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. 

Guess Who's Back & Snowshoeing: Dollar Lake Provincial Park (Wyses Corner, NS)

Dear blog, let me breathe air into your lungs, compress your chest, and will you back to life. I'm sorry to have abandoned you, but damn, how does one find time for it all? Today I come back to you for a short and snappy post about snowshoeing. More posts to follow on various other adventures over the past 6 months. 

Today is frigid by Nova Scotia standards: -17 degrees Celsius with the wind. We piled on our layers of fleece and wool and set out to snowshoe at Dollar Lake Provincial Park, which has awesome winter trails that are groomed by Ski Martock. 

The snowshoeing was great even though snot froze to the beards of men all around me and my daughter's cheeks looked like she had rosied them with clown make-up. We may have only lasted an hour before the wee one had us convinced her legs would need to be amputated if we didn't stop, but it was worth the trip anyway. We got to get outdoors, breathe fresh air into our lungs, see cheery faces on the trail, and prove to ourselves that winter doesn't have to be something to lament about. 

A Bit More About Cold Weather with Kiddos

• Let's face it, some of the hardcore will laugh at your level of preparation & gear required, but all of this will make the adventure much smoother! So laugh away!
• LAYERS: There cannot be too many. You are better off carrying the extra layers that are shed than cutting your trip short with a miserably cold kiddo (remember, they do not suffer through silently like some adults).
• Snacks freeze, and it can be really hard for wee ones to chew granola bars and other usual trail noms. For cold weather hiking, we always bring an herbal tea in our Kleen Kanteen to warm us up. On really cold days, consider a trail treat for kiddos to spice things up. There is less variation in the surroundings on snowy hikes, so a trail treat can be something kiddos look forward to. Today, we brought oatmeal with raisins, coconut, and walnuts to warm our bellies.

• On the note of enticing trail food (even for an hour-long hike that would normally not warrant a snack), kiddos need distractions! We use distractions year-round when the trail whining comes out: Are we there yet? In the cold weather, distractions are even more crucial. Singing a song, chatting about something new at school, or planning a yummy supper meal together can help distract from whining. If they are truly cold, tired, or hungry, you will know it! 

A Bit More About The Trails

• Trails are groomed by Ski Martock. Here is their map of the trails:

• Trail etiquette: no dogs, minimize foot traffic, snowshoes keep to the ungroomed side, in-line and skate skis have their respective tracks.
• Trailhead is found at: N 44 56' 45.9" W 63 18' 54.2"

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. 

Taking it Slow: Paddling with Kiddos

July has been a busy month for us. I'm not sure how you enjoyed your Canada Day (in case you don't remember, it was that random Wednesday you likely had off in the middle of the week at the beginning of the month), but we decided to use the day to go paddling! 

We rented a canoe from MEC, strapped it to the roof of our old car, and away we went to Long Lake Provincial Park. Were we going to get far? Probably not. Was it going to be epic? No. Was it worth it? Totally. In my opinion, it is making the effort in the early years to show kids the joy of these activities that inspires them to love the outdoors!

While we weren't canoeing to a campsite and we weren't covering a large number of kilometers, here is what we were doing:

• building communication skills  Okay, yes, this did include a bit of "No, no! Paddle on the other side. No, the other way." I think that a day trip is a perfect place to practice the communicating that will be needed on bigger trips. While in the boat, you really need to be a team, and that can be challenging, but is pretty special once achieved!
  
• practicing our strokes  Sticking near the shore in shallower, calmer waters can be pretty great for building kids' confidence in the boat. Parents can get out and hold the boat while kids practice their strokes from inside the boat, kids can stand in the water and practice paddling, and everyone can develop a routine for getting smaller kids in and out of the boat.
  
  
  
  
  
• picnicking  After all, who doesn't love a nice picnic by the water?
  
• swimming  Swim, paddle, paddle, swim. Be confident in the water, and your kids will be too! Throw rocks, splash, swim, have fun!
  
  
      

The Outdoor Enthusiast's Causeway: Salt Marsh Trail (Cole Harbour, NS)

Salt Marsh Trail is a super duper easy trail with a unique atmosphere. It is a 6.5km rail trail (i.e. railway converted into a trail) that runs along a causeway through the salt marshes. Map here. This trail is excellent for hiking/walking, running, and cycling. 

There are beautiful views of the marshes, which make for stunning photographs. Expect to see ducks and other waterfowl. Be cautious of flooding and washed-out sections of the trail. 

There is not actually a whole lot to see for wee kids, which can make the kilometers feel longer. You will see a lot of parents who will run the trail while their kids (ages 6ish to 12ish) ride their bikes alongside. We enjoyed the trail, but our 4-year-old got a bit bored in long sections where there were no side trails down to the water. My recommendation would be to bike or run this trail unless you are just getting into walking. 

Ready Aye Ready Bridge

What to expect:
*Stroller-friendly. Bike trailer friendly. 
*Lots of wind! It is colder the further you go on the trail.
*Note: There is a long gap between the outhouse and the next chance to pee. For small kids, this may be tricky as there is not even the privacy of the trees to pee in the woods. I would recommend ensuring small kids use the washroom beforehand.
*Bring binoculars if walking/hiking. 

One of Our Favourite Winter Hikes: Uniacke Estates Trails (Mt Uniacke, NS)

Hey folks, 

Sorry I have been MIA since fall. I started my Masters in addition to working full-time, so as you've probably guessed, my spare time is limited. What spare time remains is for getting outdoors! Today, however, as we are all stuck inside from another whirlwind blizzard, I want to write to you about a great winter hike! 

You may not hear from me again until May, but I plan to have lots to share then because we are planning an epic family road trip this summer. More to come!


Uniacke Estates Trails are located just 30 to 40 minutes outside of HRM. When I first heard of them, I thought estates sounded lame and too urban for my kind of hiking, but I had it all wrong. Uniacke Estates Trails are located on a property formerly owned by Richard John Uniacke, a Nova Scotian Attorney-General, that was donated to the province and now serve as a museum and nature trails. The property is completely gorgeous and large enough to be full of nature. In the winter, the trails are even more isolated as the museum part (the house and out buildings) is closed. 

The trails range from very easy to hard. The map is easy to follow and the trails are too for the most part. The signage and trail markers are great! As with any trail that travels through barrens or fields, the Drumlin Field can be tricky in the winter to know if you're on the trail, but it is never too worrisome as children are often sledding down the hill alongside you. 

Trail marker colours coordinate with the colour of the trail on the map! So handy!

Many interpretive panels and trail signs mark the way. 

My favourite thing about this hike was the sounds of the ice! As you hike alongside Murphy Lake and Uniacke Lake/Lake Martha, you can hear the moaning and cracking of the ice. It's a nice break from the noise of daily life to stand in the forest and hear only the uncontrollable movements of ice. 

Frozen Lake Uniacke/Martha Lake

You can often see animal tracks in the beautiful ice!

As a great first winter hike for families, I would recommend parking behind the Uniacke & District Fire Department in the parking lot (654 Highway #1) where you will find the trailhead for Murphy Lake Trail. (Note that because the museum is not open in the winter, the main entrances to the park are rarely plowed or accessible.) From Murphy Lake Trail, you can connect with Drumlin Field Trail and then onto Lake Martha Loop where you will see the estates. This is a good amount of challenge, not too long to be out on a cold winter day, and allows you to see both the nature of the property as well as the residence. 

Recommendations for hiking this trail with kiddos:

• Stroller-friendly on the easy trails in the summer.
• Babywearing will be essential for babies up to preschoolers (depending on distance covered) in the winter. 
• Parents: WEAR/BRING TRACTION DEVICES especially if wearing children!
• In the winter, toddlers who are steady on their feet can toddle some, but be cautious of ice as the trails can be very slippery.
• Outhouses are not open in the winter, so be prepared to pee in the woods.
• Bring sunglasses for kids and adults alike to avoid snowblindness/snow headaches!

PS: We did this hike when it was -19°C with the wind chill. We had lots of warm clothes and tea, and we loved it!!

Recommended First Time Backcountry Camping at Kejimkujik National Park (Maitland Bridge, NS)

My wee one (3) and her friend (5) hiking like champions!

This post goes out to a lovely fellow, AW, who has been reading my posts and anxiously awaiting more. Thank you for reading!

Kejimkujik seriously is an amazing place to take your kids! If you have not been there yet, make it top on your list for NS! I wrote about Keji before here. This time I want to write about an even easier Keji hike that may be a bit better of a challenge for folks' first time backcountry trek with kids: Site 3. 

Site 3 is only 3.2km from the Big Dam parking lot. (See hiking distances here). It is a very easy hike. The first half is wide with crushed gravel. It runs along the Hemlocks & Hardwoods trail (map), a popular day-use spot. You could use a jogging stroller here if you were only going to Site 1. 

My 3-year-old on the smooth path near Hemlocks & Hardwoods trail.

Beyond Site 1, it becomes slightly more hilly and less smooth. A jogging stroller would still be possible, but less enjoyable to maneuver. There is the occasional boot-sinking sludge puddle if you hit the trail within a day or two of a decent rain, but for the most part, it is pine needly earth and a few protruding roots--nothing too intimidating for an adventurous preschooler!  

Second half (not necessarily literal half, but thereabout) of the trail to Site 3.

But the best part is that the hike is so short--while still leaving you feeling deeply removed from the noise of the daily grind--that even beginners could endure carrying the weight for such a short trek. Or if you really had to, someone could stay with the kiddo(s) to get camp set up while someone else could make a second run to the Big Dam parking lot for gear. (Okay you adventurous hikers who may be reading who do not have offspring: children can be volatile! Or at least unpredictable, making two trips a reality!) 

So seriously, if the thing keeping you from trying backcountry with your wee one(s) is anxiety about things going terribly wrong and being too far from "civilization" to solve any dilemmas, Site 3 at Keji would be a great starting place for you! 

The sites are almost always well-marked. Site 3 is down a small path to the left of the main trail. 

When you get to the site, you will be greeted with the wonderful comforts of backcountry at Keji: lake access at your site, privacy (in this case, the next sites are over a kilometer away), a picnic table!, dry firewood and a fire pit, a pit privy for your site, 2 tent pads, and a proper bear hang! Need I say more? It is luxurious!

Big Dam Lake at Site 3. Gorgeous view of the sunset here too!

My favourite part of Site 3 (and the kiddos' too!) was this gorgeous rock-hugging tree! 

Tent pad.

Keji has great bear hang systems, but this one was frayed, and I got a splinter from it, so do be careful! 

There is my recommendation for a first time backcountry hike with your kiddos in Nova Scotia! Now get outdoors and enjoy some nature time with your wee ones! 

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.