K & L's Travel Blog

One of the great attractions in this area are all the great hiking trails. Most of them form part of the “Trans-Canada Trail,” an ambitious project that converted unused train beds into accessible hiking trails. Last fall when we were at the South Shore I hiked part of the system, “The Bay-to-Bay” trail that led from Mahone Bay to Lunenburg. I was eager to experience this portion traversing the Eastern Shore.

We started with the segment of the nature trail that lies just outside of Guysborough and later that day hiked another segment off of Larry’s Road that ascends a plateau above the Salmon River.

Even though the town segment parallels the highway, you’d never know it. One of the most scenic sections passes an old Mill pond where some lucky folks have built their dream home. Larch needles rained down on us as the wind blew, and it felt as though we were miles from anyone.

Both sections were safe to let Pip run off leash, though I always keep an eye out for porcupines (having met one last year on the trail—it was friendly). Pip’s joy is our joy, and he is at his happiest exploring a new trail.

The second trail was also part of the Trans-Canadian system, but a short drive out of town off Larry’s Road, and a harder trail to traverse due to rocks and mud puddles. But it also boasted some cool features beyond the usual boreal treats of mosses, ferns, birch & spruce, including /rock outcroppings and a view of the Salmon River running below. One thing that surprised us was that this was a starting point for continental drift, so we were reminded by signage at one point that we were “standing on two continents.” Who would have known?

Both trails were empty of other walkers, though it was clear that they get some use from off-road vehicles and serve as popular snowmobile routes in the wintertime. I imagine winter here would be stunning, but probably a step too far for my thin Florida blood!