under them!

This day hike was splendidly quiet and a nice balance between well-marked while still giving you the sense of adventure! I would highly recommend it to families with wee ones! The bridges, planks, and log crossings were all great for enabling wee ones to feel like confident hikers! 

A toddler's favourite stopping place to throw rocks in the water!

Exploring with papa!

Come on, who doesn't love a good log crossing?

In the summer months, be sure to check out the more scenic trails in the park! We chose Estuary because it is most easily accessible in the off-season when the park is closed. It has fewer opportunities to view the sea coast but is a lovely walk in the woods! We even had a bald eagle fly a few meters above our heads! Here is to another fine walk in the woods!