South Branch Falls & South Branch Mountain Trails (Baxter State Park, ME)

I genuinely cannot believe it is November. There are so many trips I want to tell you about, so many stories to share... and somehow they are already months ago!

In August, we went on our epic trip to Maine. Our favourite part of the whole trip was Baxter State Park. It is a beautiful, quiet, comfortable place to stay—unscathed by tourists and the paved roads, selfie sticks, and waste receptacles that they require. It was, for us, a dream destination for a road trip: car camping so we did not have to haul expedition packs with us for 2,000 kms, hiking trails aplenty ranging from easy to arduous, and incredible beauty! We could have spent a whole week in Baxter and still left with a list of trails to explore.

While at Baxter, we mostly visited the northern (and less popular) part of the park. Below are two of the hikes we did in that area.

South Branch Falls

South Branch Falls (map here) was exactly what we needed when we arrived to the park. After a long day in the car, we hopped out and set off on a beautiful kilometer-long trail to put our feet in the rushing water of the falls. We signed the trail register and off we went! 

Baxter, like many parks, requires you to sign into their trails
to help locate hikers should they go missing.

The trail is a sea of green followed by an exposed ridge but with little elevation change. Once near the falls, you can observe from up on the ridge or descend to the falls (recommended). 

Our 4-year-old hiking up the ridge!

Victory! We could have sat there for hours. 

South Branch Mountain

South Branch Mountain (map) was a much more ambitious hike with a 4-year-old. With an elevation gain of appx. 2,175 feet over a fairly short distance, we pushed ourselves to help our kiddo climb her first "mountain" (peak: 2,600 feet). 

This hike begins with a river crossing then quickly enters a wooded area where the trail follows a meandering brook before quickly beginning to climb. It is a difficult trail not to be attempted with kids without experience. We gave ourselves a full day knowing that we would be slower with a wee one. We were right! We got off the trail just in time for supper and completely soaked in the midst of a complete downpour that lasted well into the night.

We took fewer photos on this trail. Here is a hint as to why.
We pretended this was a castle, which made climbing it fun!

Despite the trail's difficulty, our daughter loved it. She was euphoric when we reached the top, and I was so proud of our accomplishment that I welled up. The climb back down was extremely tricky with a wee one, and once the trail leveled out again, we opted for babywearing both to hike faster and because kiddo was completely exhausted.

Yes, at 4.5 years old and 40lbs, she still fit in our mei tai.
Best $90 I spent as a parent! 

This was our most intense hike of the trip, and we cannot wait to return to Baxter over the years to hike more of the peaks with our kiddo. Before we know it, she will be climbing Katahdin with us! 


General Notes about Baxter State Park

• No running water or flush toilets. Bring your own drinking water. Cleanest outhouses I have ever used.
• Waterproof maps are available for purchase at the park entrances. (Price was $11 in 2015.)
• It takes over 1.5 hours to get from one end of the park to the other.
• There are park permit fees.
• This park has a really committed group of rangers who will want to know about your plans and make sure that you know their expectations of you as a camper. 

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.

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! 

The Hike with All the Bridges: Ward Falls, Parrsboro, NS

We loved this hike! Ward Falls is located approximately 8 km from Parrsboro on private land that belongs to a lumber company, C. Ernest Harrison & Sons Ltd., which they have maintained for public recreational use. The trailhead is found in the fair-sized parking area found at the end of a dirt driveway. There are informational signs about the hike, but they have not been well maintained. This is something that I enjoyed about the trail but about which I should warn those who may like a more well-kept trail. The trail was maintained well enough to be safe, however I would still advise taking caution when crossing any of the man-made structures such as bridges. We checked each step for rot before proceeding.

The only structure we came across that was not intact.

This hike is only 7 km return, but it is a very enjoyable 7 km! The trail has very little elevation and LOTS OF BRIDGES! The trail follows what looks like a creek but is actually a small river called North Branch Diligent River all the way to the falls. The trail was built very opportunistically so that instead of cutting trees to clear a thicket on the banks to pass through, they have instead used a series of bridges so that you almost hop back and forth over the river. We counted a total of 19 bridges and a handful of planks/boardwalks! It is also nearly impossible to get lost; there is essentially no navigating required, and you hike against the current on the way in and with the current when exiting the trail.

Just before the waterfalls there are outhouses. A little further on are the falls, greeting you with the sound of rushing water. As you stand beneath the falls rushing over a large rock face on the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault, there is a final bridge leading you to a steep climb up the bank on the left to get closer to the falls. My husband and I each took a turn and did this though we did not take our toddler up the steep bank. She was fully amused staring in awe at the falls without crossing. If you go when it's warm, you can even wade over to a ladder and climb up to a cave behind the falls!

The photos really don't do it justice. It was so peaceful. 

This hike is really simple with very beautiful views and highly recommended to anyone, especially families hiking with kiddos!

Excellent trail for kids! Easy enough while still being backcountry and exciting. 

My girl loving the waterfall. 

*Videos of this trail here and here! 

*How to transport wee ones on this trail? Wear them. Not a stroller-friendly trail.

*Cautionary notes: Be bear aware. We did see bear scat and a print while visiting in the fall. Also give caution to rotting bridges. 

5 Tips for Colder Weather Hiking with Kids

My friends, I can no longer hope that it is still summer; it is not! But even if winter camping is not your cup of tea, there is still plenty of family fun to be had outdoors! We are particularly fond of fall and winter hiking and snowshoeing. Our latest hikes—which I will share with you soon—were rather cold fall hikes: frozen puddles, hail, freezing rain, and SNOW! Yes, we have had our first hike in the snow here in Nova Scotia. So on this note, I thought I would share some tips for how to prepare for cold weather, fall hiking with your kid(s).

1. It's hunting season! Be sure to remember your hunter orange especially on trails where hunting is permitted. Each person should have an orange hat on. Most of these hats are one size fits all, and they should fit toddles either over their regular hats (for smaller heads) or as a slightly large hat on its own (for bigger heads). And remember, the brighter the clothing the better!

2. LAYERS, LAYERS, LAYERS! Everyone will be happier if there are many layers to be added or removed. Remember that the trail might be much cooler than the temperature when you leave your home. And on the note of layers, I highly recommend wearing waterproof pants while hiking in the fall no matter what the forecast. They will cut the wind and allow you to easily crouch, cross streams, stomp in puddles, etc. without getting wet.

Image source here.

3. Babywearing is your ally in the cold! Reconsider how your wee one might get from point A to point B. If your toddler has begun hiking on their own recently, it might be best to switch them back to a kid carrier for colder months:

            -your wee one will share your body warmth

            -your wee one won't run off on their own in hunting territory

            -this will keep your speed up so you are not standing still in the cold
            (i.e., less chance of catching a chill)

            -you can easily traverse areas where the trail is more washed out/where streams are 

            wider than in summer months

4. Plan for daylight! Remember that your trail will get dark so much sooner than in the warmer months! Plan to be off the trail by 4/5pm at the latest with your kiddos! It is better to hike earlier and not have to worry about getting stuck in the dark with your kids!

Getting very dark on the trail near 5pm.

5. Perhaps most important of all, be prepared to go slower! As anyone who hikes with kids knows, you can't expect to bomb through the trail. Kids simply walk slower (or slow down the adult who is carrying them), need more breaks, and have had fewer experiences than adults so they are learning more than you with every step. Cold weather hiking may slow you down even more, so expect to go slowly and enjoy the family time together in the wilderness!

Two-year-olds love waterfalls no matter how small!

An Elaborate Walk on the Beach: Munroes Island, Caribou, NS

Munroes Island is an 11 km hike in Caribou, Nova Scotia. It is beautiful, though it is essentially just a really long walk on the beach with some very rocky areas. It is, for the most part, quite easy; though the terrain is not one that would allow for a jogging stroller (at least not for very long)! A kid carrier would be best for this hike. Or for toddlers, a mixture of waking and piggybacks would work well. And rainboots so they can splash and walk out to sandbars. This hike is best at low tide to give you more width to your path, not to mention sandbars in which to play!! 

This hike is known for its many shorebirds and heron. In the salt marsh you will likely spot some sandpipers and ducks! On our hike, we saw what seemed to be a breeding ground for crabs! There were baby crabs the size of spiders crawling everywhere we looked. It was very neat! We also found beautiful sand dollars. 

If you are fascinated by boats, you may also like watching the PEI ferry coming into Caribou. Fishing boats are also frequently spotted from Munroes. This is a hit with wee ones!